The Truth Behind Passive Candidates

The Truth Behind Passive Candidates In recruiting the Holy Grail, the golden egg, the [insert whatever metaphor you choose for greatness here] is the passive candidate. Speak to a majority of recruiters, head hunters or HR folks and they will all tell you how great the passive candidate is, and I can’t really blame them. When you find someone who doesn’t have their resume on the job boards that means they are usually doing well in their current job. And ultimately who doesn’t want someone at the top of their game? That isn’t to suggest that all resumes on Monster or CareerBuilder are hacks. I know things happen that are out of our control, from layoffs to ownership changes to being caught in the wrong situation. However the typical thought process is that resumes on job boards just aren’t as attractive as traditionally “hunting” someone. Why third party recruiters thrive: One of the major reasons 3rd  party recruiting thrives, is that Hiring Managers and HR Individuals are looking for candidates they can’t locate on the job boards. As a 3rd  party recruiter, I’ve had countless conversations that either started or ended with: Why would I pay you when I can go on CareerBuilder myself? This is a valid point, however please do not trivialize my career like that assuming that is all I do. Sorry, that was a bit of a tangent I was about to go on. Let’s stay on topic. Passive candidates are best: That all being said it brings me back to my main point: the passive candidate is the crème de la crème. However, hiring is a two way street. Too many times people assume the interviewee should be lucky to just get an offer from the employer. And while in some cases that may be true, that is a very selfish way to look at hiring. Your position should be just as attractive to the candidate as the candidate’s background is to you the employer. What I would like to discuss is the way a passive candidate should be handled, because regardless of the thought process they aren’t for everyone. Mental aspect: First off, we need to understand that there is very much a mental aspect to hiring. Candidates need to be mentally prepared to leave their current job. Put yourself in a candidates shoes and think about it. You’ve spent the past year, 2 or more cultivating and developing a way of life. From your morning routine, to the friendships you’ve built to the weekly schedule you’ve gotten comfortable with both personally and professionally. By leaving this job you are about to shake all of that up and start all over. When you are actively looking for a new job you have mentally separated yourself from all of that. You realize the people you see on a regular basis are about to change and your normal routine is about to become a lot different. So if you receive a reasonable offer you have accepted change and are ready to move forward. As a passive candidate this situation is a lot different. You’re happy with your routine, you think those work relationships you’ve built are going to last forever, and as far as you are concerned there is no reason to disturb all that. So it doesn’t just come down to dollars and cents, for you it is about a lot more. So if you are sitting there with an open position and thinking you are going to be gunning for a passive candidate, your position better be worth it. If it isn’t at market value or you are working with outdated technology you aren’t even in the conversation with passive candidates. I pride myself in working with passive candidates. I’m not the foremost expert on it. But based on my own numbers from last year 85% of the candidates I worked with were not actively looking for a position when I approached them. So I can tell you from experience how difficult it can be to hire one. I have been told it all. For example one of my candidates was offered an 11K increase in salary and (in their own words) “upward career mobility” but still declined the offer because, as they as said to me, they “felt safe in their current job”. What motivates passive candidates? That’s what it comes down to: the candidate has to be mentally ready to make a move. And even if they are, your offer better be able to match their needs. Matching salary and a 401k just doesn’t do it for passive candidates. You need to really understand what motivates them. That’s why any time I speak with someone, passive or not, I don’t ever reveal company information at first. When you do that you are setting the tone for them to only focus on this position and not what works best for them. So it is my thought that you talk about the candidate first and then determine if any of your current openings make sense for them. Here are a few simple questions that I always ask: What would motivate you to leave your current role? Why is that you are willing to even discuss a new position? What is your total yearly earning and what would you need in a new role? Is commute a major deciding factor? If so what is ideal? What would you need to see in an offer for you to fully consider a new position? Have you been interviewing recently? The last question may not seem it, but it is probably the most important to ask. The reason is because it goes back to being mentally prepared to leave your current role. Unless the offer blows the candidate out of the water, they will usually not take the first offer, because that is the first time they are giving real thought to leaving. And they just aren’t ready yet. So if someone says they haven’t interviewed anywhere, red flags should go up. They need to have already started thinking about making a career change in order to accept an offer. Conclusions: Ultimately you should be learning all about what will motivate someone to make a move before even going over a job description. Anytime I have a passive candidate that has agreed to a phone call I will always ask them: there is a reason you took my call, what is it? When you get to the core of it, you will know what motivates that person to make a move. That is why your position better be qualified to fit those needs. Your position needs to be an advancement for that candidate in some way. Whether it’s money, responsibilities or your company is that much more innovative than its competitors it has to be something. If not, you don’t even belong on the phone with passive candidates.

Rules For Writing a Resume for the 2020 Census

Rules For Writing a Resume for the 2020 CensusWith the busy schedules of today's people, it is hard to keep in mind all the rules for writing a resume. But for the one who are not aware about the basic rules, they would go wrong in the applications that will come their way. This article will be explaining to you the basic rules of writing a resume.There are certain rules that should be followed while writing your resume. First of all, you need to choose a good name for your resume. You must make sure that the information that you provide is of great importance. Make sure that you have included all the required information with your name and that you have not left anything out.Another important rule is that you must avoid using your full name. It is better to choose a nickname instead. One of the names that are commonly used is Mr. or Ms. or even Ms. One can find many reasons as to why this is a must but the reason is that using full name will make the employer think that you do not k now your own name.You must list all the important sections and points that you have included in your entire job description. This is very important especially if you are trying to stand out from the rest of the applicants. You should list the work experience that you have done and your skills that you have gained from it.The third point that you must include in your resume is your salary history. Your salary will go a long way in determining your chances of getting the job that you want. You should mention it in the middle of your resume so that the employer knows that you have earned enough money to be hired for the job.Be very meticulous while editing your resume. In case you see any mistakes on your resume, make sure to remove them as soon as possible.Never forget to mention your good communication skills. You should never leave any doubt in the employer's mind, that is why you must use a good application such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint for your writing and editing of your resume.It is your ultimate purpose to appear in front of an employer for the first time and you need to make your way to become a good employee. By following these simple rules, you can get rid of all your doubts regarding your skills and experience.

Your brand appearance is your first impression - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Your brand appearance is your first impression - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Before you can even get a word in or start dictating your core message, you are screened by your audience.   Think of your packaging, just like a product and how you want to convey your personality and competency through it.   Without knowing exactly who you are, your package is all that recruiters or other members of your audience can view.  Your appearance is in your full control, but how you appear to your audience is in theirs, so focus on how you think they perceive you and you will succeed.   For interviews, dress in a suit, have good posture and have a positive attitude.   Without even using your mouth, your appearance will show interest and credibility.   But to get here, you need to appear as though you already have these qualities.   Many people ask me how do I appear online? and I always respond how do you feel you appear?   I do this because I am interested in their viewpoint before I can give a detailed explanation.   There are far too many people for you not to focus on your appearance.   Through social networks, such as facebook and myspace, you are dependent on your appearance to get you through the door with those outside of your network.   For businesses, you must sell yourself, before customers will buy into your corporate brand, which is why you need to appear like you have experience and dress the p art. Here are some pointers:     Be consistent with your appearance and personality     Customize your package to reflect your audience     Focus on your unique qualities and incorporate them     Ensure that your packing has a shiny wrapper (think of a gift box)     BE YOURSELF!

Creating the Right First Impression How to Choose the Perfect Office

Creating the Right First Impression How to Choose the Perfect Office When it comes to making the right first impression, your office can have an important role to play. When you invite clients for a meeting, interview potential staff, or interface with would-be investors, each of them will use it as a tool to build an idea of what your business has to offer. Luckily, businesswomen tend to have far more of an eye for detail than their male counterparts, and this gives female-led enterprises a significant advantage when it comes to creating the right first impression. Here’s how to choose the perfect office space for your business… Aesthetics Although they’re often overlooked as an unnecessary detail, aesthetics can have just as much of a role to play in your success as your performance. When people build an impression of your company, your skillset and moneymaking abilities will go a long way towards demonstrating your potential, but your business needs to possess the right look too. On the most basic level, it’s important that the location you choose is neat and presentable, as this helps to create a persona of efficiency and organisation. Interiors should be neutral, coordinated and tidy, with a place for everything, whilst the exterior of your office should meet the same criteria. If you have land surrounding the property, ensure that it is either paved and clean, or landscaped and planted. Not only do your aesthetics need to project a professional persona, but they also need to reinforce your brand’s image. High-end enterprises, for example, might find that it pays to invest in a character office that can be moulded to their particular style. Those with a lower budget may have to go for something a little more mainstream, but should still ensure that their aesthetics are as in keeping with their image as possible. Area The area you choose to locate your office in will also have a major impact on how you’re perceived. Different areas will have different connotations, and you want the site you choose to be located somewhere that fits in with your persona. If you’re an up-and-coming business, it may suit you to site yourself in an area filled with young professionals, which will often boast lower rents. For higher-end enterprises, big cities are usually best in terms of location, and many will have certain areas that act as centres of excellence for your industry. If you can afford to, it pays to choose a commercial property in one of these districts, as they will lend credence and respectability to your endeavour. Follow these simple steps to find the perfect office for your enterprise.

Using Your Resume Technical Writing Skills To Improve Your Career

Using Your Resume Technical Writing Skills To Improve Your CareerYour resume technical writing skills can be just as important as your resume content. If you're looking for advancement in your career, your technical skills may be more important than the content itself. Here are a few pointers to help improve your resume writing skills and get ahead in your career.Once you have written your resume, it's up to you to polish it up. Before sending it off to the job site, check your work. Perhaps you should go back and correct some of the grammar or misspellings. This is a way for employers to see your versatility, and they may take notice if you're honest about it.When writing your resume technical writing skills, try not to plagiarize. Check the source of your work carefully before making a 'pasted' version. If your employer sees that you copied someone else's work, this may make them wonder about your sincerity, especially if you're applying for a position that requires experience. It' s not going to hurt to ask for the advice of your professor, your boss, or a close friend.You'll need a lot of people to read your resume before it's even sent out, so make sure you're as polished as possible when it comes to technical writing skills. This includes people who will help you edit and proofread your work. Even if you've sent out your resume, it's not a good idea to send a work-in-progress. The time it takes to fix mistakes and proofread can cost you more than the few minutes that it would take to mail out your resume.Your resume technical writing skills will help your employer determine what type of career you'll have after you're done with the program. If you've had experience with medical coding, for example, then you may be best suited for a medical office job. Similarly, if you'learned how to create a database from scratch, you may want to have a career in computer programming or other technology.As you begin to build up your resume technical writing skills, you ma y find that it gets harder to write in that particular area. This means that it's time to start outsourcing. There are plenty of professional resume writing companies that specialize in your specific industry. They can handle the editing, the editing and all the other technical aspects of your resume. As long as you follow their instructions, your resume will be perfect.If you've been in your career for a while, your resume technical writing skills will become more effective. It's important that you keep up with the latest trends and guidelines as well as constantly improving on what you already know. That way, when your employer sees your resume, they'll know you've kept up with the latest job opportunities.The point is that your resume technical writing skills will continue to improve as you gain experience. The more that you write on the topic, the better you'll become at it. When you feel confident that you can use your resume technical writing skills in a job interview, give th em a try. You may be surprised at how well you do.

5 Things To Do In Order To Ace That Management Consultant Interview CareerMetis.com

5 Things To Do In Order To Ace That Management Consultant Interview If you have your sights set on a career as a management consultant, you already know the interview process can be brutal. With thousands of applicants from a highly-skilled pool to choose from, interviewers are looking for anything that makes candidates stand out as a winning applicant.In this post, you’ll learn the 5 steps you need to take to ace your management consultant interview.1) Do Your HomeworkevalThis step seems pretty obvious but you’d be surprised how many people go to an interview with only a basic understanding of the company. If you want to ace your interview, you need to do some in-depth research and homework to get prepared.As soon as you get your interview, call the person who arranged it and ask these important questions:Who will your interview be with? For example, is the first round with a manager or someone from HR?What is the dress code? Many companies prefer smart casual, whereas others may have a more relaxed dress code and it’s important to look the pa rt.Where is the interview being held? Confirm the address as well as the correct floor and room of the building so you’re not left searching on the day.Next, do some research into the company itself and arm yourself with a basic understanding of the annual sales, number of employees and branches, the mission statement, and the names of the CEO, manager, etc.If you’re able to bring up just a nugget or two of this information during your interview, it shows a deeper level of knowledge and a passion for the company.Also, make sure to set up alerts on your phone for any news stories about the company you’re interviewing for. The interviewer may ask you a general question about why you want to work for their company and having up-to-date information about the business will show a meaningful interest.As well as brushing up on the company itself, make sure to keep abreast of the latest industry news. Consultants have a broad knowledge of the latest business news, politics, and intern ational affairs. Make sure you know the key issues currently in the media and have some general answers prepared. You’ll be amazed at how many candidates trip up when asked a simple question about their opinion on the latest major business story in the media.No matter what career you’re aiming for this year, doing your homework will always help you stand out from the crowd.2) Present Yourself WellevalYes, we shouldn’t judge books by the cover. But interviewers form opinions on interviewees as soon as they walk in the door. Make sure you make the best first impression by dressing appropriately.For management consultant interviews, the dress code will be a business professional. For men, this means a suit in a neutral color with a crisp white shirt, muted tie, and clean dress shoes. For women, a pantsuit, smart skirt, and blouse or equivalent is appropriate.Even if you’re a fashion icon, it’s best to avoid bold colors, patterns or fabrics when attending your first management consultant interview. Also, avoid strong colognes and perfumes. These may make you stand out for the wrong reasons.Want more help preparing for your management consultant interview? You’ll find interview checklists, tools, and resources for preparing for your interview here.3) Prepare AnswersevalYou wouldn’t go up on stage and give a speech without preparing, so don’t walk into your interview without practicing first. Start by practicing basic answers in the mirror. You’ll be able to work on your posture and facial expressions this way.It’s also a good idea to practice with another person. Get them to act as the interviewer and do a rehearsal. If you can find someone in the management consultant space to do this with you, that’s a huge bonus.When answering questions, volume and pace are important. If you talk too quietly or rush through your answers, the interviewer is going to have a hard time listening. Focus on slowing your pace and projecting your voice.a) Fit Inter view QuestionsevalFit interview questions are general questions about yourself that will help the interviewer decide if you’re a good fit for the role. You’ll be asked about your qualifications, experience, and why you want a career in management consulting. Make sure you have all this information down to a science so you don’t trip over your words trying to answer a basic question about yourself.Why do you want to work for this firm?This question is often asked to gauge your knowledge of the industry and motivation to get a place at a particular firm.To prepare for this question, highlight specific reasons for your interest in the firm. For example, if the firm is an industry leader in a niche industry, mention this. Or perhaps they are renowned for a specific marketing approach â€" this is something else to mention.Another key point to bring up is the firm’s values or mission statement and how this aligns with your work ethic.It’s easy to give generic answers about wanti ng to work for a top firm, but those who stand out are the ones who give interesting, researched answers.If you are struggling to come up with innovative answers to this question, go to the firm’s website. There you will find their core values and mission statement as well as some information about senior leaders and industry news. If you’re in college, you may be able to attend information sessions about the firm on campus which will give you key insights also.b) Market-Sizing QuestionsevalAlso known as guesstimate questions, market-sizing questions are designed to test your ability to arrive at educated, thought-out answers and estimations with limited information. There isn’t a correct answer, but your thought process is what the interviewer is interested in.When working in management consulting, you are often faced with problems that have no concrete solution. Instead, you must rely on your creative thinking to arrive at the best solution based on the information and resou rces you have. This is the skill interviewers are looking for.“How many bicycles are purchased each year in California?”To begin, you need to ask to follow up questions to get as much information as possible. Once the interviewer has given you all the facts they can about the question, you’ll be expected to present a structured answer showing your thought process and approach to the question.Make sure to utilize all the information given to you and clearly show how you’ve made assumptions based on the information. For example, you might have additional information about demographics, population size, cycling schemes, recent investment in cycle paths, etc.).Treat the answer as a presentation, giving all the information in a clear and concise way. Your final answer could be anything as long as you’ve arrived at it based on all the information you have.evalc) Value Proposition QuestionsAnother important role of management consultants is being able to determine the value of a business based on the information presented. These questions are designed to test this understanding and thought process.“Your client is a real estate firm in New York. The target customer is high-end investors. What are those customers looking for?”As with the market-sizing question, you begin to answer this with follow up questions to gather as much information as possible. Identify all the important factors of the business such as location, price, quality of real estate, etc. and present an answer based on these key factors.Give a short presentation showing your reasoning and thought process to show how you arrived at your conclusions. Again, there is no right answer to this hypothetical question. Instead, the interviewer is looking for a clear, coherent thought process.d) Data Analysis QuestionsAs a management consultant, you’ll spend a lot of time analyzing data and summarizing findings for clients. So these questions are designed to test this skill.You’ll be presented with data and asked to give key insights related to market size or business growth.When mapping out your answer, you need to analyze all data sets presented to identify any unusual trends such as spikes in sales or sharp declines.Once you’ve got all your key insights, create a clear summary to present to the interviewer highlighting the important findings. Always refer back to the original data to show how you arrived at your summary.Remember, the data you’ve been given is going to have something worth noting that the interviewer is looking for. So take your time when analyzing the data to make sure you don’t skip over any important points.Original Image Source â€" Depositphotos.com4) Emphasize Leadership ExperienceA vital skill of any management consultant is the ability to lead. At all stages of your career, you’ll be working with a team to analyze, strategize and implement solutions for major clients. The best management consultants are able to step up and lead a team coh esively and effectively.The interviewer may want to highlight any past experience with a specific question such as, “Tell me about a previous role where you showed good leadership skills.”Where most interviewees go wrong is just talking about the previous leadership roles they took up. However, this question is actually an opportunity to highlight specific outcomes or results you gained in the past.For example, you may have managed a charity fundraiser in the past. In this case, talk about how you managed a team of people and the success you gained as a result. This could be managing a team of caterers or volunteers and successfully raising X amount of money which surpassed the previous year’s fundraiser.Or perhaps you were captain of a sports team and successfully led your team to victory by implementing a new training regime.If you’re a freelancer without much leadership experience, you could consider transitioning to a leadership rolefirst to gain that all-important leade rship experience.It’s always good to have figures to talk about. For example, raising 50% more during a charity fundraiser than the previous year; freeing up 6 hours a week; generating X in revenue; etc.However, you don’t have to have management experience to be a leader. You can easily talk about your time as a charity worker, team captain, youth worker, etc. and still show excellent leadership skills.If you’re concerned you don’t have the experience to become a management consultant, there are plenty of different career options out there. Make sure you do your research to find the best career pathfor you. 5) Prepare Questions for the InterviewerYou’ll almost certainly be given time at the end of the interview to ask your own questions. Prepare three or four interesting questions to use this time wisely.The interviewer is going to see a lot of potential candidates who will all likely as similar questions such as, “Why did you choose management consulting?” or “Why d o you like working here?” They’ll be extremely bored with answering the same questions so stand out by asking something more innovative.Here are some good examples:What has been your most challenging project while at this firm?What is the number one mistake new hires make that I should avoid?What is your best advice to help me hit the ground running if I get the job?What is your most memorable moment while working at this firm?It’s best to have a couple of questions prepared about the interviewer as well as a couple of questions that will help you if you get the position. This shows an eagerness to work for the firm as well as an interest in the interviewer which will help forge a connection. Original Image Source â€" Depositphotos.comReady to Start a Career in Management Consulting?If you’re thinking of a career in management consulting, make sure to check out our in-depth guide on becoming a management consultantto find out if this challenging career is right for you.

You Can Afford a Career Coach - Heres How

You Can Afford a Career Coach - Heres How Have you ever paid for an elective and non-life threatening medical procedure that wasnt covered by insurance? Have you ever paid a lawyer to draft a contract for you? Were you taken back by the cost? I certainly have been. Therefore Im sensitive to the way people perceive the cost of our career coaching services. We completely understand when people say that they cant afford career coaching  services. Not everyone can. Some prospective clients are struck with sticker shock and are unable to look past the costs to the potential return they can gain from an investment in a career coach. Without a doubt, the out-of-pocket cost for career coaching is a major consideration. This is true for any big investment. But we encourage our prospective clients to consider these 3 other view points: how dramatically career coaching can change your life for the better how quickly the cost of career coaching is returned to you the life-long benefits you gain from a career expert At this point, you might be saying, Wait! Youre a career coach. Of course you think everyone can afford it! If so, Im glad you mentioned that and I hope you use the comments below (or contact us) to discuss this topic. But to start things off, I will say, not everyone should invest in a career coach. Not everyone needs to. There is so much free or low cost career advice, information, insight available to everyone and many people just need a little help. In fact, I write my blog to provide free information to individuals. I want as many people as possible to access the free career information available. If you are someone who has tried utilizing free resources and hasnt achieved the progress you hoped for, you might consider working with a career coach. I encourage you to read through the three viewpoints below to consider if spending the money with a career coach is right for you. What is my happiness worth? Are you getting tired of the same situation, job after job? If you are in a job or career that you dont like then you likely arent happy. It may also be the case, that you arent sure how to find/achieve career happiness. Maybe you tried on your own in the past, but have gotten stuck. Maybe you are out of ideas. Maybe you tried it on your own in the past and didnt see is a difference. If you were happier at work how would that affect the rest of your life and your personal relationships? How much would you pay to enjoy your job and derive meaning from it? Can a career coach can help you achieve that goal for less than that? How do I use what I am learning? Career coaching exists, in part, because most people havent been taught how to manage their careers. Even then, if you read every book on career management you still might not be an expert managing your career. A career coach can bring expertise in the areas of coaching and career management to help you apply it to your situation. You are not only improving your immediate career but also learning how to do it on your own throughout the rest of your career. Whether you work 10 more years or 40 more, you will be educated and empowered to make the most of your career. Career coaching is analogous to spending the time and money to go to learn a new skill. You may have had to pay for that education/training in order to get your career to the next level. You used that training to find a job you enjoy and receive compensation for doing that job. You invested in yourself one of the best bets you can make. What salary am I giving up right now? Career coaching often has a very good ROI (return on investment). The education and benefits you receive from a career coach can sometimes be used to earn more money many times over what you paid, but also so much more. Did you find a better paying job? A job that made a positive impact on your life or your personal relationships? A career that allowed you to use your gifts and strengths in ways that are aligned with your values? A career that doesnt cause sadness and stress on Sunday evenings when you think about Monday morning? Did you get a promotion at work? Did you get off unemployment quicker? All of these scenarios add significant value to your life. What is it worth to you to achieve those results? Put another way, how soon will your investment in career coaching pay you back the money you spent, whether in direct compensation or through dramatic changes in the way you live your life? Lets look at an example: if a career coach helped you earn an additional $4,000/year in salary then, even if you spent $3,000 on your coach, you would have made your investment back within 9 months. But dont forget, that extra $4,000 is now added to your base which future raises are calculated from. Year-after-year you are still earning that $4,000 even if you never get a raise. If a career coach helped you identify a career that allowed you to have more time in your life to enjoy hobbies, travel, etc., what is the price you would put on that? Whats your career ROI? Obviously, you have to determine if your situation fits into one of these buckets. I recently signed up for a training program that costs $2,700 up front. At first, I asked, can we afford this? We looked at our funds and while we could afford to pay that amount we didnt want to. But then we took a different view point. We realized that the training would give us the skills to grow our business beyond its current point. This is an investment that gives us lifelong skills, empowers us to think in new ways, and has a positive long-term return on investment. So I challenge you to look at career coaching through these additional view points, but first make sure you are defining your ROI. What return on investment are you looking for in your career and life? Higher pay? More flexibility? More enjoyment? Insight? Alignment with your values? Lifelong skills? Get clarity on that definition to help you as you make the decision of whether or not to hire a career coach. You may be interested in these related topics: What is career coaching? Is career coaching right for me? How does career coaching work?

Susan Boyle and why to keep the bar high for your job hunt -

Susan Boyle and why to keep the bar high for your job hunt - I resisted writing anything about Susan on my career advice blog when this story first broke.  If you have been under a rock or otherwise occupied,  HERE is a story to brief you on Susans rise to fame. It also shares the results of her efforts to win the reality show,  Britains Got Talent.  In my mind, Susans appearance was such a huge part of why her video went viral the judges surprise that her voice was so amazing was magnified by the unlikely package delivering it. I wasnt in the mood to write about appearance and how important it is for a job seeker However, Penelope Trunk recently addressed what she thought were the career lessons we can take from the Susan Boyle affair. Her points: Everyone loves to be a shepherd of talent. The act of finding a mentor is actually the act of showing someone you have talent and they can help you find it.   You can only shine if you set the bar high. (Susan sang a difficult song for her audition.) Settling for a day job does not destroy you.  Susan Boyle did what so many people do who are not getting paid to do what they love. She kept singing, while she worked day jobs. She sang because she loved singing, and she got better and better and better. I really like her analogy about setting the bar high. Aiming high offers the opportunity to outperform. It also involves risk and weighing risks and rewards. It makes me think of Olympic gymnasts who attempt a high point value routine. If they stick, theyre golden. If not, they are out of luck and left to wonder if they made the right choice possibly for the next 4 years or the rest of their lives. Careerists need to know when to take that risk and when to play it safe. Have you thought about where you are setting your bar? If you are in the midst of a job hunt, have you already decided to start applying for jobs that you consider less than what you should qualify to do because you havent had any luck in your field? Are you ready to take a big cut in salary because you think its too competitive out there to expect to earn what youd like? You can only achieve what you set out to do. If a gymnast isnt willing to do the big stunt, she will never make it to the Olympics. If you give up on your job hunt, you will wind up selling yourself short. DONT DO IT! The reason you are not getting the interviews you deserve may NOT be because of your age (too old or too young) or because of the economy or your industry or any one of 100 excuses you have given yourself. If may be because you just dont know how to look for a job and/or because your resume is not up to snuff. Its not your fault; most people arent very good job hunters. However, if you stop and move your bar lower before doing everything you can to hit your mark THAT is when your fate is your fault. Consider instead of taking a job that isnt up to your experience level, contract with me to review and revise your resume, update your LinkedIn profile and teach you how to look for a job in todays difficult market. If you land a job a few DAYS earlier, you can make back your investment (and that applies to most earners some will regain their investment in the first few HOURS on the job)! Follow THIS LINK to learn more about me and how I can help you get the job you deserve. PS There is more to come in this series on what we can take away from Susans story, including a follow-up on the recent news that she came in second in the competition and is reportedly suffering from exhaustionStay tuned. Lots to learn! photo by faeryan