How to get a job
Go out and get it! But know that no one owes you anything. It’s your responsibility to learn and figure out how to get a job. Here are the top tips I offer young adults who ask my advice. Expect the process to take time.
Résumé and cover letter. Get them looking spiff. Go to the career counseling center at any community college for help. If you pay taxes in that county, they’re required to help you—and it’s free. Or hire a superior résumé and cover letter writer. Kelly Massey is an option. No complaining about the cost. It’s worth it.
Hire an interview coach. This is my top tip. Hiring an interview coach doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a job, but it does increase your chances and ensures you won’t make major errors in job interviews. Many people waste so much time applying for numerous jobs, only get a few interviews, and then don’t get any job offers. It’s because they have blind spots and don’t realize how they come across in a job interview. Don’t think you’re above needing this type of consultant. Fortune 500 executives need it, NFL coaches need it, and even famous marketers need it. If you think this is beneath you, you likely have some type of fear or arrogance. Hire this type of consultant, put in the practice they recommend, and enjoy having the skills—and accompanying confidence—for the rest of your life. Kelly Massey, or someone like her, can be a resource. No complaining about the cost, it’ll be worth it.
Network. Part of getting a job often involves networking your way into it. That’s just the way life is—accept it. Ask around, go to networking meetings, get invited to places and events with people you want to work with. A tip: don’t go to the event needy. Go with the mindset of “How can I help others? How can I help them achieve their goals?” Author Bob Goff said the way to achieve your goals is to help others achieve theirs. It’s so true.
Take people to lunch. For the price of buying someone else’s lunch, you can learn so much—and maybe even gain their support and recommendations to employers. A tip: look at the menu in advance online so you don’t waste valuable time at the table with a powerful person while trying to figure out what you’ll order to eat. Also, know that you’re auditioning for someone who could recommend you, so have good dining etiquette and be knowledgeable about social graces. Any such lunch could lead to something big.
Impress your professors and mentors. If you're still in college, know that your professors may have contacts with employers who are always on the lookout for young, new employees. They might now be asking your professors who the standout students are. So keep your grades up, sit in the front of the class, have discussions with your professor outside of class, and tell them about your ambitions. Same with mentors as mentioned above—you are always auditioning for them, so perform well in all situations. You can even ask them for feedback.
Be on time. I can’t even believe I need to say this. Be on time! Be early. Your job is to impress people. Being late communicates that you’re arrogant and entitled. If you’re late on me, I won’t endorse you to anyone I know. So be a few minutes early to job interviews, lunches, networking meetings, and all the other stuff, too.
Apply to a lot of jobs. Put out 5 to 20 job applications a week until you have a job.
Work full-time now. Your first job needn’t be perfectly aligned with your long-term goals. Now is the time to learn how to submit to a boss (hopefully a decent person) and to bring in the cash. These days, just about every restaurant or warehouse is in need of more employees. And the money you earn there will enable you to pay for other helpful things on this list above.
All the best!
For more information, please contact me at anseloliver.com.