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7 Job Tips From Your Future Self

A couple of weeks ago, CNN published an article, “Six Tips From Your Future Self,” where the wise and elderly “You” offer life tips about managing your future finances and opportunities. I thought that I would take a hint from that article and offer job tips from a wiser, and older self. What would the older you say to the you now? I borrowed some of these tips from the article, and hope they will help.

1. Avoid prioritizing salary if possible

Job seekers with extended unemployment should seek professional financial planning. This will help you view money from a sober and balanced perspective. Desperate job seekers mistakenly look to salary to save them, and bad judgment follows. Discuss salary when it’s appropriate. Hint: It’s not the time in the first interview.

2. Take inventory of your deliverables

Before writing a résumé, evaluate and identify the skills that repair problems that an employer wants to address. Objectivity is a challenge for anyone, but for job seekers it is critical to establish a great first impression when talking to employers. Be sure you can deliver before you offer.

3. Seem relaxed at every important interview, meeting, networking event

It is hard to think and act when the blood pressure spikes. Calming techniques are useful at gatherings that a favorable impression is critical. It is rare that a high-strung individual impresses anyone positively.

4. Leave the party at home

Whatever way you like to party doesn’t matter as long as you leave it at home. Even cigarette breath is offensive these days in any job-related meeting.

5. No hasty decisions

“Yes” or “No” could be the wrong answers. Are you asking questions at EVERY interview? Are you satisfied with the responses? Are you clear about the questions asked, and your answers? Beyond the interview, it is important to make well-informed decisions. If you are ever unsure, you have work to do.

6. Admit when you’re wrong

There is nothing wrong with changing you’re course of action, even it is the middle of another decision. Changing your mind is OK. Changing your course of action is OK too. It’s called humility.

7. Take control of your online profiles

Your activities online should lean towards business than pleasure. As an entrepreneur or a job seeker people will take in account who you are on-line as part of who you are as a potential business partner. Come across as you are ready for business, otherwise, you are leaving money on the table.

8. Ask for help (BONUS TIP!!)

There is a coach and mentor for everything, and many times it’s a great investment. If you can’t hire someone, then you really can ask opinions and advice of knowledgeable friends. You don’t have to go down the untraveled road alone.

Why not be the wise man now? It takes planning, researching, and careful implementation to be successful, or at least to appear wise.

Is there one more thing you would like to add to this list? Do you mind sharing it below?

by Mark Anthony Dyson

The Great Job Search Will Fail Forward

The great job search will fail forward. Tomorrow will bring good results after trails, snags, and failures, and that is good. People who are conducting using a wide range of resources, people, and opportunities are not afraid to fail and benefit. Those who are conducting job searches using easy methods fail with no benefits. It’s that simple.

There are “NO” short cuts!
Resilient and steadfast people understand that “no” is part of the road to hearing yes. Job seekers must withstand rejection, smile, and be ready to do it again in an hour. Job seekers will hear “no” several times a day, even during the holidays. They must be ready to endure and work around many obstacles. It is part of the process.

Disappointment such as follow-up calls and email from job seekers asking about their application, resume, or voice mail will hear “no” repeatedly. A persistent job seeker filters through “No!” The same attitude MUST wade through the waters of no replies, unanswered inquiries, and vague answers from administrative assistants. This what makes the job search process scary and daunting–the risk of reject is frequent and unpredictable.

The rejections will lead to “YES,” eventually.
Many of us hate the follow-up call for anything. This is a habit of successful people who are in sales, and who are executives. They become skilled negotiators and influence many because they have entertained “no” constantly throughout their careers. The fruit of rejection is not always a corrupt tree. Think of it as a tree of good fruit as bad fruit will always drop to the ground.

Look at the resume one more time for an error.
Think about your answer to the hard questions one more time.
Stop obsessing over rejection. Start using it to perfect the delivery of goods that only you possess.

Success is the fruit of failure.

People who have little patience to wait, or little tolerance for rejection fail often. They are afraid to try, and fear being told “no.”
People who do not see failure as part of the design for survival. Some very talented, underemployed yet to be job seekers are wasting their talent because they avoid rejection.
The fear of success overcomes many of the responsibility of helping others.

I thought I would include Denzel Washington’s University of Pennsylvania speech to reiterate the ideal of “failing forward.” Hope you enjoy it.

Do you fit into one of these categories? Do you hate hearing “no” or any form of rejection? Do you fear success? Let me know what part of the job seeking process scares you.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Your Spouse Can Help With The Holiday Job Search

Do you and your spouse attend holiday gatherings held by one another’s friends and families? No? Please, reconsider. This year, see it as an job networking opportunity, and not a waste of time. It is not a time to beg for contacts or a job. Don’t use this time to survey. It is a time to become familiar with a readily available contact pool.

No expectations other than having some productive conversations. Here are my suggestions for having subtle but significant social conversations.

It’s 80-90% about them

People love talking about themselves and their successes (notice I did not say problems). Ask him or her how did they reach this part of their success? Ask them questions related to their training and responsibilities. What makes them tick? Be sure to learn first and last names, and ease up on Mr. Walker, please.

The other 10-20% is barely about you

Again, begging and pleading is a turn-off. However, helping has value that keeps giving beyond the holidays. Yes, see if there are ways to help during a party! Less is more, and when done with caution, you can dictate the terms of engagement. (Hint: If I feel welcomed by the host, and gotten to know them well enough, I volunteer to help with…garbage. Proceed with caution.) Ultimately, you can ask for more information away from the gathering preferably after the holiday.

Your spouse can go to bat for you

If you hit it off with your spouse’s co-worker, then he or she can relieve you of the grunt work. It doesn’t matter if the person will refer you to a different company or the same, co-workers unless adversaries will talk. Talk with your spouse before the party to help him or her understand that you are partying with a purpose. If your spouse is uncomfortable with that, DON’T do it!

These same rules apply to family and other social gatherings. As long as you don’t come across desperate, you can find untapped resources from the people you party with during the holidays. If you are successful in finding someone generous enough to give you names, numbers, and more still follow-up sooner than later by thanking them. A phone call is appropriate, but sending them a thank you gift is too friendly. Remember, subtlety.

I should mention that the holidays are opportunities waiting to happen. It’s slower, and call Human Resources may not be the egg hunt that occurs during non-holidays, particularly after January 1. So use the slow period to your advantage, it is the best time to network.