"No matter how far down you have been, see how your experience can help others.”
This is one of the promises from most of the 12 step programs, which is the spiritual foundation of how people help each other by the simple association of commonly shared experiences. This goes so much further in life, in the commitment to mentor others and each other.
My love affair with mentoring began many years ago. I really enjoy watching others grow, being there for those 'ah-ha' moments and being a part of this human process. Sharing your wisdom can have many benefits for you in addition to those you help.
As someone who has always been drawn to and excited about new experiences, challenges and ideas, I have watched and studied those who successfully achieve. I have reached out to others for guidance, direction and support as an integral part of my support system for a very long time. The payoff has been big!
I have learned how important it is to give back and pay it forward with sharing my knowledge and experience with others. The axiom is so true: my wisdom and experience only has value if I share it to benefit others! Having said this, I also know we only have so much time to do all that we need to do to balance our warped speed lives.
Here are 3 ways I have found to integrate this into my life, and the benefits are big.
1. Be selective in choosing who you are going to invest this time with. The relationship must be mutual and a shared commitment. When the timing is right, the opportunity will present itself. The expression, “when the teacher is ready the student will appear” is right on here.
2. Wisdom and experience comes in all ages and types of people. This is not just an “older to younger” set up. I have learned so much from people not only older than me, but many years younger than me. Generational sharing and richness is a must especially now that we have four generations in the workplace. Don’t forget those powerful and sometimes unexpected “random acts of kindness” that can happen anytime, any day. They transform me.
3. Use and leverage in person and technology tools to make this happen. The beauty of social networking is you can communicate, connect and stay in touch with people all the time, and it does grow the relationship. A balance of phone, in person and virtual can be a wonderful way to grow and sustain.
Success is NOT an overnight thing. Perseverance, vision, commitment and flexibility are commonalities I see in successful people today. All of them have sought wisdom and knowledge and share theirs with other to pay it forward.
Who can you help today with your wisdom and knowledge?
Did you enjoy this article? You can read more articles by this expert here. Also, check out all of our FREE webinars!The photo for this article is provided by Shutterstock.
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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
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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
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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
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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)?
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