There’s no secret that job longevity is a lot less than it used to be. Related:10 Things You Should Never Ask Your Boss The days of working for the same employer with consistent raises and promotions for a decade or more are over. It still happens, but it’s few, far, and in-between. There’s a reason why employees lose their jobs much sooner these days. It’s because your boss wants to fire you and they had a termination date in mind the day they hired you. In an interview, James Altucher (distinguished entrepreneur, author, investor) mentioned that after the Great Recession, he spoke to one of his buddies who was an executive of a major American Corporation. James had a conversation with him about how employees were getting slaughtered as a result of the recession. His ‘buddy’ said something to the effect of, ‘We wanted it that way. It’s how we trim the fat.’ This is the mentality that has swept through Corporate America. Employers would rather lay off ⅓ of their workforce and make the remaining people standing do the jobs of those who were let go. This of course is in addition to the jobs they already have. This is why your work day gets longer and every year, because your company is intentionally under-staffed. Are the last men/women standing getting any additional compensation? Nope. Your boss wants to fire you and it’s vitally important that you understand this and accept it as soon as possible. Your life depends on it. Most jobs have no use for you after 2-3 years. They build this into their formula. This is why most companies cross-train their staff, because they don’t want anyone within their company to stand-out. If someone becomes too important and they decide to leave, the company or a department within the company could collapse. I understand the need for a corporation to protect itself, but back in the day things weren’t like this. Instead of playing defense, companies played offense. They provided great wages and benefits which kept their employees happy and free from the impulse of jumping ship to see if the grass was greener on the otherside. So, what does all of this mean? Times have changed and the duration of time you’re meant to be employed is becoming shorter and shorter. If you don’t do something to take control of your career you’ll end up losing everything! It’s time that you build a personal brand and build a network of influencers who are there for you when your boss inevitably gives you the ax. Don’t delay. Get started today! It’s time for you to conquer your career.
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)?