This week, I was contacted by a colleague who shared the story of Jason Trembly and his plans to sit on a raft for 36 hours in the middle of a NH river as a way to raise $36,000 for the charity he works for, the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Jason stepped in to sit on the raft after the person who was going to do it had to cancel. He’s being joined by Jason Perry, Marketing Director from the Verizon Wireless Arena who also agreed to hang out with Jay on the raft and help to raise money. These two amazing guys are giving up 36-48 hours to support Wish children who have had their time stolen from them.
When I asked why Jason decided to do it, I was told by his colleague, Donna Parker, “The 36-hour event is being held in honor of all Wish families who are on their own life raft, waiting for life-changing news and support. We can make a difference by bringing hope, strength and joy into their lives through the power of a wish. Jason didn’t want that opportunity to pass us by just because we didn’t have someone for the raft.” Talk about commitment to his job and a cause! Of course it got me thinking...
Two ways to show your community (and hiring managers) the stuff you are made of are to go BIG and do GOOD via charitable acts!
First, Jason is doing something big. This is more than a fundraiser, this is him putting himself out there in a very visible, challenging manner. To me, that says a lot about his character. Second, he’s doing some serious good. If he raises his goal, that money will help to grant a half-dozen wishes of kids with life-threatening illnesses. Who doesn't respect someone who does that much for a worthy cause? I know for certain that all decent employers value talent that believes in helping others. If you are looking for work right now, ask yourself, “What have I done to demonstrate my ability to give?” You may not have money to donate, but you could do something creative like this as a way to show folks your ability to step up.
I know what you are thinking: Isn’t that self-serving?
I guess you can look at it that way. But candidly, the charity you choose to support won’t see it that way. Right now, non-profit organizations across the country are suffering. Donations are down thanks to the extended recession. They are desperately seeking ways to raise money. So, while you will be doing something to help your personal brand, the reality is the good you are doing for the charity is much bigger.
Besides, it will make you feel good!
You always hear people in the non-profit world say they don't do it for the money - and it's true! They do it for the satisfaction the work gives them. I’ve been co-chairing a charity event called Wish Racing for the last three years. It takes a lot of work, but it never fails to give me a huge sense of joy and satisfaction. Plus, it always puts life in perspective for me. I’ve also made amazing friends and met some incredible families. The time I spend on this project comes back to me 10-fold. I guess one could say that I selfishly volunteer for the way it makes me feel.
So, what do you do to go BIG and do GOOD? Share your stories below and give readers some ideas of what charitable acts they can engage in to help others while also helping their personal brand.
J.T. O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com and CEO of CareerHMO.com, a web-based career development company.Photo credit: Shutterstock
Bigstock
The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and that familiar chill is in the air. You think it's the perfect time to look for a job, and it is! But are your job search fears preventing you from making that leap?
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get a job. What should you put on your resume? What questions should you ask in an interview? How can you stand out in the hiring process when there's so much competition?
Are you feeling spooked yet?
Believe it or not, there's no need to be afraid of the job search process! You can land your dream job with the right tools and strategy. You can find a job that won't give you nightmares. Here are three spooky secrets every job seeker should know as they look for a job this fall.
1. An Effective Job Search Starts With An Interview Bucket List
Bigstock
Despite your fears, you've decided to take the plunge and look for a new job. You might be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" The answer is simple: start by creating an interview bucket list.
An interview bucket list is a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Are you passionate about a company's products or services? Do you feel connected to its mission? Can you relate to its values and beliefs as an organization? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, that company probably belongs on your interview bucket list.
Once you create an interview bucket list, you'll be able to conduct a targeted job search, one with direction and a foundation upon which everything else will be built. An interview bucket list helps you focus your job search and networking strategies on the right opportunities, making it easier to get your foot in the door at one of your dream companies.
2. Your Job Application Needs To Disrupt Hiring Managers
Bigstock
In order to stand out in the hiring process, you need to disrupt recruiters and hiring managers. You accomplish this by doing two things: optimizing your resume and writing a disruptive cover letter.
A well-optimized resume includes keywords from the job description. This ensures your resume gets past the ATS and into the hands of the hiring manager. Once it's in front of the hiring manager, it needs to grab and keep their attention. Quantifying your work experience—adding numbers to your bullet points—will make you stand out from other applicants. Hiring managers will want to know more about you and your accomplishments, and that's how you land a phone interview.
Before that, though, a hiring manager will read your cover letter. To disrupt them, you need to write a disruptive cover letter (obviously!). A disruptive cover letter gives you the opportunity to tell a story about why you feel connected to the company you're applying for. It's that storytelling aspect that will stand out to hiring managers and compel them to pick up the phone and give you a call.
3. Employers Hire You Based On 3 Things
Bigstock
You can't get hired unless you know what employers are assessing you on in the interview process. While your skills and expertise matter, companies actually hire for three things: personality, aptitude, and experience (in that order).
Most job seekers don't realize how important it is to demonstrate their personality, aptitude, and experience in an interview. You could have the right experience for a job, but if the hiring manager doesn't think your personality is a good fit for the company culture, you probably won't get a job offer.
Make sure you demonstrate your soft skills and learn how to answer behavioral interview questions to prove you're the best candidate for the job you're applying for, not just the most qualified.
Want To Learn More Job Search Secrets?
As you look for a job this fall, it might be helpful to know some more spooky secrets so you can get over your job search fears and finally take control of your career.
We know the job search process can be scary. However, it's important to get clear on what you want to do next and focus on conducting a strategic job search, or what we refer to at Work It DAILY as job shopping. This is the only way to effectively market yourself to employers. If they can't see exactly where and how you add value, then that's going to decrease your chances of landing the job.
The competition is fierce, and there are a lot of factors that are out of your control. But the one factor you can control is your job search strategy, the tools and tactics you use to land a job.
If you want to learn the secrets to conducting a strategic job search, sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp, a two-hour, on-demand video workshop that comes with a free workbook.
In this video workshop, you'll learn:
- How to use backchanneling to get directly to hiring managers.
- The secret to using a connection story to stand out against the competition.
- How social media can be your secret weapon to get job interviews.
- The resume format that is getting job seekers more job interviews.
- And, a lot more hacks for job search success!
Let us show you the secrets to getting a new, better-paying job you actually love. Sign up for our Job Search Bootcamp today.
Are you ready to land the job of your dreams (and leave the job of your nightmares)?
Read moreShow less