The #LetteroftheDay is “F” as in Failure
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
According to the Edison Innovation Foundation, he operated on four simple principles taught to him by his loving mother:
- Never get discouraged if you fail. Learn from it. Keep trying.
- Learnwith both your head and hands.
- Not everything of value in life comes from books- experience the world.
- Never stop learning.
The job search process can be daunting, especially when things don’t go according to plan. After an interview, analyze what went well, what didn’t, and what can you do to improve and learn from it. Failure is not an option
The #LetteroftheDay is “R” as in Rapport.
With all the advances in technology – ATS systems, on-demand interviews, predictive index assessment, etc. people sometimes tend to forget that people make the final hiring decisions, not computers
Don’t underestimate a solid rapport with the hiring team. People generally want to be around other people that they like or connect with on some level.Prior to your interview, see what you can find out about the person conducting the interview. You may find out you went to the same school, have shared interests or philanthropic causes, or have mutual connections. All of these can serve as potential talking point during a meeting that can help you build a strong rapport.
The #LetteroftheDay is “H” as in Headline
What does your LinkedIn headline say about you? You have room for up to 120 characters on your headline, so make the most of them.
When you establish your LinkedIn profile, you are automatically assigned a headline that is simply Your current job title at Your current companyYour headline should be used to try to capture someone’s attention and entice them into reading your profile. Show others your unique value.
Whose profile are you most likely to click on?
- Sales Manager at Widgets Are Us
- Award-Winning District Sales Manager | Increased YOY Revenue 22% | Ranked #1 in North America
The #LetteroftheDay is “S” as in Salient
Your résumé only gets 7.4 seconds to make an impression on the reader!
In the short time that recruiters look at your résumé, they look at your name, current title and company, current position start and end dates, previous title and company, previous position start and end dates, and education.
It is critical to put the most salient information, your greatest career achievements, in such a way so that employers will easily identify the value you bring to an organization without having to wade through a sea of bullet points or read a paragraph.
A branded summary section showcasing your unique value is critical to capture the reader’s attention and entice them into wanting to know more. Lose the outdated objective and generic corporate speak and present your genuine you.
The #LetteroftheDay is “Y” as in Yellow
Colors, like yellow, bring out strong emotions in our daily lives. Yellow represents sunshine, hope, and happiness. How about using color on your résumé? Yes!
Using color on your résumé can help make your résumé look attractive and easy-on-the-eyes. It can help emphasize the areas of the résumé you want to draw your reader’s attention to. Additionally, it can help your résumé stand out from the crowd.
When selecting a color, consider your industry, audience, and personality. Blue is traditional and conservative, ideal for finance, while green would be perfect for a biologist. Bright colors like orange can be distracting, while lighter colors tend to get lost against a white background.
The #LetteroftheDay is “N” as in Negativity
To be clear, you don’t have to be a negative person in general to come off the wrong way during an interview. Certain questions such as, “Why do you want to leave your current company?” or “What is your weakness?” can lead to rants that don’t present us in the best possible light.
The interview is only one example of how negativity can affect your employability though, your social media posts can say much more about your views of your current employer, your supervisor, or life in general.
Before beginning your job search, review your posts, photos, and comments from your social media sites and remove anything that could present you or your employer in a negative light. It could make a difference.
The #LetteroftheDay is “F” as in Facebook
According to a recent JobVite survey, more than 65% of employers use Facebook in their recruiting, making Facebook the second most popular social network for hiring.
Keep in mind that employers often use Facebook as a tool to screen applicants – over 90% of employers and recruiters use Facebook to gather additional information about you, and over 70% have rejected job seekers based on inappropriate photos, comments, or content.
Make sure you sanitize your content for anything that may be deemed inappropriate and tighten up your privacy settings.
