Do You Love Your Job?

The vast majority of people are not happy at work.  According to the latest Gallup Poll from October 2013, "87% of workers are emotionally disconnected from their workplace".  While the numbers are better in the U.S., there's still a huge population unhappy with their work.  So what do you do?  People spend more waking hours at work than at home, that's more time with your coworkers and boss than friends and family.

You should enjoy what you do for a living, and if you don't, you should think about making a change.

• Think about what tasks or activities you do that you really enjoy.
• What things do you absolutely hate to do?
• Where do you want to be in 5 years?  I know it's an annoying interview question, but think of it this way: what type of work do you want to be doing? Are you a numbers person or a people person, or both?  Do you enjoy interacting with others?  Do you like working on your set tasks or do you prefer working on tons of projects?  These answers will help steer you towards a job you'd actually enjoy
• What type of company do you want to work for?  Fortune 500, medium/small business, start-up?
• What about industry?  Is there a specific sector you're interested in or passionate about? 

You don't have to have all the answers now, but thinking about these things will help get you started, because no one should stay in a job they hate.  If you're ready to find something new, dust off your resume, look at job boards, and talk to your network to see what kinds of jobs are out there.

What do you do to stay engaged at work?  Let me know in the comments!

Insider Secrets for Your Job Search

Interviewing should be a conversation, you shouldn't be rambling on for 10 minutes answering one question, and you shouldn't be give one word answers either.

Be confident, not cocky!  Interviewers aren't going to hire you if you doubt yourself or are super negative.  You're also not going to be hired if you  come across as cocky and arrogant.

Explain your responsibilities like I've never heard of that job before.  Some of what you might consider irrelevant and simple tasks can be really important and transferable, so don't leave them out.

Organization and simple formatting on your resume go a long way.  Have everything left-adjusted, use bullet points for your experience and bold the job titles and companies you've been at.  Condense what you can so there isn't a ton of blank space on your resume.

What are some tips you've heard that really resonate with you?

Guaranteed Ways to Ruin Your Interview

There are many tips on what to do in an interview, being prepared being at the top of the list. However, there are a few things you may do that tank the interview immediately. Here's what to avoid:

Saying you're not the best for the job/Talking about what you're not good at - many people feel awkward talking themselves up, and self deprecation is alive and well, but avoid it at all costs in an interview. I would never say I don't like or am not good at calling candidates, it's like saying, "Here's one of the main job duties for this role, I suck at it". If the interviewer wanted to hire you before, they don't now.  Be confident and positive about yourself and your skills.

Being Mean/Rude - its not just the interviewer that's making the hiring decision. The receptionist and/or executive assistant has a lot of say in the matter, be kind and courteous to everyone from the moment you get in your car to drive to the interview. 

The Two Most Important Things When Job Searching

Ever since the recession hit in 2008, the job market has been in the employer's favor.  While unemployment rates in the U.S. have improved overall, there are still far more applicants than there are jobs.  With the job market being so competitive, you need to be able to sell yourself to employers positively and with confidence.

Your cover letter and resume should highlight the skills and experience you bring to the table, not what you want out of a job.  You're not begging to be hired, you're telling employers why they need to hire you and what they'll get out of hiring you.

Confidence and positivity are two of the most important things you need when job searching.  It's easy to get discouraged and become jaded, but you have to catch yourself and switch back into positive thinking.  Go on Youtube and watch a clip of your favorite comedy skit, or search "funny animals".  Do something to laugh and the go back to applying for jobs, because no one wants to hire someone who seems negative or desperate.

What do you do to stay positive?  Let me know in the comments! :)