Positioning, Process, Persistence, Presentation, Personality Most people start looking for a job out of necessity (e.g., laid off, fired, their job was outsourced, the business closed) without a plan of action or any sense of direction, applying haphazardly to jobs posted online, in panic-like mode. Furthermore, most job seekers do not view a job search…
Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure - Confucius Would you disagree with Confucius? What about Polish-born American film producer Samuel Goldwyn, who once said a universal truth about achieving success when he said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”? Success is undeniably based on…
The right image can open doors, draw attention to strengths and qualities, and open doors to life-changing possibilities Four questions you should ask yourself as a job seeker: Who am I? What do I do, or what would I like to do? Why does it matter? How do I want others to perceive me? In…
Employers do not hire education; they hire candidates they believe will achieve the results they seek Many employers practice education snobbery. An employer is often judgmental about a candidate’s educational history, including the institutions attended, the courses taken, the marks received, or their lack of education. The pursuit of formal education beyond high school is…
Employers want employees who can produce tangible value for them through their skills “I don’t believe in work; I only believe in creating value.” – James Blacker The value created by employees determines a company’s survival and future. Therefore, when hiring, employers focus on the candidate’s potential value to their company. Most people see work…
A few suggestions on what you can negotiate besides your starting salary If you do not ask, you do not get. While we all know money is not everything, most job seekers only negotiate salary when negotiating a job offer. Presuming the hiring manager says, “$85K is the best I can do,” then your next…
My recommendations for increasing the chances of your email value proposition letter being read In my last column, I addressed the importance of writing a compelling value proposition letter to your job search. In this column, I will provide examples of value proposition letters you can send unsolicited to employers as part of your job…
Address a prospective employer’s pain points, and most employers will view you as gold There are many activities involved in job searching, such as networking, having an active result-oriented LinkedIn profile and resume, applying to jobs, interviewing, etc., to name a few. Aside from these job search activities, have you considered sending potential employers an…
Of all business activities, hiring is the most biased “Why didn’t I get the job?” is the most universal question job seekers ask. You will seldom know the real reason. Wishful thinkers sell themselves the false narrative that the most qualified candidate gets hired. This is simply not true. Of all business activities, hiring is…
There is nothing more advantageous for a job seeker than having a magnetic personality We all know someone who walks into a room and instantly turns heads. There is an immediate attraction to them without any apparent effort on their part. Their company makes you feel good. They seem cool, confident, collected, self-assured and comfortable…