Career Compass

This is exactly why you don’t need to be the most skilled or most technical candidate. You just need to be the one they want to work with. Of course, you still need to be competent enough, but nothing more. In other words, take your shot! Apply for that job! This is particularly significant because it comes from Elon, who was one of the strongest proponents of hard skills over soft skills. Not only that, but he spent billions on robots and automation only to realize that “humans are underrated” (his words, not mine - see link in the comments). https://lnkd.in/eCYsBtN2

It doesn't matter if you accomplished 100+ tasks today if none of those tasks focused on what truly matters - your "big" project(s). Life consists of several big projects and many, many smaller ones. - Your big projects might include: - Finding a new job - Getting promoted - Finishing school Smaller ones can include: - Chores (laundry, dishes, trash, etc.) - Family-related (quality time, kids and their school work, etc) - Hobbies It's important to note that "big" and "small" are relative to the scope or effort needed - not necessarily project importance. Most of us can handle one or two big projects at a time and 10+ smaller ones. Things like doing the laundry, walking the dog, or taking the kids to soccer practice usually don't take too much time or effort (unless you're also the soccer coach). On the other hand, finding a new job or getting promoted takes much more time and effort - and most importantly, it's unpredictable. Time + effort + uncertainty = stress Sending a job application requires time and effort, but the results are uncertain. Walking the dog also requires time and effort, but the results are guaranteed. You get two rewards for the same effort: the dog will be happy and take care of its business outside the house 😂 After walking, you may suddenly realize that you should clean the dishes or that the laundry needs washing. Eventually, you'll remember you didn't watch the latest season of The Great British Baking Show. Then suddenly, it's 11:30 pm, and it's time for bed. You can submit that pesky job application tomorrow. Does this sound familiar? When I have days like this, I end up feeling exhausted, anxious, and restless. I'm tired but not sleepy. The reason for this is simple - I wasted my day because I focused on my smaller goals and their guaranteed results. Conversely, if I embrace the uncertainty and spend even 30 minutes working towards my big goals, I will be satisfied with my day and myself. I am still tired but relaxed and sleepy. Over time, this became my internal compass - no matter how many tasks I have to handle in a day, planned or unplanned, I need to find time for my big goals. Some days, it takes hours, and some days, it takes 15 minutes. But I try my very, very best to make it every day. For example, if I'm looking for a new job, I make it a priority to send at least one job application every day. If I can send 5, that's even better. Some days, I can even send 20 and polish my resume and LinkedIn profile - but at a minimum, it must be one job application. Focus on your big projects. They are your North Star. Everything else, however necessary, will never help you find fulfillment and contentment. "No matter how many detours and adjustments it made, the caravan moved toward the same compass point. Once obstacles were overcome, it returned to its course, sighting on a star that indicated the location of the oasis." - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

To everyone who's currently looking for a job and facing rejection, please remember this simple truth: Often, it's not about you. More likely than not, you were rejected because: - The company has already received 1500 resumes - They are in the last stages of interviewing 10 candidates - A more experienced person interviewed right before/after you - Company priorities changed - Company budget changed - Company leadership changed - Your interviewer didn't have enough sleep - Your interviewer misunderstood your answer - And many other reasons that have nothing to do with you When we get rejected, it's easy to blame ourselves for everything. Remember, we cannot take the blame - or credit - for things that are entirely out of our control. Focus on your effort and mindset, the only two things you can control. If you came prepared, learned from your past interviews, and kept a positive and uplifting attitude - then the rejection is meaningless. Thank them for their time, and move on. Chances are, you passed the interview - just at the wrong company. ----- ✍️ How do you deal with rejection? ♻️ Repost if this resonates with you 🔔 Follow to see more of my content

Job hunting pro-tip: people are more likely to respond to your 4th email than your 1st one. This is a game-changer for referrals. The current job market is crazy, and referrals are more important than ever. Why? Because referrals increase your chances that a human will look at your resume. Put yourself in your recruiter's shoes: many of their colleagues were laid off, and the remaining folks must deal with a tidal wave of incoming resumes. Many job postings receive several hundred applicants within 24 hours. No human can review all of those resumes. That's why referrals are so powerful - they help recruiters pay attention to fewer - referred - resumes first. When seeking a referral, it's best to know someone at the company who can help you. But frequently, you won't know anyone, and you'll have to ask complete strangers - and that's okay! It shows initiative. It shows guts. And those skills are highly valued by employers. So, next time you need to ask for a referral, don't give up when you hear nothing. People are busy. Follow up every 2 to 3 days until you get a response, even if it's just "no." In my experience, many people respond after a second or third email and appreciate the reminders. We're all busy. Don't be afraid of following up. What is your strategy for getting referrals? ----- 👍 if you agree with this ♻️ repost if this resonates with you 🔔 follow to see more of my content

The only thing standing between you and your wildest dreams is a skill gap. Don't believe me? Take it from Ed Sheeran: "When people say 'Artists are born with talent' - you're not. You have to really learn and really practice". In his interview on The Jonathan Ross Show, he shares an old and private recording of him singing and playing guitar. And it sounds like sh*t. This comes from someone who won four Grammy Awards and sold over 150 million records. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate Ed Sheeran for sharing this with the world. It shows the progression, the journey. Everywhere you look on social media, you see successful people living their dreams - but no one shows you the long and arduous road they had to take. That leaves one gaping hole in the picture - we don't understand how they got to their destination, so we simply assume things like: - They were lucky - They were born rich - They knew the right people - They had access to secret knowledge Do you notice a common pattern? All the conclusions are about something else, not the person we're discussing. These explanations take away all the credit from the successful person and give all the credit to circumstances beyond their control. Of course, luck plays a huge role in success, but luck has two equally important components: preparation AND opportunity. Unfortunately, we tend to forget the preparation and only focus on the opportunity (or lack thereof). Naturally, this leads us to conclude that we can never be successful simply because we don't have such lucky circumstances. The most tragic consequence of this thinking is that we don't even try. "I'm not born rich, lucky, or with the right connections; therefore, I can never succeed. So why bother trying?" If that thought ever crosses your mind, I invite you to watch the interview excerpt and listen to Ed Sheeran's early recording (link in the comments). If you were one of Ed's childhood friends, you would probably have thought: "There's no chance he'll be successful, let alone become one of the best-selling artists of all time". We all have different starting points in life and walk on different paths. Someone may be born rich, lucky, or with the right connections. But that doesn't mean they'll be successful. The starting point matters much less than the journey you take and the choices you make along the way. Consider the quote from The Millionaire Next Door: "In my thirty-plus years of surveying and studying millionaires, I have consistently found that 80 to 86% are self-made." That means almost all those millionaires started in a similar position as Ed Sheeran and had to work hard and hone their skills for decades before they found their financial success. It's all about the skills and the value those skills bring to the world. What are your wildest dreams? Where do you want to go? Just think about skills and how to bridge your skill gap!

The most significant source of stress while job-hunting is not rejection. It's regret. One of the primary goals of every job hunt is to eliminate regret. The best way to eliminate regret is to leave no stone unturned. Here's what I mean: 1) Is your resume polished and up to date? 2) How about your LinkedIn profile? 3) Did you ask for referrals or reach out to recruiters or hiring managers? 4) Did you study and prepare for your interviews? 5) Do you learn from your mistakes? 6) Are you focused on becoming a bit better after each interview? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you left no stone unturned. If you still get rejected, you will have peace because there's nothing else you could've done. When there's nothing else you could've done differently, then there is no regret, nothing to feel ashamed about. You can thank your interviewers for their time and move on to another opportunity. Leave no stone unturned, and regret will go away.

Today, for the first time in my life, I was able to run for 30 minutes without rest. I tried and failed many times before, so I wanted to know what was different this time.  I was a water polo player for 15 years (including college varsity team) and an amateur weightlifter. But running was always my Achilles heel and my worst punishment. Interestingly, most of my water polo and swimming friends feel the same way about running. They say hindsight is always 20/20, so now I understand the 3 components that made my running milestone possible: 1. Experimentation - I tried to run for years, and nothing seemed to work, so I kept trying different things until I discovered the "Couch to 5k" (C5K) running program 2. Persistence: I tried C5k many times but failed, just like before 3. Combining activities (i.e. more experimentation): A couple of months ago, I decided to learn stretching and do the splits. The combination of stretching and C5k was the key. Because I was stretching after working out, my recovery was much faster. Every subsequent run was easier than the previous one. After 4 weeks of training, I could finally run for 30 minutes without any rest, for a total distance of (just) 2.5 miles. I know it's baby steps. 2.5 miles is nothing for most runners. But for me, it was the psychological equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest because I spent years thinking I wasn't built for running. We all have our version of Mt. Everest, which always seems impossible to climb. Interestingly though, I always felt running should've been easy, considering my athletic background.  I only realized running was my Mt. Everest once I failed at least a dozen times. At the end of the day, there is no magic pill. No fountain of youth. No shortcuts. I know - I spent years searching for them. The only way to climb Mt. Everest is through training, planning, and experimentation. The strategies that worked for me may work for you. Or they may not. Or they may work partially. The only way to know is to try, experiment, and adapt based on your findings. Whatever you're trying to accomplish, whatever task is your Mt. Everest, I wish you luck, curiosity, and persistence in your pursuit of it! What is your Mt. Everest? How did you climb it? I'd love to hear about it. 

Got an interview coming up? Here's a tip: turn your responses into stories. Humans are wired to remember stories, not facts. Use the STAR method and find your “hero’s journey”, a story where you overcame great odds to find success: Set the scene with the Situation. For example, in college, I had an old Saab that needed new floor mats. I couldn’t afford the original ones, so I had to find another way. Describe the Task at hand: I decided to make my own floor mats for a fraction of the cost. Explain the Action you took: I found a Craigslist ad for the same car, and I used the outline of their (original) floor mats to make my own for one-tenth of the cost. Highlight the Result of your actions: I had perfectly fitting floor mats that no longer blocked the brake and clutch pedals. This will make your interview responses unforgettable. When I got the job at LinkedIn, all of my interviewers remembered me as the “Saab guy” - even though some of them forgot my name! Practice this technique and watch your interview game change.

99% of job seekers undersell themselves. They: 1. Talk about what their team did 2. Talk about the cool projects they worked on 3. Explain the flashy tools they used That’s too much info about everything - except their own accomplishments. Focus on what you did, your impact, and quantify wherever possible. Instead of: “Worked on ABC product to bring XYZ to market using ZXC technology” Say: “Project lead for landing page optimization which resulted in 30% increase in customer signups and $1mm in additional revenue” Use this approach for your resume as well.