Do you feel like it's cringey to share a personal story in a cover letter? In today's episode, JT O'Donnell shares her advice on why it's important to share a personal story in a cover letter.
December 19, 2018
Learn how to land a career you love
If you're feeling stuck in the pursuit of your passion, here are seven thoughts about finding your passion in life, from the popular self-help book What Color Is Your Parachute?
1. "Passion" Is A Very Broad Word. Each Of Us Chooses To Define As We Will.
It may vary from "work that gets me excited" to "this is why I believe I was placed on this earth." When we are talking with someone about this subject, each of us may think we know what the other means. But often we are wrong. If we use it, we need to define what we mean by it.
2. "My Passion" Is Related To, And Dependent Upon, Self-Knowledge.
Show teenagers, for example, a list of possible careers, and ask them which ones they feel any passion for, and they are liable to answer "None." Come to that same person ten or fifteen years later, and they have gained in knowledge of the world of work. More importantly they have gained in knowledge of themselves. Now they know, from experience, exactly what they like or don't like. We, who are trying to help, may speed up that process by asking them to do a self-inventory. At any age. Typically, they will want a template for doing such an inventory.
3. "Passion" Has Seven Parts To It.
The most helpful self-inventories always turn out to be those that correspond to the parts of a job. That is to say, every job has seven parts to it: it requires certain skills (do), certain knowledge (know), certain goals (reach), certain people environments (surround), certain working conditions (enable), certain locations (find), and a certain level of responsibility (chart). Thus, a helpful self-inventory covers all these parts: what do you most love to do, what do you most love knowing, what are you most trying to reach, who are you most trying to surround yourself with, what most enables you to do your best work, where do you find such places, and what project, plan, or challenge, do you most want to help chart? One example of a seven-part inventory is chapter five in the 2013 edition of What Color Is Your Parachute? However, there are shorter inventories (on O*NET, for example) that omit some of these seven parts of one's passion.
4. "Passion" Is Found In An Overlap Of Your Present Work (With Only Some Of The Seven Parts).
For example, if I find a place where I am surrounded with the kinds of people I most love to work with, using the knowledge I most love to use, and tackling the challenge or problem I would most love to solve, I may feel I have found my passion in life. But if, as time goes on, there's more of an overlap of my work with all seven parts of me, I will more and more feel I have found my passion in life.
5. Taking Time To Define Your Passion In All Seven Of Its Parts Increases Your Awareness Of The Missing Parts When You Do Stumble Over Them.
Doing a self-inventory of these seven parts increases what you're listening for, even if your current job is only a partial overlap.
6. "Passion" Is Energy.
The more you find your true passion in life, the more energy you will feel when you're at work. Thus, as we grow older, and our physical energy begins to diminish, it becomes all the more important to replace it with the energy that comes from having found our passion.
7. Finding Your "Passion" In Life Is Only A Means To An End; The End Should Be Com-Passion.
Defining your passion in life is not a sufficient goal for any life. That can be very selfish and inwardly-directed. This makes me excited; this makes me happy. So what? Let us suppose you were out of work for two years before you finally found meaningful work. What does that leave you with? A hope you will never go through such a period again? Yes. But is that all? Let us say you have now arrived in some function where you need to hire people. Do you reach out and go the extra mile, now, to help someone who has been out of work for two years? Or do you turn them down, and say, "Sorry, we don't hire people out of work as long as you've been"? You haven't grown until you have wrung every bit of compassion out of your own experience and used it to feel and show empathy toward someone in a similar predicament. Compassion, to find and feel our ties to all other human beings, should be our real passion in life. Passion; does it teach you compassion? That's the acid test of any life.
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This post was originally published at an earlier date.
Copyright © 2013 by What Color Is Your Parachute?
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Using bullets requires a careful balance, though. Too few bullet points and you'll have unappealing, difficult-to-read blocks of text. Too many bullet points can have the opposite effect and look more like a laundry list. To develop a clear structure to your resume and present bullet points with impact, follow these tips:
1. Use Bullets Points For Accomplishments & Success Statements
In most instances, bullet points are used in the "Work History" and "Additional Experience" sections of your resume. For example, under the information for your current employer, job title, and employment period, write 3-5 bullet points that directly highlight your accomplishments and success on the job.
2. Be Selective About What You Highlight
Consider what experience, skills, and accomplishments are important for the job you're applying for and select the most relevant points that will detail what you've done, how you've done it, and what results you achieved. Use bullet points on your resume to bring attention to something, but when you go beyond five bullet points for each position, it can look like a laundry list. Each bullet point also shouldn't need more than two lines in length. Keep it tight and succinct!
3. Begin With The Most Impressive Point First
Remember that most hiring managers will only spend a few seconds on each resume, so you want to immediately catch their eye. Start with the most impressive point first.
4. Start Each Bullet Point With A Results & Action Verbs
When writing your bullet points, remember to start with the results rather than the how. For example, which of the following two bullet points is more likely to capture the reader's attention?
- Developed daily and weekly goals to achieve 133% of sales quota
- Achieved 133% of sales quota by developing daily and weekly goals
If you answered the second bullet point, you've got it.
5. Apply Numbers To Your Bullet Points
For greater impact, apply numbers to your bullet points. This is called quantifying your work experience, and it's something every professional should do on their resume to stand out in the hiring process. You want to put the information in context and show results. For example, "Increased sales 300% within the first two years of product relaunch."
6. Use Bullet Points To Highlight Awards
Relevant awards are always worth highlighting on your resume because it helps distinguish you from other candidates who might have the same experience. If you've been recognized as "Salesperson of the Year" or something similar, use it in your bullet points.
An effective resume informs the employer of your experience and skills, but it also provides insight into how good you are as a business-of-one, saving or making companies money. The correct use of bullet points can help you deliver the message!
Want more help with your resume?
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 post was originally published at an earlier date.
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Here are five tips for managing your time for academic—and professional—success.
1. Talk
Does your college offer courses that work with your life rather than against it? You'll have a better chance of attaining your life goals if they do. So, talk with the admissions counselor and/or your advisor and find out if courses are available online as well as in class, whether courses are flexible, and whether you can complete your program at your own pace. Many campuses offer help with time management, so try to find out what support is available. You could even consider setting up a peer mentoring program to give and get support from fellow students if your college doesn't have one.
You should also talk to your employer. Assess when busy periods are likely to be, and try to avoid big assignments at the same time. Show commitment and consideration, and you'll probably get your boss's support. If you can, look for assignments where you can exploit your professional experience; it's a more efficient use of your time.
2. Prioritize
Busy, successful people understand what they can do each day, how they use their time, and what can realistically be accomplished. Learn from their techniques and you can do the same. Record your daily activities to find out how much time you really have. Assign a specific time to important tasks rather than hoping they will happen at some point. Get smart when prioritizing tasks so that "clean the attic" does not have the same weight as "write term paper." Build in buffer time for the inevitable interruptions. And set time limits for each task to stop it spreading into the rest of your day.
Once you have your schedule, beat procrastination by breaking down massive projects into manageable blocks. Work is usually the best way to get working, so start with small tasks to get the ball rolling. Finally, once you're in the zone, note any good ideas that pop up and move on. That way your ideas for your company's sales conference won't distract you from your revision—and you won't forget them.
3. Delegate
John C. Maxwell, author of How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, put it best: "If something can be done 80% as well by someone else, delegate!" Clear out the clutter of unnecessary tasks and make more room for more important activities. Evaluate your commitments, discuss realistic goals with friends and family, and then learn to make use of other people.
It can be hard to let go sometimes, but you don't have to do it all. There are almost certainly tasks in your daily routine that can be done easily by others, even if your only available resource is a willing spouse or child.
4. Focus
Stay in the here-and-now and focus on one class at a time. If you complete one or two courses, you'll be motivated to take another. Equally, don't put too much pressure on yourself to complete your degree within a certain timeline.
Success is the biggest motivator, so acknowledge a job well done but don't allow yourself to be distracted when things don't go according to plan. Learn from mistakes and then move on. Remember that learning is a cumulative process: you won't be judged by one project alone and you don't have to be perfect every time. Sometimes, good enough is just that.
5. Sleep
Extra-strong coffee is not a long-term study aid! When schedules fill up, sleep is often the first to be sacrificed. But lack of sleep actually makes your task much harder: your mental health, physical health, stress levels, and schedule are all affected.
Make sure you take time to look after yourself. It doesn't take long for the constant round of class, study, work and more study to take its toll on your ability to perform. Plan time to relax and be social—and treat it like every other commitment. It will improve your productivity overall.
Time management isn't a skill you pick up right away. Ironically, it too takes time. But the good news is that more and more students are managing to earn a degree while working full-time. The even better news is that the time management techniques you learn when balancing your various commitments can be applied throughout your career to enhance your chances of future success.
Want more career tips?
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 post was originally published at an earlier date.
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The short answer: employer branding can actually help job seekers find the right job (and company) for them.
If you're looking for a job, here are three specific reasons why you should pay attention to employer branding in your job search.
It Helps You Get To Know A Company Better
As you browse job postings and find employment opportunities that pique your interest, it's important to research a company before applying for a job. Employer branding makes it easier for you to research a company and find out what they do, who they serve, and what it's like to work for them.
Companies with a strong employer branding strategy focus on creating and sharing content about their organization on many different platforms, including social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Job seekers can easily get a feel for a company's culture through browsing their accounts on these platforms, getting a better idea whether they'd like to work for them or not.
It Shows You How A Company Treats Their Employees
While you can get a decent amount of information about how a company treats their employees from sites like Glassdoor, employer branding takes it a step further. Every piece of content a company pushes out for their employer branding strategy, from educational articles to fun videos, provides job seekers with a snapshot of the company culture and the types of employees who work there. With employer branding, employees are encouraged to talk about their experiences at work. If job seekers want to find a job at a great company that cares about their employees, they should listen.
Nobody wants to work for a company that treats their employees poorly. By paying attention to a company's employer brand, you'll learn a lot about what it would be like to work there. You don't want to realize you made the wrong decision on your first day at work.
It Makes It Easier For You To Create Your Interview Bucket List
Paying attention to employer branding will help you create and manage your interview bucket list. As a professional, you should always have an interview bucket list, a list of 10-20 companies you'd love to work for. Companies with strong employer brands will have a higher chance of landing on your interview bucket list because you'll be able to find enough information about them and decide whether they're the right company for you.
What are their values and beliefs as an organization? Do you feel connected to their mission? Are you passionate about what they do? A company with a strong employer brand will help you figure out the answers to these questions very easily so you can conduct an efficient and effective job search.
As you look for a job, remember the importance of employer branding. The companies that spend time building their employer brands are often the companies that have great company cultures, benefits, and other things they're proud of that are worth showing off. The ones that don't—well, that sends quite a different message.
Struggling to find the right job?
Check out Work It Daily on TikTok for daily job opportunities and snapshots of great companies!
For more great companies, check out our Incredible Companies page!
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Here are seven great tips on writing LinkedIn invitations from our approved career experts:
1. Be Honest
"Explain why you want to connect with the person," says Amanda Haddaway, author of Destination Real World: Success After Graduation For New And Soon-To-Be College Graduates. "Just say something. There's nothing worse than receiving a LinkedIn request with the standard, generic format and not having any earthly idea who the person is or why he/she wants to connect with you."
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of Next Chapter New Life says honesty is the best policy when trying to connect with someone, especially if you're looking to do some serious networking. "If you want to work for their company," Tannahill-Moran says, "don't be shy about admitting that they are working for your targeted company and are looking for insights about that company. Open communication is always best."
2. Tell Them How You Know Them
"I get a lot of requests and I always appreciate a brief mention of why the person wants to connect," says Jenny Yerrick Martin of Your Industry Insider. "Whether they saw my post on LinkedIn Groups, found me through my website, or know someone who knows me in real life, that extra step usually gets me to accept the invitation."
3. Find Something In Common
When trying to to find something in common with your potential connection, Haddaway suggests asking yourself these questions:
- Is it a mutual career field or interest?
- Do you have connections in common?
- Are you connected through LinkedIn Groups?
Here's a request example offered by Debra Wheatman of Careers Done Write...
Dear Jane: I see that you are a member of X Group. I am also engaged with this group and would like to share some ideas with you. Please accept my invitation to connect.
This example is short and sweet, but it gets the point across effectively.
4. Make It Personal
"One-size-fits-all invitations are a waste of time," says Cheryl Simpson of Executive Resume Rescue. Always personalize your invitation to connect in some way, she advises. Mention a shared group membership, note a common contact, or point out similar backgrounds, education, or experience. If all else fails, tell the prospective contact what you hope you both will gain from the connection.
5. Be Enthusiastic
"If you're approaching the CEO/founder of a startup on LinkedIn, as part of a job search, you want to start and end by showing your enthusiasm for their business," says Kathy Ver Eecke of Working For Wonka. "Your expertise, background, and skill set should take a backseat to your enthusiasm and passion for their business. You want to get their attention and break the ice? Lead with that and you're in."
6. Reference Their Profile
Ben Eubanks of Upstart HR suggests taking a moment to check out your potential connection's profile and referencing something in it.
Example: "Hey, Mike! I saw on your profile that you attended XYZ University. I have a good friend who went there and have heard great things about it. I'd love the opportunity to connect with you. Thanks! Have a great day."
"Reaching out without offering some reason is a quick way to get your message relegated to the 'spam' folder, and LinkedIn will eventually suspend your account if you hit the limit of those responses," he says.
7. Thank Them
Arnie Fertig of Job Hunter Coach says it's important to thank the person in advance for agreeing to connect. Not only that, but you also want to offer to help him/her in any way possible and encourage them to call on you. That way, your potential contact feels like they can benefit from the connection. It's all about providing value. Remember, you get what you give!
The next time you're trying to connect with someone on LinkedIn, follow these seven tips. You'll grow your professional network faster than you think!
Want more career tips?
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 post was originally published at an earlier date.
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