Excuses holding you back from your dream job
Everybody wants the dream job, but most people have nothing but excuses to validate why they’re still at a dead-end job.
www.careerealism.com
Here are the excuses that prevent people from achieving the job of their dreams.
1. YOU’RE TOO YOUNG.
Success doesn't have a minimum age requirement. Don’t believe? Ask Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richardson Branson, and Steve Jobs.
2. YOU’RE TOO OLD.
Just as success doesn’t have a minimum age requirement, it also doesn’t have an age limitation. Everyday, Corporate world and the news media tell 55 year-olds that their time is up. This is nonsense. Veterans have something young bucks don’t have, which is experience. Where older people go wrong is they don’t market themselves and position their experience properly. They over-index on the importance of their shiny resume when a resume is no longer good enough. What about your website portfolio? What about your pile of reference letters? What about your blog or your book? The list goes on and on. Veterans shouldn’t feel bad though because young people aren’t doing these things either.
YOU DON’T HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE.
Yes it’s true, a college degree is still important and it still helps you get your foot in the door, but it’s becoming less and less valuable to employers as there’s too high a supply of people with college degrees and not enough people with verifiable skills and experience. If you want to get the job of your dreams, stop dwelling on your lack of education and begin focusing on gaining experience. Be willing to start from the bottom, bust your hump, and work your way to the top. Don’t take this advice to heart too much though.
YOU’RE NOT SMART ENOUGH.
What does ‘smart’ even mean? There are tons of ‘smart’ people who make really stupid choices. ‘Smart’ is meaningless, and the effort put behind the measurement of your self-worth based on being ‘smart’ is worthless. You are just as capable as anyone else.
YOU HAVEN’T PAID YOUR DUES.
This might be true. However, more often than not it’s an excuse that’s often times planted into people’s minds by jealous and bitter co-workers who had to stab backs just to get a sit in middle-management. No two people’s experiences dictate the outcome of one another. Paying your dues also shouldn’t be indicative of taking part in a multi-year hazing experiment. Your only job as an employee is to do your work, provide value and achieve results. If this has been accomplished and you still haven’t found your dream job, continue searching; you will eventually find it.
YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.
Are you willing to work hard and do whatever it takes? If so, then you have what it takes.
YOU’RE NOT QUALIFIED.
This is a mind game used by managers who intend on de-valuing your self-esteem and self-worth so that they can obtain your employment for less than market value. Don’t fall into this trap. If you’ve read the job description and you meet the qualifications, then you’re qualified. Keep your head held high and go for what’s yours.
YOU’RE UNSKILLED.
If you lack the skills necessary to provide you with better job opportunities then obtain more skills. Problem solved.
5 Things To Consider Before Quitting Your Job
Quitting. It’s a huge decision. It’s also something all of us have considered at least once.
Thinking about quitting your job? Before you make any rash decisions, you need to ask yourself a few very important questions.
(The last thing you want to do is regret a major life move like quitting your job.)
Here are five things you should consider before quitting your job:
1. HAVE YOU SERVED IN THAT JOB FOR TWO YEARS?
What the heck is the two-year rule, and why does it matter? Well, typically, it takes a few months to train and get comfortable in a position. However, most people aren't just automatically great at their jobs. They need to take some time to hone their new skills and really provide value to the company before they can market those new skills toward another job.
2. DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE?
Have you built up enough experience so you can effectively market yourself for another role? You may need to stay a little longer so you can build that credibility and really hone those skills. That way, you’ll have a better shot of getting that job you really want.
3. ARE YOU OVERWORKED?
Are you feeling like things are getting a little out of control? Are you just burned out? If that’s the case, you want to try to “reclaim” the job, look for assistance, tools, and resources so you can take more control over your job and tasks.
4. HAVE YOU TRIED TO ENERGIZE THE ROLE, OR TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
Sometimes, we get bored, we know the job like the back of our hand, it’s easy, and we’re looking for more of a challenge. So, you should be stepping up to the plate and ASKING for those responsibilities.
Instead of quitting, it might be a good time to leverage the skills you've learned.
5. IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON?
Are you blaming work when it’s really something going on in other areas of your life? Things like relationship issues or other challenges can cause extra stress. If you’re blaming your job for that extra stress, quitting is probably not your best option because that stress is just going to carry over to the next job. It’s better to resolve the issues that are happening outside of work before you leave your job.
If you choose to quit a job, don’t do it without having another job lined up first,
the average job search takes about nine months. NINE! That’s a long time to be without work.
the average job search takes about nine months. NINE! That’s a long time to be without work.
Think it through and make smart choices. If it’s time to quit, you know what to do!
Choose the best resume font
There are hundreds of fonts out there from which to choose, but not all are appropriate for use in a resume.
SERIF AND SANS SERIF FONTS ARE MOST RECOMMENDED
There are two font families that recruiters and HR managers seem to like the most:
> Serif
>Sanserif
The Serif font family means the fonts have tails; and Sans Serif means they are missing the tails on the ends of letters.
Popular font types in the Serif family include Georgia and Times New Roman—while popular Sans Serif fonts include Verdana and Arial. It’s a good idea to note, however, some managers have disdain for Times New Roman and Arial because they tend to be used so often.
FIND FONTS THAT WORK ON ALL TYPES OF COMPUTERS
There are some cool fonts out there you may be tempted to use because they look both professional and appealing. But if you want to ensure your resume translates well on PCs (Windows) and Macs, it’s better to pick fonts available on both.
SIDESTEP ‘FUN’ FONTS
Also, when choosing fonts, it’s a good idea to sidestep cursive fonts like Comic Sans or other fun fonts that you might enjoy but lack professionalism. The only exception to the “fun” font might be if you’re submitting your resume for a unique job—such as one in the entertainment industry. But even then, it’s good to know for sure the employer will be agreeable to this before creating your resume.
While you’re thinking about font types, it’s also wise to remember the average font size for a resume is 10 to 14 points (10-12 for regular text and 12-14 for subheadings). By thinking as much about your fonts as the content in your resume, you’re sure to create a document a hiring manager is eager to read.
10 Things Recruiters Won’t Tell You (But I Will!)
Recruiters have one job: Find the right person for the position.
Their performance is evaluated on how efficiently and effectively they match top talent to job requirements.
Ironically, in the current economy,recruiters are finding their jobs harder than ever.
I’m serious.
There’s too much talent for them to weed through. What used to be “finding a needle in a haystack” has now become “finding a needle in ten haystacks.”
As a result, recruiters have to determine a candidate’s marketability much quicker.
People skills, attire, etc. all become more important when competition amongst talent is this fierce.
Reality check: Those who are failing to make a good first impression get put in the “no” pile and are never contacted again.
So, if you aren’t getting called back by a recruiter after either an in-person meeting or talking by phone, there’s a good chance that, in addition to the fact you didn’t have the right skills, you also might have displayed one or more traits on the “I can’t market them” list.
Now, most recruiters won’t tell you what you did wrong.
Why?
For one reason, they aren't paid to give you the bad news. Second, they don’t want to burn a bridge. And third, as I mentioned, they just don’t have the time.
And yet, how are you going to fix the problem if you don’t know it exists?
I’ve put together the most common reasons why a recruiter writes a candidate off. You may not like what you read, but the good news is with a little attention and practice, all of them can be improved upon. So, ask yourself, “Am I guilty of the following?”
TOP 10 THINGS RECRUITERS WON’T TELL YOU
- Your interview attire is outdated/messy/too tight/too revealing/too flashy.
- Your physical appearance is disheveled/outdated/sloppy/smelly/overpowering (i.e. too much perfume).
- Your eye contact is weak/shifty/intense.
- Your handshake is limp/too forceful/clammy.
- You say ah/um/like too much.
- You talk too much/use poor grammar/say inappropriate things (i.e. swearing) when you answer interview questions.
- You appear overconfident/pushy/self-centered/insecure/aloof/ditzy/scatter-brained/desperate.
- You talk too fast/too slow/too loud/too soft.
- You giggle/fidget/act awkward/have facial tics/lack expression.
- You lack sincerity/self-confidence/clarity/conviction.
SO, HOW DO YOU FIX THESE?
Well, given 93% of communication is non-verbal, I can tell you that many of the negatives above can be improved by focusing on one thing: attitude.
If you are angry, fearful, or confused, it’s going to show. You must find a way to feel good about yourself and your ability to contribute. This comes from knowing your strengths and embracing them. It also comes from doing your homework on a company so you can articulate clearly and with enthusiasm why you would be a great fit for the job. I realize this is easier said than done, but it can be done.http://www.careerealism.com/10-things-recruiters-wont-tell-you-but-i-will/
2015- Quotes for your career
If you are considering changing careers in the new year, or if you want to advance in your current career, there are many quotes that will inspire you to do what is necessary to achieve those goals. Once you have established the career goals you hope to reach this year, post these inspiring quotes in conspicuous places so that you see them often. They will help you focus on your goals and work toward success.
“One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don't choose your passions; your passions choose you.” --Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon
“A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” --Colin Powell
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”--Albert Einstein
“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” --Steve Jobs
“Never continue in a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. And if you have that...you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined.”--Johnny Carson
