Can you imagine communicating without email? It is part of our everyday life and the way many employers receive cover letters and resumes from potential candidates. So, if you don't know email etiquette, you're in for a rough ride. Related: Follow Up Tips: What To Do When Your E-mail Goes Unanswered Even if you think you have it down, you should take another look at the tips below.
April 10, 2015
Learn how to land a career you love
It's not uncommon to feel lost when embarking on your job search journey. After all, school teaches us everything except how to get the 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
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 product or service? Do you feel connected to their mission? Can you relate to their 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
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
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 that you get super clear on what you want to do next. 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.
Thankfully, our course, "How To Get Hired By An Incredible Company," can help you select roles that are in alignment with your skills and interests!
You can gain UNLIMITED access to this course PLUS all of Work It Daily's other premium courses for only $9.99/month (cancel at anytime).
Don't miss out on our FLASH SALE going on 9/27-9/29 where you can get our Basic Subscription for only $7.99/month! Use code "BASIC799" at checkout.
Are you ready to land the job of your dreams (and leave the job of your nightmares)?
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While it's great to have trusted colleagues, it's especially nice to have one person in particular to confide in—a work buddy.
How To Make Friends At Work
Sometimes if you're a new employee just starting with a company, you'll be assigned a work buddy to familiarize yourself with the job and work environment. There's nothing wrong with this. It could be that your supervisor has a particular person they want you paired with based on job responsibilities who could help you ease into and adapt to your new role.
If you're assigned a work buddy, that's one less thing you have to worry about. But if you're not assigned a buddy, look at it as an opportunity.
Some of the best friendships are the ones that are formed organically. Be open to getting to know all of your co-workers. Be friendly. Ask questions about their jobs and lives. Try to make a connection.
The Benefits Of Having A Work Buddy
Having a work buddy is a great way to help you assimilate into the company culture and quickly fit in with other co-workers. An office buddy not only has knowledge about job requirements and expectations, but he or she can also provide information about the work styles and personalities of co-workers, and give a rundown of any office politics.
Beyond the office landscape, having a workplace buddy helps to improve confidence. It's nice to have someone who can share advice and make you laugh.
All jobs can be stressful at times, so being able to face work challenges with the help of a buddy reduces stress, too.
How To Build A Bond With Your Work Buddy
When it comes to building a relationship with your colleagues, it shouldn't always be about work.
Check in with your work buddy from time to time about how things are going in their lives. Grab lunch, attend happy hour, or plan some other fun activity once a month.
Trust goes beyond the workplace, so it's important to work on the relationship like any other friendship.
Strengthening the friendship is also beneficial if you ever reach a point where you are no longer co-workers. You may want to keep this person as a personal friend or use them as a professional reference in the future. At the very least, you'll both be valuable connections for each other in your professional networks.
This is were those bonds formed at the workplace really come in handy.
Be Proactive About Fitting In At Work
Many companies have incorporated the buddy system into their onboarding process as a way to be more efficient in getting new employees familiar with the company.
If your company doesn't have such a system, be proactive about finding a buddy and make an effort to fit in with co-workers.
Fitting into the company's culture can be just as important as learning job responsibilities. One of the reasons why you were hired is because your employer thought you'd be a good cultural. Now, it's your job to prove them right. A work buddy can help.
At every company you end up working for, make sure you have a work buddy. Not only will they help you learn the ropes at your new job, but they'll also be a valuable friend and connection—someone you'll be able to count on as you grow in your career.
Need help as you start your new job?
Check out our FREE resources page and Live Events Calendar.
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!
If you want FREE career advice in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily Dose!
Struggling to find the right job?
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 article was originally published at an earlier date.
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Brand Positioning - What Is It?
https://www.marketing91.com/brand-positioning/
Brand positioning is the process of positioning your brand in the mind of your customers based on your brand purpose and values that gives you a competitive advantage.
What do you think of when you hear "search engine"? Did Google or Yahoo come to mind? These products are positioned to dominate the category. What about a company that provides "overnight shipping"? FedEx owns the transportation category even though other companies provide overnight shipping.
A well-developed and implemented brand position provides a sustainable competitive advantage, communicates value to customers, is a vehicle to help manage brand consistency, and impacts the bottom line.
How To Create A Killer Brand Positioning
lisaperry
Your brand positioning statement is a strategic document that will help define the direction of your innovation, marketing, commercialization, and sales strategies. Here are four steps to consider when creating your brand positioning.
- Evaluate Current Standing: Evaluate your current brand positioning. Is it working? Does it reach your target audience? Is it helping to achieve your business goals? If not, you may need to look at repositioning your brand.
- Research Your Competitors: You can't stand out from the crowd if you don't know what the crowd is doing. More importantly, you don't want to have the same brand position as your competitors. Conduct a competitive analysis to evaluate your competitor's brand position by looking at their social media feeds, company websites, marketing & advertising materials, and customer service. Look for what your competitor's mission, vision, and value statements are, who they're targeting, what their messaging is, their unique selling proposition, and their positioning strategies. For more information on how to gather competitive research, check out my article.
- Identify Your Target Audience: Understanding your target audience is critical as this information will define every strategy you execute. Your goal is to define your target audience into a simple statement: Our target market is (gender) aged (age range), who live in (place or type of place) and like to (activity). For more information on how to develop your target audience, check out my article.
- Identify Your Differentiators: Just like everyone is unique and different, so is your brand. It's your job to find those characteristics and differentiators that will make your brand stand out from the competitive crowd. List all the things that your competitors do well. List all of the things you do well. List what your customers want. Now start comparing your most unique angles against your audience's needs. Are there any needs that haven't been filled? Is there anything that you provide that your competitors can't easily copy or reproduce? Check out my article on how to develop your unique differentiators.
- Craft Brand Positioning Statement: Here is a template to follow when crafting your brand positioning statement.
Brand Positioning Example
https://www.gmfleet.com/suvs-crossovers
While competitors may have similar products or services to you, positioning your brand will provide that unique difference in how customers perceive you.
Let's look at General Motors. They offer a variety of SUVs to fit customers' specific needs. Specifically Yukon and Chevy Tahoe SUVs. These two vehicles have the same engine but different upgrades.
The Yukon SUV has positioned itself as the only premium truck manufacturer, and it considers itself a premium-level brand across its lineup of trucks and SUVs. U.S. News has ranked GMC's Yukon as #2 in the large SUV category.
In contrast, the Chevy Tahoe has positioned itself as a multi-purpose family vehicle with the versatility to tow a trailer, go off-road, or take the family on a road trip. U.S. News has ranked the Chevrolet Tahoe #4 in the large SUV category.
To note, there were two #2 rankings by U.S. News (both by General Motors) so technically, the Chevy Tahoe came in at #3. Needless to say, their brand positioning seems to be working well.
The good news is that you don't have to stand out to everyone, you just have to stand out to the people you serve. Do you know the position you want to take in the market? Start building your brand leadership today. You've got this!
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Learning the ropes of a new job, mastering the social ladder of a workplace, and, in general, trying to figure out business etiquette can be pretty frustrating for new workers. Here are some survival tips for new grads in the workplace on navigating their bold new venture in the working world:
1. Be Patient
Today's graduates are used to the fast pace of technology and, in a way, this has built up a low tolerance for being willing to wait. Especially for job promotions or advancement. But unfortunately, the big wheels of business don't move that quickly and sometimes the opportunity simply isn't there yet.
Take a deep breath. It will happen, but not necessarily on YOUR timeline. Great things come to those who wait!
2. Don't Forget To Thank Those Who Help You
Manners do matter, and those who have made the effort to help you remember who has thanked them or not. This can have far-reaching impacts on your career.
Those individuals who become your biggest supporters (and this is reinforced by taking the time to thank them) can open doors you can't even imagine...both now and in the future.
3. Realize Your Career Will Be A Series Of Choices, Not "A" Choice
I read somewhere the average high school student today is going to have 23 jobs in their lifetime. So, if statistics don't lie, you definitely won't be putting all your eggs in one basket.
Don't like the work that you are doing? Is it not rewarding enough? Then develop your transferable skills and roll them into a new job where you'll enjoy what you're doing.
4. Tread Lightly And Carefully
I am not saying you need to fear your co-workers, but you should know that the office political environment can play out in similar fashion as social cliques back in school...with deadlier consequences.
Refrain from gossiping and choose your words carefully. Until you have an accurate read on each person in your office, keep your cards close to your chest. Gossip never has a place in the workplace, but it does happen, and that person you confided in could just as easily turn around and stab you in the back. Keep your own counsel.
5. Education Doesn't End With Your Graduation
Not too many career centers or colleges/universities prepare students for the staggering fact that their education isn't ending. In fact, it is just starting.
Beyond your formal schooling, there's a whole new universe of learning called "professional development." This is the stuff that will give you the job-specific skills to be successful. The sooner you can become aware of the fact that you need to demonstrate continuous learning by taking classes, trainings, workshops, webinars, and attending conferences, tradeshows, and conventions, as well as gaining industry certifications, the sooner you'll get ahead of anyone else in your graduating class.
This process does not end until you retire. And if you ignore this area, you will have a much more difficult time with career advancement because employers are hiring subject matter experts. How can you build your knowledge?
6. Network
In school, this was called making friends. And you'll be doing that same thing, but in a business context.
Some of my best friends were met while we were working together. The point is that networking really is building a connection with people with whom you have some kind of shared interest or goal. When you have that "spiderweb" of people in your network, you'll find that job and life opportunities flow your way much easier because these are the people who can and want to help you.
7. Realize Your Office Mates Aren't Your Parents
I say this tongue-in-cheek, but the subtext to this statement is really important: you are now on your own and you cannot expect anyone to pick up your slack. Everything you do from this point forward is business, and not bound by any bonds other than your employment agreement.
It's pretty scary to be suddenly put out in the "cold" after having warm, supportive environments at home and school. The working world doesn't operate that way. You either sink or swim. You are judged by your actions and you should always do the right thing and never expect someone to be there to catch you when you fall. That's called life, and over the course of your career, you are going to make mistakes and you'll have to learn from them. That's called experience. And the more experience you gain, the closer you'll be to reaching your career goals.
If you're a recent college grad just starting out in your career, follow these seven tips to survive in your first job. Remember: the beginning is the hardest part. You've got this!
Need more help with your career as a recent grad?
Check out our FREE resources page and Live Events Calendar.
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!
If you want FREE career advice in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily Dose!
Struggling to find the right job?
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 article was originally published at an earlier date.
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If you have found your job isn't as satisfying as it once was, you can make changes to improve your satisfaction. If you give yourself more challenging tasks at work, your job will be more than just a paycheck.
Here are five tips for getting more challenging tasks at work.
1. Show Initiative
One of the first steps is to talk to your boss about your current responsibilities. Ask him or her about other projects you can assist with or take on. If you see areas that require help you can provide, present your manager with a plan that allows you to fulfill these roles.
Bosses appreciate employees who are willing to show initiative, find ways they can improve the work environment, and challenge the status quo to provide a fresh perspective on things. Heading into this meeting with a plan outlining your own ideas for improvement is a sure way to get some new responsibilities as well as impress your boss.
2. Keep A Positive Attitude
Many employees fall into a rut where they feel depressed or unhappy with where they are in their job. These feelings can have a negative impact on the quality of your work, as well as your overall attitude. One of the most difficult things to overcome, though, is a poor attitude toward your work.
Perhaps thinking of the importance your work holds in relation to the larger picture can help change your attitude into a positive one. Sometimes a simple attitude change is all it takes to find that satisfaction you crave.
3. Evaluate Your Skills
Individuals are typically hired because they have the right skill set or potential for the job. If your job has become boring and unsatisfying, you need to re-evaluate those skills and determine how you can make them work to your advantage. In some cases, the skills you possess may serve your company well in areas you are not currently involved in.
Look at the range of work your department or company performs, and determine if you can help in these areas. You should also look for areas where you need to build your skills, challenging you to improve to serve your company more effectively.
4. Work For Yourself
This does not mean you should quit your job and go into business for yourself. Growing your own business may be a challenge, but it isn't right for everyone. Instead, make sure you are focusing on yourself and your needs within the company for which you already work.
Many people work to impress their employer and as a result, they become bored with their work and lazy about completing it. Instead, complete your work with an attitude, which keeps in mind that your work reflects on you and benefits you, and work less for the need to receive recognition and applause from your employer. When you make your work about yourself, about your own career growth, you are more likely to challenge yourself and work harder. Your goal in all you do should be to make yourself more valuable to your current employer, as well as to future employers.
5. Forge New Relationships
Your attitude can affect everyone around you. If you are working with a group of people who don't care about their work and are constantly negative, this will eventually affect your attitude as well. Evaluating your relationships at work and the attitudes of those with whom you interact with regularly can help you see if a change of scenery within the company can offer the boost you seek. Interacting with new people can have a dramatic impact on your level of satisfaction in your job.
If you find your job uninteresting and lacking in challenges, you may think you need to either deal with it or move on and find a new job. Fortunately, you have other options. When you follow these five tips, you can improve the level of challenge you experience at work and boost your overall satisfaction with your job, allowing you to enjoy going to work again.
Need more help getting your foot in the door?
Check out our FREE resources page and Live Events Calendar.
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!
If you want FREE career advice in your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily Dose!
Struggling to find the right job?
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 article was written by Inbound Marketing Coordinator Tiana Tucker on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2U, an education-technology company that partners with higher education institutions such as Simmons College School of Nursing and Health Sciences to deliver their Master of Science in Nursing degree for aspiring Family Nurse Practitioners. This article was originally published at an earlier date.
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