8 Things Only Successful Job Seekers Can Say

8 Things Only Successful Job Seekers Can Say


Traditional job search is killing most people's dreams of a new job. Here's why.

Next to losing weight, finding a new position is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. However, just as many have already given up on the diet and exercise, lots have given up on finding a better job, too. Yet a few savvy professionals will succeed at finding greater career satisfaction this year. How? They finally learned theright way to look for work.

Traditional Job Search Is Severely Broken = You're Wasting Your Time

If you think job search involves putting together a résumé and cover letter so you can spend hours online looking at job postings and filling out tedious applications, then I can confidently say you will likely not find a new job any time soon. Here's why:

• The average job posting gets over 200 applicants.
• The first application is usually submitted within 200 seconds of the job being posted.
• The applicant tracking system (ATS) automatically eliminates at least half of those applicants because they don't meet basic match requirements set by the employer.
• Of the 100 remaining, 80 will be eliminated via a refined matching process.
• Of the 20 remaining applicants, recruiters will review and chose two to six candidates to pass along to the hiring manager.

That means you have less than a 3 percent chance of getting an interview!

Disruptive Job Search (or, How to Market Your Business-of-One)

Smart job seekers understand they need to disrupt the job search process to get noticed. It starts by realizing you are a business-of-one that needs to market your services to the employer. Instead of reacting to job postings, you proactively choose who you want to work for and then use a targeted, highly efficient process for establishing a connection with them. Are you this kind of job seeker? Let's find out!

The Eight Things Only Successful Job Seekers Can Say

If you can say all of the following, you are properly prepared to find a better career opportunity:

1. I know what problems I can solve that companies will pay good money for.
2. I can share who I am and what I want to do in three sentences or less.
3. I know 10 companies in my area that need my brand of expertise.
4. I have a clear networking plan to connect with at least five people at each of these companies.
5. My résumé and LinkedIn profile are optimized, focused, and error-proof.
6. My cover letter strategy gets them at "hello."
7. I have completed interview prep and am up-to-speed on behavioral interviewing.
8. I understand how to leverage informational interviewing to uncover hidden job opportunities and to get referred into competitive positions.

If you can't say "yes" to all eight of these questions, then you know exactly what you need to do next. Find resources to get you current on these key elements to disruptive job search. Not having all of these in place is like trying to finish a puzzle when you know pieces are missing--you'll never get it done.

P.S.: Don't Have the Time? Then You Really Don't Want a New Job

There's one other thing all successful job seekers share: They hate feeling they have no control over their future and are petrified of things getting worse. The reality is, job search takes effort. Nobody will do it for you. Successful job seekers are motivated by fear of failure and of staying unhappy and unfulfilled in their careers. Which means if you don't push yourself to get competent at disruptive job search, then you really don't want it bad enough. It's the hard truth. Ask yourself, "How will I feel if next year rolls around and my career isn't any better?" Are you really willing to let another year pass without improving your situation? Only you can answer that one!

Turn Job Interviews Into Job Offers With These Tips

Those who land the best jobs, in the shortest period of time, are those who never go on “autopilot.” They understand that a search is only over once you’ve accepted an offer. It doesn’t stop when you receive a call back, it definitely doesn’t stop during the first face-to-face interview, and each and every following interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate value and gain leverage.

Here Are Some Tips To Transform Yourself From “Candidate” To “Candidate Of Choice”:

1. Be Ruthless In Evaluating And Communicating Fit For The Role.

An employer should never be able to point out a vulnerability which you haven’t already identified and figured out a counter-strategy for. Ignore this and you’ll most probably get eliminated after the first interview.

Grab that job posting. Read it line by line, and be absolutely ruthless in identifying your match-up and areas of weakness.

To support match-up, insert quantifiable accomplishments within your resume that directly address key qualifications. If you don’t have this information on hand, contact former colleagues and bosses, dig through performance evaluations and find it.

For areas of weakness, come up with additional areas of expertise and experience you possess (otherwise known as “differentiators”). Highlight them strategically within the resume, and have them close at hand during the interview. That way, when you’re inevitably asked about them, you can pivot by sharing a story which highlights a differentiator.

2. Get As Much As You Give During Interviews.

Giving up free time sends a message of subservience, and opens the door to a never-ending interview process. Your time is valuable and you have zero patience for those who waste it. Got a 15-minute phone call coming up? Set a timer and say your goodbyes when it’s up. Same goes for 1-hour interviews.

After your first face-to-face interview, my recommendation is to not agree to further interviews without getting concrete feedback into where they are in the decision-making process. How many other candidates are in the running? What areas do they wish to specifically address during a follow-up interview? This will allow you to figure out whether they’re serious about hiring you, or just spinning their wheels.

3. Have 3-5 “Core Stories” In Your Back Pocket To Address Difficult Questions

Core stories, which can be pulled from either your professional or personal life, are meant to demonstrate qualities you wish to impress upon an employer. It’s a way to answer hard questions in an engaging (not self-congratulatory) manner.

Identify, rehearse, and have core stories on hand which can be used to answer questions like:

• Why should we hire you?
• Tell us about yourself?
• What’s your greatest strength?
• What’s your greatest weakness? Expert tip: this should be a story where you overcame a weakness and turned it into a strength (ex. a childhood stutterer who now presents confidently to large audiences.)

4. Have Insightful Questions At The Ready

Nothing demonstrates interest in a job quite like great questions. They also provide crucial insight into the company and whether it’s actually a good fit for you.

• Is this a newly created job or a vacancy that needs to be filled? If the latter, what happened to this person?
• What does a typical week look like? What are “crush” times?
• What’s a typical career path for a person in this job? In other words, what are the in-house growth opportunities available?
• How does this role fit into the larger organization?
• What’s essential for success in this position? How will my performance be judged?
• Who are my fellow team members, and can I meet them?

5. “I Want This Job!”

At the end of each interview, explicitly state your passion for this job and ask, “Is there anything we’ve talked about that raises a concern about my being a great candidate?” This will give you a chance to openly address any potential “red flags” (and shows major confidence).

Is Your Personal Brand Wrong?

Why A Rebrand?

You see, this careerist had developed a strong brand; earned a reputation as a ‘department savior.’ The problem? Most of the job offers were coming from companies in need of an immediate and truly challenging rescue. (It is a logical result. Don’t you think?) The issue is this careerist no longer wishes to come in and organize mayhem.

Now, it is not this person is not willing to ‘roll up their sleeves’ and work hard. But that their most prominent qualifications, the brand that was exuding from resume shouted, “give me your poorest, most chaotic department, with little or no employees, and non-existing resources—I like that!” The solution? A rebrand.

The Complexity Of Branding

Many careerists in a quest to outdistance other job seekers work on developing a personal brand—and that is great. The mistake is sometimes a careerist will launch a personal branding campaign based on what they have been told repeatedly they are best at. What’s the problem with that? Many of us are often cast into roles that we do not ENJOY just because we are good at them.

Yes, perhaps, when we first begin our careers that is good enough. Nevertheless, as we grow, learn more about ourselves, discover through experience what we truly take pleasure in, we often desire personal fulfillment in conjunction with meeting our financial needs. Consequently, we need to reevaluate, and yes—REBRAND!

The Value Offer (Unique Value Proposition)

First, let’s be clear. In order to win that job, you must solve a problem for employers. (Yes. This is true.) Please know companies are looking for candidates because they need to solve a problem. So, if boarding a sinking ship, steering it, and hoisting it out of turbulent waters is what you enjoy—ahoy! But (pay close attention now), as an example, if you do not desire to save a department from flounder—what then is your value offer?

Perhaps taking the department to the next level? Offering higher returns? Guaranteeing more efficiency? Promising to train even better employees? Yes, you can present a solution to a challenge they have not yet faced. Think about the latter. How often have you purchased a product you originally didn’t know you needed but as it turns out it has made your life easier? Branding. Targeting. Marketing!

You and only you can answer the question of what your value offer is, but be assured you must offer value.

What This Means For You

You must pay close attention to what you are offering via your resume and brand. What you promote most prominently will attract those in need of just that. It is that simple. It is not just about outdistancing and differentiating yourself (although it is a key component of branding) but it is about attracting the right employer by targeting the right market and promoting the right brand.

Developing the right brand is a very complex self-analyzing process. You must be extremely cautious you do not promote an undesirable brand; coming into a department and sustaining things as they are is not a bankable or differentiating brand. Thus, you must evaluate and identify what you offer a corporation that provides them with an added value and concurrently position yourself to leverage the strengths you wish to implement in your daily work life.

What is your resume/brand saying about you? What is the value you are offering? And dare I ask you, what would make you happy?

3 Ways To Decide If The Position Is Right For You

I subscribe to the philosophy that work should be fulfilling and fun! I believe that even though it is “work,” your job, your career—your chosen vocation—should not feel so much like a chore. If you hate your job, or if you believe you chose the wrong career, it is imperative that you make a change sooner rather than later. Life is just too short and far too precious for you to be doing something that you don’t love and enjoy.

I believe the trouble is that when we are young and starting out, we often feel a greater sense of pressure to whatever job we can find. Any job is better than no job, and that is especially true if you are managing a ton of debt from going to school and getting your degree in these times of high tuition rates. It is also easy for young people to take jobs that don’t necessarily play to their strengths because they aren’t yet crystal clear on what their strengths are.

Whether you are more experienced or just starting out, here are three ways you can decide if a position is right for you.

1. Is it in alignment with your core values?

Each of us has a set of core values, and if we work in an environment or for a company that is out of alignment with those values, we will eventually become unhappy. Before you take a job, you need to determine the core values of the company. You can find them embedded in the company’s mission and vision statements. You can learn about the company’s values by talking to people who have had direct dealings with it whether it is an employee or as a customer or client. If you find that the company or organization has values that are in opposition to yours or are not in alignment with yours, then you are better served to decline a position with them. As important as money is, money alone won’t make up for your feeling that you are out of integrity with yourself.

I was unfortunate enough to work in an environment that made me feel out of integrity for a time, and I was miserable, so I know what I am talking about, I assure you. I witnessed actions on the part of my superior that I believed were unethical. I observed a so-called “leader” who was more of a master manipulator. The occasions when total untruths were told to both employees and superiors are too numerous to count. I would have been a whistle blower except that I felt that it would come down to “he said – she said.” To say I was miserable is a major understatement. Take it from me. If you can avoid a position that puts you in that kind of bind, do. No job is worth that pain in the long.

2. Will there be room for advancement over time?

This question is one that you will only answer if you ask the right questions and you do your homework before you take the job. You probably can’t expect to come in at the top of the organization unless you’re already an executive. If you are just starting out, the prospects of advancement would be important to consider. Will there be room for promotion? Are there other roles in the organization that you might grow into over time? Most people would like an opportunity to grow over time as opposed to staying stuck in the same job for years. No one wants to stay in the same position forever! Finding a place where you may have room for growth and advancement will be important to you over time.

3. Do you like the people there and does the culture feel good to you?

The culture of a company or organization is important and often under appreciated. I have already shared that the culture in a previous position that I held was not so great for me. I have a former client who took a job that was perfect for her–on paper. We were so excited for her when she landed that job. It was right for her in every way until she actually started the job. How would we ever be able to anticipate that the culture she was about to enter would be hostile?

From the first week, however, she ran into trouble getting the training she needed. She was also teased by younger workers who seemed to take delight in forcing her into uncomfortable positions. They played practical jokes on her. For example, they hid her phone from her and snickered among themselves when she got upset over it. Those examples are extreme, of course, but they were very real. Before taking a job, you may want to talk to some of the employees who are already working there to collect a little inside intel. Find out if people feel respected there. Inquire about whether or not co-workers support one another or undermine their fellow workers. Culture impacts your day-to-day experience of a workplace, so don’t under estimate its importance.

Given that you spend at least a third of your life on the job (if not more), it only makes sense that you give taking a position with a company a lot of thought. Consider each of these three questions carefully before you take any position. You owe it to yourself to use caution and be smart about where you decide to work.

4 Signs Your Interview Isn’t Going Well

You did it – you got the interview. You may think the hard part is over, but don’t sit back and relax just yet. There’s a lot that can go wrong during an interview, and in many cases, small things that happen during the conversation can cost you the job.

So how do you know if your interview is going off the rails so that you can hope to turn it around? There are a few telltale signs you should look for.

1. They don’t try to sell you on the company.

Have you ever heard the expression “An interview is about you trying to get to know the company just as much as they’re trying to get to know you?” It’s true – you should be evaluating the company as they’re evaluating your experience and skills. But if you’re doing this and the interviewer isn’t working hard to sell you on the company’s good traits, it’s probably not a good sign. Companies want their chosen candidate to accept the job offer, so for their top picks, they’ll typically try to mention job perks, company culture, opportunities for growth, and other positives.

2. You’re only asked the easy questions.

This may seem counter-intuitive. After all, if the company likes you, why would they ask you the challenging questions? But interviewers ask tough questions to candidates they’re considering because they want to see how they think on their feet, and see how they will react to tough job situations. If they aren’t actually considering you, they’ll stick with the easiest questions to answer.

3. The interview never gets personal.

When interviewers are interested in a candidate, they will attempt to get to know them on a deeper level than questions like “What are your strengths?” can accomplish. They will often engage in chit-chat to make sure you’d be a good culture fit, and to make sure your personality will mesh well with other team members. If questions stay surface-level, there aren’t follow-up questions based on your answers, and the interviewer is cut-and-dry instead of diving into more personal questions, you’re probably not a top candidate.

4. There’s no mention of next steps.

Typically, at some point in the second half of the interview, the interviewer will bring up salary expectations, references, or follow-up interviews. Even if they don’t do this, they’ll at least tell you at what point you should hear back about moving forward with your candidacy, or the estimated time that they’re trying to fill the position. But if an interview ends without a discussion about what the next steps in the process are, it probably means there won’t be any.

So what can you do if you start seeing some of these signs throughout the interview? There’s a chance that you may not be able to turn it around if the interviewer has already made up their mind – but there are a few tactics you can employ to give yourself the best shot.

Stay positive.

Remember that there’s a good chance the interviewer is having a busy day, has a million other things on his or her mind, or just doesn’t have a very friendly or engaging personality. By projecting confidence and positivity, you have a chance to turn around their first impression.

Ask great questions.

This approach has two potential benefits. One is that you can ask the interviewer outright if they think you’d be a good fit for the role – that way, if they bring up a specific concern they have with you or your experience, you have the chance to address it. Second, many recruiters and interviewers find that the type of questions a candidate asks say a lot about them. By asking insightful, thought-provoking questions, you may be able to increase the interviewer’s positive perception of you.

Think of it as practice.

Even if you feel pretty confident that you won’t get the job based on these signs, you can at least view the interview as good practice for a job that’s a better fit for you. Try your best, and make a mental note of what you can improve the next time.

Interviews are difficult, and no one likes knowing that their conversation isn’t going as well as they’d like. But by employing these tactics, you can have a better sense of what your interviewer is thinking, and attempt to course-correct to get the job.

The All-Time Best Way To Find A Job

A certain man, we’ll call him Patrick, was in dire financial straits. His business was failing, his wife had left him, and he was behind in his mortgage payments. Patrick’s desperation was so strong that he started playing the Lottery.

After several months without winning the Lottery, Patrick became really desperate, and decided to go to church to pray. He sat in a back pew, so as not to disturb anyone else, and started praying. “Oh, God,” he prayed, “You can see how badly off I am. Please, please, please let me win the Lottery.”

A week later, he still hadn’t won the Lottery. So he went back to church. “God, this is Patrick. I’ve been Your faithful servant for many years. I really need to win the Lottery.”

Another week went by. Still no Lottery winnings. This time, Patrick didn’t even bother with church, he sank down to his knees in his living room. “Oh, God, are you sure you have the right Patrick? I’m Patrick O’Donaghue, and I’m from—”

Just then a blinding light filled the living room, and a thunderous voice said, “Patrick, my son. Help me out here. Buy a ticket.”

I tell this story to demonstrate the best-kept secret to job-hunting success: You won’t get anywhere without plunging in.

“What do you mean, Jack?” you demand. “I have a resume, and it’s posted on Monster.”

To this I say, Good for you. But what else are you doing to market yourself? Are you on LinkedIn? Are you on Facebook? Twitter? Do you post regularly to these sites? What LinkedIn groups do you belong to? What message are you posting about yourself?

If you’re going to get anywhere, you have to plunge right in. That means making sure your resume will show a prospective employer how you can solve his or her problem(s). Sometimes it means convincing that employer that his or her house is on fire, and that you’re the fire fighter.

How about your LinkedIn profile? Are you one of those people who doesn’t show your face? Do you understand why a picture is so important? And yes, I get that you’re worried about putting your picture out there. Just please be aware that LinkedIn advises that you are 14 times more likely to have your profile viewed if you have a photo. Let’s face it; humans are visual. And we want to do business with people we know, like, and trust. In the case of a LinkedIn photo, the adage is correct that “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

And what else have you done to draw attention to yourself? Do you at least repost material you find that may interest your prospective customers or employers? Do you blog? YOU: “Who, me? Write a blog? Myself?” Yes, you. Writing isn’t the horrible fate you’ve always thought it was. When the teacher assigned a 500-word composition as a punishment, she or he never realized that you weren’t learning your lesson, you were learning to hate writing, to associate it with being punished.

So try. If you fail, try again. And again. Read blogs you like, and try to approximate what they do. Read everything you can get your hands on. You’re probably going to be using your native language, for crying out loud. Make your first attempts offline, in MS Word or some other word processing app. If you devote just 15 to 30 minutes each day to writing, you’ll get better. You’ll at least get good enough to write your own blog posts.

Do you post to Facebook and Twitter? On LinkedIn, have you joined any groups that interest you? Try answering a few posts, as writing practice for your blog.

The important thing through all of this is that you need to explore ways to get yourself known. The old way, where you just walked into the company and filled out an application, is no longer viable. Today’s world demands that you show your value, that you network with others. You need to take an active role in selling yourself. As the Lord said to Patrick, “Buy a ticket.”

This post was originally published at an earlier date.

3 Things To Think About Before Changing Careers

1. Decide what you want.

As a Career Makeover Coach, when I meet people for their first consultation, I ask them, “So what do you want to do?” More often than not, I get a blank look and a shrug of the shoulders. This is especially true of the individuals who were working and got laid off or terminated. Even if they hated their previous job, they were not planning to go anywhere, and now that they are suddenly out of work, they are at a loss as to what to do next.

What I don’t want for any of my clients is that they take a job that they wind up hating. My belief is that life is too short to spend it doing anything that you hate for a living. Jobs are insidious in that they can trap you into thinking that you have to “settle.” You don’t.

Knowing what you want to, however, can be a tricky proposition. You need to get in touch with what you are. Consider the following questions and really give them some thought. What are your talents? What are your natural dispositions and inclinations? What are your special and unique gifts? Are you good in math? Are you a writer? Are you an artist or a musician at heart? Do you enjoy working with your hands? What kinds of problems do you like to solve? What are your hobbies? How do you love to spend your time? Wouldn’t it be better for everyone involved if you could spend your time in a job that called on your best assets and rewarded you in ways that go beyond a paycheck?

This desire for work that is meaningful accounts for the popular idea that you can follow your passion and find your next job. I know some people discount this notion, and some people think that is hokey or “woo-woo.” I don’t. I think you should investigate carefully what you want to do with your life and then go for it instead of settling for a job or career that just makes you miserable.

Life is a journey, and it is all about learning. When I was young, I was lucky enough to land a job that was perfect for my natural aptitudes and general dispositions. As the school librarian for four different elementary school libraries over the course of 30+ years, I was definitely in my element. I loved books, and they surrounded me! I loved kids, but I loved not being solely responsible for them all day long, too. I especially loved the periods of solitude where I worked on cataloging and shelving, and just “being,” while doing a job that I felt was meaningful while it was also personally fulfilling. I didn’t get rich, and for some periods during my early career, I had to opt for second jobs to pay the bills, but I managed.

In this phase of my career as a Career Makeover Coach, I get to indulge my love of writing and sharing my experience and expertise with others. I love encouraging people to take chances on themselves and considering the possibility of re-inventing and re-tooling themselves. I did it, so why not you? The first task, however, is to get clear about what it is you want to do and what you already know how to do well. If you are unclear, try reading What Color is Your Parachute by Richard N. Boles, Careerealism by J.T. O’Donnell, StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath, or taking an online assessment. If you need to, invest in a program like the Pathway Planner™ which is an in-depth career assessment tool that points out various aspects of your personality, aptitudes and inclinations. You can use it as an educational and career-planning tool to help you discover what career possibilities best suit you.

Finding the right career match for yourself will increase your probability of meeting success and satisfaction. If you are struggling in this area, there are several different assessments that can be found online for free or for a fee.

Some people benefit from journaling and describing in detail the type of job they believe would be best for them. Find a strategy that will work for you, and spend some time thinking deeply about where you want to take your next step professionally. There is no point in accepting the first thing that comes along if you are likely to be miserable. Your first priority as a job hunter or career switcher is to get in touch with what you believe your mission and purpose is, and find a job that is in alignment with that mission or purpose. You will enjoy a job that is in alignment with your core values far more than you will enjoy one that you feel has no real meaning.

2. The second thing to consider is whether your resume reflects what you want to do as opposed to what you have been doing.

Many people mistakenly believe that a resume is a strict summary of everything they have ever done and everything they have ever accomplished to date. Your resume should, instead, reflect the value that you bring to a potential employer. You need to answer the question, “What is in it for the company to take a chance on hiring me?”

Also consider: What problem(s) can you solve? Can you make the company money? Can you save the company money? Those are the main reasons anyone ever gets hired, so you need to craft your resume accordingly. The REAL purpose of your resume is to get you invited for an interview. If you forget that fact, you miss the point of writing a resume that presents you in the best possible light.

3. The third thing that you cannot afford to overlook is your LinkedIn profile.

Many people still don’t understand the real value of LinkedIn or know how to leverage it to help them land their next great job opportunity. Do not skip having a professional looking and fully optimized LinkedIn profile, and do not skip over the fact that you need to engage with individuals and groups inside of LinkedIn. Once you have fully optimized your profile, find Groups that are related to your professional area or interest. Join groups where you could interact with individuals who have the job or do work that you would enjoy. Like, share, and post articles that you see from others. Post articles of your own as long as they are well written and provide value.

Don’t mistake LinkedIn for Facebook. The purpose of your LinkedIn profile is to help you shine professionally. Facebook is for fun, friends, and family. Never confuse the purpose of the two platforms. Keep all of your LinkedIn messages and updates professional. Connect with others who are in the same or similar field. Reconnect with alumni with whom you may have lost touch. Use LinkedIn for networking virtually while you are also getting out of the house and networking in person (the fourth thing you should know about job hunting or career changing).

There are many moving parts to the job search process, and I have only touched on three and alluded to a fourth, which is networking. 

Changing jobs or careers can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. You can be successful if and when you learn the process. Take the time to know what you want and use your resume and LinkedIn profile as tools for helping you land the job or change to the career that will fulfill you both financially and emotionally.