Don’t you love when someone just “gets” that you’re the perfect person for the job? They see your value and what you bring to the table immediately, but then there are others you’ll never convince.
Related: 4 Ways To Make Your Resume Perfect For A Job Opening
How do you communicate the ROI the employer will receive for hiring you as opposed to another to those who may not readily see it but are open to it? This question came to me as I was working with some prospective clients over the past week.
Prove You're The Perfect Person For The Job
Some employers are dead set on doing it their way, only hiring someone with X number of years of experience or they think they know exactly the type of person (and personality) they want to hire—and no manner of explaining is going to change their mind. These are the people you just have to let go. I’ve learned you can’t get all worked up over those who will never see it. It’s not worth stressing yourself out over someone who will just never “get it.”
However, there are those who may not see the perfect fit that you are—but once they’re enlightened to it they very easily see that the positive outcomes outweigh the costs. Whatever those “costs” may be. Maybe it’s the degree you haven’t finished yet, those two years of experience that you haven’t obtained, or something else altogether…
How can you as a potential candidate for the job communicate the value, return on investment, and the many benefits they’ll receive upon choosing you? Here are a few suggestions I’ve discovered along the way that I hope will serve you well:
In The Interview:
Who can argue with experience? Share examples of how you’ve successfully tackled similar problems and situations in the past. Theory goes, if you’ve been successful with something once before, history will repeat itself. These examples will speak volumes because they’re not statements about how you might handle something; they’re statements about how you’ve already successfully overcome something.
On Your Resume:
Make sure that you use C.A.R. statements (challenge, action, results statements) that help to illustrate exactly the challenge you were up against, the action you took to address the challenge, and then the great results you achieved. S.A.R. is very similar; it’s situation, action, and results. Whichever you use, they’re great tools for communicating exactly what you’re capable of bringing to the table by demonstrating what you’ve accomplished in the past.
While Networking
Let your passion show and focus on expertise. Whether you’re networking in person or online, focus on your areas of expertise. Discuss what you’re passionate about. Your excitement and enthusiasm are contagious, and people catch on to that. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and your own professional Web site or blog are great places to share your expertise with others.
Write about what you know, what interests you—and do it in a way that helps others who enjoy the same things or are in need of help. When talking with others in person, that contagious enthusiasm is much easier to pick up; others will easily see why it is that you love what you do, and they’ll see the value you offer as an expert in your field.
It’s important to be yourself, positioning yourself as an expert, and show that you’re passionate about what you do. Like I mentioned before, that excitement and enthusiasm you hold inside you for what you do will shine through—and others will catch on to it a lot quicker than you think.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter. Want to work with the best resume writer? If you would like us to personally work on your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile—and dramatically improve their response rates—then check out our professional and executive resume writing services at GreatResumesFast.com or contact us for more information if you have any questions.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
A lot of workplaces have made great process with diversity and inclusion, particularly with creating a welcoming and collaborative environment for the LGBTQ+ community.
While there's always room for improvement in the future, there are several companies already setting a great example. Here's a look at a handful of these companies.
Reply to @annie_kay4532 Hiring remote job seekers & major LGBTQ+ ally!#Pride #PrideAnthems #hiring #bestplacetowork #remote #hiringnow #applynow
Adobe is the global leader in digital media and digital marketing solutions and has built a reputation for having a strong company culture. Adobe has a culture score of 4.9/5 on employee review website Comparably and has been recognized on multiple occasions by Comparably for company culture, company leadership, and diversity,
Adobe has also won a few awards for its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, including being named a "Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality" by the Human Rights Campaign. The AdobeProud network in the UK received the Rainbow Honours LGBTQ Network Group award for its commitment to equality and positive impact on the workplace experience.
Adobe has several employee resource groups (ERGs) for employees, including AdobeProud, which is an employee network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer colleagues and allies. The group works to protect LGBTQ+ rights in the workplace, support each other, and engage in community events.
Members of the group often participate in Pride marches in the U.S. and globally, panel discussions, networking events, and fundraising activities. The group also raises money for LGBTQ+ charities and advocacy groups.
Adobe is hiring for multiple positions globally, including remote positions. Check out Adobe's careers page.
HubSpot
(Photo from HubSpot.com)
HubSpot is a leading customer relationship management platform that provides software and support to help businesses grow. HubSpot has a culture score of 4.9/5 on Comparably and has won awards from Comparably for company culture and diversity. The company has also won numerous other company culture and diversity awards from other organizations.
According to HubSpot's 2021 Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging Report, 12% of HubSpot's workforce identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. HubSpot has an employee resource group called the LGBTQ Alliance that aims to empower HubSpotters through the creation of a safe, respectful community.
Alliance members participate in multiple events year-round with a variety of global initiatives, including breakfast roundtables to talk about current issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, a workshop on partner benefits and family planning, or any other number of employee events. HubSpot employees have also marched in Pride Parades in Boston, Berlin, Dublin, and Portsmouth.
HubSpot is hiring for multiple positions globally, including remote positions. Check out HubSpot's careers page.
PayPal
(Photo from PayPal.com)
PayPal is a major online payments system that supports online money transfers globally and serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods like checks and money orders.
PayPal made some major headlines in 2016 when it canceled plans to open its global operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina in response to a passed law in North Carolina that would prevent local governments from banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"This decision reflects PayPal's deepest values and our strong belief that every person has the right to be treated equally, and with dignity and respect. Our decision is a clear and unambiguous one," PayPal CEO Dan Schulman said at the time.
PayPal has an LGBTQ+ network called PayPal Pride which celebrates and furthers the company's commitment to diversity & inclusion. PayPal Pride has16 chapters across six countries. The Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index has named PayPal on multiple occasions one of its "Best Places to Work" for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees. The company has even earned a perfect score on the index.
PayPal is hiring for multiple positions globally. Check out PayPal's careers page.
Salesforce
(Photo from Salesforce.com)
Salesforce is the world's top cloud-based customer relationship management platform.
Salesforce has earned a culture score of 4.7/5 on Comparably and has won Comparably awards for diversity and company culture. The Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index has recognized Salesforce on multiple occasions for being a best place to work for the LGBTQ community.
Salesforce has multiple employee resource groups to help bring underrepresented groups together and improve the company's culture. Outforce is the ERG for Salesforce's LGBTQ+ community. Overall, Salesforce is committed to building a workforce that reflects society.
Currently, 47.7% of Salesforce's U.S. workforce is made up of underrepresented groups (Women, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Multiracial, LGBTQ+ employees, People with Disabilities, and Veterans). The company is focused on meeting the following diversity goals by 2023:
To have 50% of the U.S. workforce made up of underrepresented groups (Women, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Multiracial, LGBTQ+ employees, People with Disabilities, and Veterans)
To double the U.S. representation of Black leaders (VP+) and increase the representation of underrepresented minority (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Multiracial) leaders by 50% by 2023
To increase U.S. representation of underrepresented minority (Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Multiracial) employees by 50% by 2023
Salesforce is hiring for multiple positions globally. Check out Salesforce's careers page.
Intel
Intel is one of the largest computer hardware and software companies in the world.
Like many of the other companies on this list, Intel is a consistent presence on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index as a best workplace for the LGBTQ community. Intel's IGLOBE (Intel Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgender Employees) was the company's first-ever employee resource group.
IGLOBE has 13 chapters globally and actively drives awareness of issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community and serves as a support network for its members.
The group has a mentorship program where experienced Intel workers can mentor new workers who are also members of the LGBTQ+ community. Intel also has partnerships with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Out and Equal Workplace Summit—where employees and experts from around the world gather to share strategies and best practices to create workplace equality, inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
Intel is hiring for multiple positions globally. Check out Intel's careers page.
Join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Want to make tons of valuable connections and build a solid network? Of course you do!
There are a lot of people who HATE the thought of networking. It can seem intimidating, fake, and hard to do. But the reality is that networking is a key skill you need to learn in order to be successful—no matter what you do.
If you're struggling to make more career friends and professional connections, you probably need to take a second look at your networking strategy. Are you making any of these mistakes?
You're A Selfish Networker
When you're networking, do you go in thinking, "How are you going to help me?" or do you go in thinking, "How can we help each other?"
Networking isn't all about your needs—it's about the other person's needs, too. Yes, you have a goal: you're looking for someone to help you get ahead, and someone who can give you the right introduction. However, the people you're networking with are trying to do the same thing.
If you're having a conversation with someone and making it all about you and your needs, you're probably not going to get too much support from the other person. They also have goals, and if they think you'll just take advantage of their network without anything in return, they probably won't be too open to working with you.
The key is offering value. Before you ask for a favor, you should always offer something of value to your new connection. Whether it's a strategic connection or simply a relevant article, offering your support early in the game will prove you're going to be a valuable connection in the future. It will also encourage people to return the favor somehow—and that favor could be introducing you to someone in their network.
You Wait Too Long To Follow Up With A New Connection
Don't you hate it when you had a great conversation with someone and you never hear from them again? How about when they just wait too long to reach out to you and you don't remember what you talked about?
Don't be that person. It's just bad networking. Follow up within 24 hours of meeting your new connection and briefly refresh them on your conversation. Then, make a note of your conversation so you can remember why you connected later on.
You Don't Keep In Touch With Your Contacts
Another thing that can frustrate both you and your connections is when someone only reaches out when they need something. Talk about feeling used!
It's important to nurture your network, even when you don't need it. Sending a friendly email to see how business is going or sending an article you think they might find interesting is all you need to help stay fresh on your connections' minds. Then, when you do need their help, they won't feel like you're just reaching out to them out of the blue, and they will be more likely to help you out.
So, how does your networking strategy stack up? If you're making any of these mistakes, you should re-evaluate.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
So, you know it is important to have the two Qs as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?
In this labor market, having a strong network is critical to your career success. There are plenty of tips and articles on where to find people, how and when to connect with them, and even what you need to say to attract and maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.
Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network, no matter if you're looking for a job or happy in your current position—because every job is temporary!
1. The Mentor
This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from their successes as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you evolve.
2. The Coach
The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.
3. The Industry Insider
This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it. This person will keep you informed on what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a sounding board for your next innovative idea.
4. The Trendsetter
This is someone outside of your chosen industry that always has the latest buzz. It can be on any topic you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations interesting.
5. The Connector
This is a person who has access to people, resources, and information. As soon as they come across something related to you, they are sending you an email or picking up the phone. Connectors are great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities most people would over look.
6. The Idealist
This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest idea is, this is the person that will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to make it happen.
7. The Realist
On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations are a little to unrealistic and need some grounding. These are not people who knock down your dreams; rather, they challenge you to actively make your dreams happen.
8. The Visionary
Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.
9. The Partner
You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact, partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share resources, opportunities, and information.
10. The Wanna-Be
This is someone you can serve as a mentor. Someone you can help shape and guide based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell you understand something is to be able to explain it to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is knowing someone is watching.
Obviously, you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, and so on that fit into the roles listed above.
Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities. Serious about building a strong professional network that can actually provide the leverage you need to make progress at work and the connections to land your dream job? Evaluate your current network and get started filling in the gaps. Happy networking!
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Whether you're looking to advance in your current career, find a new job, or change careers entirely, your personal brand will be essential to the process. And, in a competitive job market, one of the best ways to build and promote a personal brand is through your social media presence.
At Work It Daily, we like to say, "Brand or BE branded." Personal branding is reputation management. It's your chance to control how you want people to view you as a professional.
Here are three ways you can build a strategy for effectively communicating your personal brand on social media.
Focus On An Area Of Expertise
Through professional experience and the knowledge you have gained, you have something to offer your network. You may not know it right away, but you do. Any experience you choose to share could help a colleague grow their career or a new connection attempting to break into the industry.
To have a greater impact, it's important to focus on the areas that you have the most authority on. For example, if you've been a financial advisor for 25 years, there are several directions you could go, including offering industry insight and financial advice.
A good starting point is to make a list of the most common questions about financial advising and brainstorming some topics where you can offer the most value.
Push Out Content
Once you have decided on the topics that you want to focus on, it's time to create content and push it out on social media. At Work It Daily, another saying that we're fond of is, "Content is king," and it continues to be true.
You may already know that you're an authority on a topic, but that doesn't necessarily mean that your network does. But, if you're consistently pushing out content addressing topics in your industry, your network slowly begins to catch on and starts to view you as an authority.
A lot of people use their LinkedIn profiles to accomplish this because you can both create and share content with your professional network. Some professionals also use personal blogs and websites to create content and then push it out on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
All of these ways can be effective, as long as you're consistent about it.
Embrace Video
While there will always be a place for written content, it's hard to ignore how engaged audiences are becoming with short videos. Video is particularly helpful for attracting new audiences. Videos can be posted on LinkedIn and most other social media platforms.
TikTok has gained some serious traction as the new "how-to" platform for experts to share tips and advice. Work It Daily founder and CEO J.T. O'Donnell uses her TikTok account to offer career advice and has amassed over 1M followers.
TikTok only allows 60 seconds of video, so it forces people to be concise. While you may have more time on other platforms, a good rule of thumb on video is to always be concise. Look back at previously written content that you have created and narrow your focus for the purpose of the video.
Video not only offers you another way to stand out, but it can also be fun. The other good thing about video is that you don't need a fancy setup unless you want one. You just need a smartphone and a few other supplies. Embracing video can really grow your personal brand!
A strong personal brand will help you stand out at all stages in your career, so it's important to constantly give it the attention it deserves.
Are you looking for help building your personal brand and other career advice?
Join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
As a former hiring manager in several consulting firms, I often wondered if candidates were cognizant of the impression they made on employers. Even small things, such as the frown displayed by an applicant upon arriving at an interview, or the worn-out jeans on an applicant in a roomful of suits, gave me pause as I worked to screen candidates.
Ironically, many of the issues I spotted could have been easily fixed by taking care of seemingly minor issues. In some cases, these corrections would have made the difference between hiring the job candidate and taking a pass on the applicant!
Here are 10 “little" things that make a big difference to hiring managers in your job search.
1. Your Digital Identity
Yes, recruiters and hiring managers will be checking out your LinkedIn presence and verifying that your Facebook and Instagram activity is not violating their corporate policies. But have you stopped to think about your tweets or the content you're creating on TikTok?
Even the most realistic employer will need to assess your liability as a potential new hire. Therefore, your online activity must be sufficiently toned-down and presentable to a potential company—long before you enter the job market.
If you've kept up a website on your middle-of-the-night gaming habit or constantly tweet your distaste for political candidates, these items can offend hiring managers—and cause them to rethink bringing you in for an interview.
2. Your Honesty
Struggling to hide employment gaps in your work history on your resume? Failing to mention that new job you just took (that isn't working out)? White lies or sins of omission on your resume and in your interviews will come back to haunt you in more than one way.
If interviewers don't catch lies during the resume screening process, there's still a chance that your background check will reveal all. Even after you're hired, your record of impeccable service won't make up for less-than-forthright stories on your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Stories abound of high-profile executives, entertainment professionals, and sports coaches who attended college but didn't graduate—and who paid the price for fudging these resume details years down the road.
3. Your Accessibility
Are you open enough on LinkedIn that others can contact you? Or, did you forget to make your email address (and possibly mobile number) visible to other users? Here are best practices for ensuring you're more easily reached on LinkedIn:
From the "Edit Profile" menu, look under the box with your name and headline for "Edit Contact Info." Here, you can fill in your email address and phone numbers.
Joining Groups is also an important step in becoming accessible to employers. Sharing a Group with another user means he or she can reach out to you for free (important to recruiters maximizing their LinkedIn budgets).
Don't forget the "Contact Information" section. Select "Privacy & Settings" from the top right (hover the mouse under your name). Choose the "Communication" tab at the bottom left, and "Select the types of messages you're willing to receive." Add a paragraph in the "Advice to People Who Are Contacting You" box that includes your preference for email, phone, or LinkedIn messages.
4. Your Job Search Follow Up
Sent in a resume, but failed to take any action beyond pressing the "Send" button? If you didn't spend some time following up or identifying company insiders for further networking, your job search will take longer.
Doing some homework on the employer's business needs and identifying key people for personal follow up (through LinkedIn or an online search) shows them you're truly interested in a career opportunity, and that you've given thought to solving their business problems.
Be sure to use formal channels when applying to a posted job, then reach out to your newly found contacts to reiterate your interest in joining the company. Better still, connect and network with employees at the companies on your interview bucket list well before you start your job search. That way, you'll already have connections at those companies when it comes time for you to apply for a job.
5. The Tone Of Your Cover Letter Or LinkedIn Message
Cranking out LinkedIn messages or cover letters at top speed—with just a few adjustments here and there? Hiring managers can smell a "form letter" approach a mile away. Nothing says "I'm desperate and don't care about your needs" more than a disjointed cover letter or a LinkedIn message that simply asks for a job.
No matter how you're getting in touch with employers, take the time to write a brand-specific message of value to them—helping them discover who you are, what you offer, and why you're interested in a position with their company. This means customizing each LinkedIn message and writing disruptive cover letters.
You may not be able to crank them out as fast, but you'll be sacrificing quantity for quality. And, in the job search, quality is always better than quantity.
6. Your Demeanor When Arranging The Interview
When setting up any kind of business meeting, there's a certain amount of give and take required for coordination. No matter how in-demand your skills may be, you'll be expected to acquiesce to interview timing and location parameters set by employers. That can mean dealing with less-than-helpful receptionists or HR personnel, all of whom will be taking notes on your reactions.
Your phone etiquette and email communications will be watched closely; a courteous and respectful tone will go miles in reinforcing your personal brand and potential as a job candidate.
7. Your Appraisal Of The Interviewer
Feeling put out by the fact that your interviewer appears younger, more inexperienced, or otherwise beneath you in the professional hierarchy? Be careful how you convey this disapproval. You may believe you're hiding these feelings, but as one of those younger-looking interviewers, I often picked up on this tone very quickly!
Even if you decide mid-interview that you're not interested in the company, remember to display a high degree of professionalism. You never know how well-connected your interviewer might be.
8. Your Discretion
Polarizing, hot-button subjects such as politics or religion should make their way out of your resume, LinkedIn profile, interview discussions, and side conversations.
No matter how neutral or popular you consider your stance to be on these topics, there's bound to be someone who disagrees with you—and who votes against hiring you.
9. Your Post-Interview Actions
Yes, you should be sending a thank you note to employers after your interviews! Whether a short, handwritten card, LinkedIn message, email, or even hard-copy letter, a thank you note gives employers the impression that you're a gracious and appreciative job candidate.
A post-interview note can also be used to address lingering questions, counter potential objections ("Regarding our discussion on your new Western region, I can assure you that I'm accustomed to handling accounts in person for maximum effect—and therefore open to travel"), or mention a fond memory you have of the experience (a conversation, for example) to highlight a connection you made with the individuals at the company.
Be sure to address your notes to each person you've encountered in the interview process (or at least mention their names in the note), especially if you've met with a panel or group.
10. The Frequency Of Your Messages
Just because social media lets you send messages faster than ever doesn't mean you should pester employers. Following up once or twice after applying for a job should suffice to let them know you're still interested in the position. The same is true of the post-interview period.
Hiring managers have companies to run and customers to serve, in addition to the process of choosing you. They may also have other candidates to consider. Staying on an employer's radar is important, but so is professional discretion. Aim for somewhere in between silent and stalker in your follow-up activities.
There are numerous ways employers can be put off by your job search practices or approach. Ensure you're taking steps to satisfy their need for information and put your best professional foot forward.
Or, join our career growth club today and get access to one-on-one career coaching, resume and cover letter reviews, online tutorials, and unlimited networking opportunities—all in your back pocket!
Check out Work It Daily's Incredible Companies page to see snapshots of companies hiring. Work It Daily also highlights job opportunities on a daily basis on TikTok.
This post was originally published at an earlier date.
