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