Knowing how to stand out from other job candidates is important. This can be tough when there are more job seekers out there than you can count. However, there are several ways to set yourself apart from the competition, one of which could be to consider what you're passionate about. Life coach and creator of self-development program Forward Step, Bibi Caspari, shares some of her thoughts on why considering your passions matter for your professional success. If we're employed, we spend most of our waking hours on the job, especially if we work full-time. If you've got a job and you're only doing what you love after work, you might want to consider changing jobs. “Whatever your job is," said Caspari, “how can you find some way to make it something where you can bring your passion to it, where you can bring your love to it?" Doing something you love as a profession is more enjoyable and creates a better work environment. According to an article published in the New York Times, a recent study by James K. Harter and his other colleagues, “found that lower job satisfaction foreshadowed poorer bottom-line performance." The article went on to say that “when people don't care about their jobs or their employers, they don't show up consistently, they produce less, or their work quality suffers." Caspari's extensive background in cognitive behavioral therapy has taught her how thoughts will affect your outcomes, the quality of your work, your energy, and your creativity. As someone who runs a non-profit organization, Caspari gets to do something she loves and enjoys. However, it also means that she has to do a lot of things on her own. For this, she has learned to develop some strategies for the few things she isn't particularly passionate about. “For the things I don't particularly enjoy, I find my mood sours, I get tired more easily, and I'm less productive," said Caspari. One of the ways Caspari deals with unenjoyble tasks is to relate them to things she loves, like grant writing. “I love writing," saild Caspari. "The kind of writing I like is when I'm working on personal development stories for my blog that can enlighten people and help bring A-ha! moments to people. Grant writing isn't like that, and yet it is writing, and if I think of it as writing... and use words that can really help wake someone up... then I can bring my love of words and my love of writing to the craft of grant writing, and that will help me enjoy what I am doing." In addition, passions can tell employers a lot about you when you're looking for a job. Caspari said she likes looking at people's activities and interests when she hires volunteers for Forward Step because it tells her more about the person and what they have to offer. “In this economy, if you're a dime a dozen and there's nothing that distinguishes you, then how are you going to get the job?" said Caspari. “Don't hide who you are."
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)?