Too many of us believe that there is some badge of honor to be had if we never leave our desks during the workday. Indeed, we work circles around our colleagues while we wait for our bosses to notice and give us a huge salary increase or a plum promotion. At the very least, we should get the "Employee of the Year Award," right? The trouble is that that hardly ever happens. Hardly ever? Who am I kidding… it never happens except in the movies… or in our poor deluded fantasies. Related: 5 Quick Tips For Working In Walking At Work The fact is that no one cares if you are putting your health at risk in your effort to impress the boss with your Energizer Bunny dedication, unless, of course, you get sick because you have been working too much and not taking care of yourself. If you are out sick for any period because you have compromised your health, you will get noticed all right, but for all the wrong reasons. Increasingly, we are learning of the dangers inherent in sitting at our desks for too long and of not working on the creation of a greater sense of balance in our daily lives. Study after study offers evidence of the health consequences of living a sedentary lifestyle, which includes working too long and sitting at our desks without frequent breaks. The remedy, or at least one of several possible remedies, is to take a more realistic approach to your workday. That includes taking frequent breaks during the day and going out to lunch whenever you can. If you can't go out for lunch, at least get away from your desk at lunchtime. The research is clear. Sitting for too long at your desk is bad for your health. A sedentary lifestyle that includes being at your computer for too long at a stretch can lead to increased risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sitting for extended periods can also lead to poor posture and weak back muscles. Sitting in one spot for extended periods also strains your eyes and the muscles in your neck and shoulders. And finally, staying with a problem for too long without taking a break can delay your ability to see the problem differently and come up with a solution more quickly. The bottom line is you need to take frequent breaks throughout your workday. You need to take both a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon break of at least 15 minutes each. You also need to go out to lunch to get away from your desk completely for at least 30 minutes. If you can't "go out" then at least eat your lunch in the break room or the company cafeteria, but avoid eating a snack at your desk answering emails, fielding phone calls and calling that "lunch." Your body and your brain need frequent breaks throughout the day. Your body needs to stretch; your eyes need a break from the glare of your computer, and your brain needs an opportunity to refresh every so often. Failing to take frequent breaks during the day will only make your physically ill in the long run, and no one will be giving you any awards for that. Additionally, not only will you be creating hardship for your colleagues, but the workload will also mount in your absence. You need to take a break every little while throughout the day. You need to pace yourself. You need to take care of YOU. You will feel better; you will be healthier; you will be more creative. At the end of the day, you will also be a happier employee. This post was originally published on an earlier date.
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)?