The Secret to Getting a Job
Are you trying to find a job? If so, you've probably polished your resume, done some networking and are vigilant about checking on-line job postings in order to get a jump on submitting a job application and making personal contact.
While these are all good things to be doing the critical question is how you are presenting yourself? Like most people your attention will focus on your resume and accompanying cover letter making sure to include your education and certifications, the previous jobs you held and for how long, and maybe a little narrative as to what you accomplished for your employers during your tenure.
It is true that employers look for people with good skills.
That is, do they possess the ability to perform certain tasks and activities? For example, if you're looking for a bookkeeper does the person who has applied for the job know how to keep books? These kinds of skills are commonly referred to as "hard skills.
" They are generally tangible skills that can be readily taught and are easy to define and measure.
On the other hand, the employer also wants to know if the job applicant will keep good attendance, manage their time well, get along with other employees, etc.
These attributes are referred to as "soft skills.
" They are typically intangible skills that are harder to train, define and measure.
Now consider this, in an article published by West Virginia University only 15% of workers are fired for a lack of "hard skills.
" Or said another way, the vast majority of people are fired from their job because of a lack of good "soft skills.
" Soft skills are directly affected by your personal qualities or "who you are.
" It is difficult for a prospective employer to get a handle on who you really are during the job interview process.
The more you understand this and make an effort to help the employer get to know who you are, the more comfortable and confident a prospective employer becomes in trying to make a decision whether to hire you or not.
Your goal should be to anticipate these concerns and be proactive by presenting yourself as a person with the personal qualities they the employer are looking for in their work force.
Research the company to learn what they value or stand for by reading any statements on mission, vision and 'corporate values.
' Your individual personal qualities are intrinsic and come from deep within your belief system.
These beliefs were largely formed by the way you were brought up, the experiences you've had along the way, and by the things you've learned.
Your belief system determines how you think and how you think becomes "who you are.
" Often your problems are just symptoms of wrong thinking.
Outside forces do impact your life, but they aren't the determining factor in explaining why your life is the way it is.
The way you respond to what happens to you generally determines the condition of your life and the way you respond is a direct result of "how you think.
" Therefore, in order for you to change (if you have not previously demonstrated a particular personal quality, for example) you will need to change "how you think.
" This is done by internalizing what is new and having it become a lifelong habit through repetitive practice and application.
Making changes in your personal traits or attributes require a structured and disciplined approach.
Understandably, change does not happen overnight, but science has proven that you can develop a new habit with focus and consistency over a 21 successive day period of time.
So see you there...
THE SECRET IS IN YOU! The fact that people can change is an exciting prospect because to the extent you can make positive changes you will gain the opportunity for success in all areas of life including...
'Getting a Job.
'
While these are all good things to be doing the critical question is how you are presenting yourself? Like most people your attention will focus on your resume and accompanying cover letter making sure to include your education and certifications, the previous jobs you held and for how long, and maybe a little narrative as to what you accomplished for your employers during your tenure.
It is true that employers look for people with good skills.
That is, do they possess the ability to perform certain tasks and activities? For example, if you're looking for a bookkeeper does the person who has applied for the job know how to keep books? These kinds of skills are commonly referred to as "hard skills.
" They are generally tangible skills that can be readily taught and are easy to define and measure.
On the other hand, the employer also wants to know if the job applicant will keep good attendance, manage their time well, get along with other employees, etc.
These attributes are referred to as "soft skills.
" They are typically intangible skills that are harder to train, define and measure.
Now consider this, in an article published by West Virginia University only 15% of workers are fired for a lack of "hard skills.
" Or said another way, the vast majority of people are fired from their job because of a lack of good "soft skills.
" Soft skills are directly affected by your personal qualities or "who you are.
" It is difficult for a prospective employer to get a handle on who you really are during the job interview process.
The more you understand this and make an effort to help the employer get to know who you are, the more comfortable and confident a prospective employer becomes in trying to make a decision whether to hire you or not.
Your goal should be to anticipate these concerns and be proactive by presenting yourself as a person with the personal qualities they the employer are looking for in their work force.
Research the company to learn what they value or stand for by reading any statements on mission, vision and 'corporate values.
' Your individual personal qualities are intrinsic and come from deep within your belief system.
These beliefs were largely formed by the way you were brought up, the experiences you've had along the way, and by the things you've learned.
Your belief system determines how you think and how you think becomes "who you are.
" Often your problems are just symptoms of wrong thinking.
Outside forces do impact your life, but they aren't the determining factor in explaining why your life is the way it is.
The way you respond to what happens to you generally determines the condition of your life and the way you respond is a direct result of "how you think.
" Therefore, in order for you to change (if you have not previously demonstrated a particular personal quality, for example) you will need to change "how you think.
" This is done by internalizing what is new and having it become a lifelong habit through repetitive practice and application.
Making changes in your personal traits or attributes require a structured and disciplined approach.
Understandably, change does not happen overnight, but science has proven that you can develop a new habit with focus and consistency over a 21 successive day period of time.
So see you there...
THE SECRET IS IN YOU! The fact that people can change is an exciting prospect because to the extent you can make positive changes you will gain the opportunity for success in all areas of life including...
'Getting a Job.
'