The importance of the right job cannot be underestimated. Most people spend 8 to 10 hours a day at work. Co-workers become like family. In the best-case scenario, your job is motivating and provides a sense of accomplishment. Development and growth opportunities are abundant. Salary is in line with work performed. You have a boss who not only respects you but likes you.
HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE???
Unfortunately, many jobs don’t quite measure up, and some jobs are real nightmares. So why are you willing to settle for less than you deserve? Why do you stay in a position that makes you unhappy? And, if you decide to make a move, why aren’t you willing to invest the time, effort, and money required to help you successfully reach your career destination? What makes you choose the easiest and cheapest methods instead of investing in yourself and your future?
Maybe you don’t realize that there is NO EASY WAY to navigate the job market alone.
I very often hear:
“I’m having a friend take a look at my resume for me.”
“I’ll just get my info off the internet.”
“I downloaded a resume and cover letter template, and I can just fill them in.”
“My sister did a practice interview with me.”
REALLY? Are these “free” resources worthy of you and your future?
Complex and unknown obstacles are faced by job seekers today. Unless you’re a recruiter or experienced career consultant, it would be nearly impossible to have a thorough understanding of how to navigate the process successfully.
· Can you really develop a compelling resume and cover letter that differentiates you from the rest of the applicants?
· Are you aware of how to get past the Application Tracking Software that has created a big black hole in the application process?
· Did you know that a complete LinkedIn profile is critical to job search success and that once it’s done, you need to be active?
· Do you know that the interview is not about you?
· And, did you know that no more than half your time should be spent applying online?
So many obstacles to overcome yet job seekers look for free, cheap, and seemingly easy options. From my experience, in most cases, these options do not work well, and they prolong the job search. By the time a job seeker comes to me for help, they are highly frustrated and have spent months of their time going nowhere. And they can’t figure out why!
Friends and relatives might have good intentions and want to help, but they don’t know any more than you do about how to land a great job. The close relationship prevents them from providing an unbiased opinion. Your mother, best friend, or co-worker will never tell you that your resume needs help, and you should get it done by a professional. They won’t tell you that your interview skills need to be more polished and professional. Those things are just too hard to say to someone you love, like, or work with. It’s a no-win situation for both of you.
“Do it yourself” might be faster and easier, but it’s not effective. Free resources aren’t really free when it takes months or years longer to find the right job. In the end, you get what you pay for.
You will get the highest and fastest return on investment by investing in yourself and using a professional who will position you in the best light and set you up for success!