December 7th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 33%
How often have you gone to zig and ended up zagging instead? Just when you think you are having pizza for dinner, but your spouse decides they want burgers.
Agility in your career and the job search is often overlooked, especially by new graduates. People can become so focused on one particular job, company, or career path that they lose sight on other opportunities that may present themselves. Having a specific target is certainly not a bad thing; however, turning down an interview because a job only checks 8 of your 10 boxes can be foolhardy.
Industry experts estimated that up to 33% of jobs are newly created jobs based on someone’s specific skill set. The employer or recruiter you just turned down may have another job you are unaware of that checks all 10 boxes, or they may create a position for you.
Keep an open mind and remember that opportunities are around every corner.
December 8th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 450
At last count, there are 450 different applicant tracking system platforms.
With all the advances in technology – ATS systems, on-demand interviews, predictive index assessment, etc., people tend to forget that people make the final hiring decisions, not computers. While having your résumé optimized for ATS systems is essential, crafting your personal brand and telling your story is ultimately what matters.
During an interview, 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.
Before 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. These can serve as potential talking points during a meeting that can help you build a strong rapport.
December 9th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 23.
According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the average American consumers 23 pounds of ice cream annually. The 10 most popular flavors of ice cream are:
- Vanilla
- Chocolate
- Cookies N’ Cream
- Mint Chocolate Chip
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Buttered Pecan
- Cookie Dough
- Strawberry
- Moose Tracks
- Neapolitan
Just like everyone has their favorite flavor of ice cream, everyone has different values. Knowing your values helps you understand what drives you – what you enjoy, inspires you, and would like more of. By building a life and lifestyle around our values, we create a life that is more satisfying and meaningful to us.
Values change over time and deepen as you understand yourself better. Additionally, your values can also be situations, so what is true for you at work may not be right for you at home. When it comes to values, there is no right or wrong, only who we are.
December 10th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 3 million
While LinkedIn has 766 million users, only 3 million users share content on a weekly basis.
The world is good at telling us what we should do, how we should do it, why we should do it, and how we should feel. The media, LinkedIn “influencers,” authors, our supervisors, and various other entities have all the answers. The fact is when defining your career goals and determining what is important to you, stay true to your authentic self.
The first email I received on Friday was from a client informing me that she landed a new job and thanking me for my help. This type of email is precisely why I do what I do. My goal isn’t to have an entire team of writers, be on the top 25 LinkedIn influencers list, or change the industry; my goal is to earn a fair day’s pay and help others. Period.
Just because someone else has different goals doesn’t mean you need to follow suit. Follow your dreams, not someone else’s.
December 11th – The #NumberOfTheDay is 1095
Your career is a journey, so stop along with the way to appreciate what you’ve accomplished, the impact you have had on others, and the ways you have helped your company grow.
We often get bogged down with the minutiae and putting out fires that we fail to see the big picture, the value we bring, and the positives in our lives.
I would encourage everyone to write down three positive things you have been a part of every day. At the end of the year, you will have 1095 positive notes. Go back and read through your journal; you’ll be amazed at what you’ve accomplished.
