When Rejection Happens (No Muzzle)

Dealing With Rejection:

We all have been through it once in our life. Applying for that one position that you thought you were born for just to be passed up for the position. Then one day you get that email from HR telling you that you didn't get the position. It probably looked something like this: 

Subject: You Didn't Get The Job

From: The Company That You Knew Wasn't Going To Hire You

Date: Don't Matter 

We appreciate your interest and the time you’ve invested in applying for the position you didn't get with the company that didn't hire you.

We have decided to move forward with another candidate. However, we hope you’ll create an Applicant Presence so that we have your talent profile in our database. We also hope you periodically review other opportunities for which you are qualified and interested. We encourage you to apply again.

Best of luck with your job search and professional future endeavors.
Sincerely,

The company that didn't hire you. 

OK...breathe! It's not the end of the world. But let's get it off of our chest together: FUCK THAT JOB!!! Now that we have that out of the way, let's get down to a few reasons why you weren't hired: 

1.) They couldn't afford you:

 a.) Usually when applying for a salary position the company will ask you how much you are looking to get paid. The company knows how much they are willing to pay, and you just may request more than what the company can afford. There is no concrete way to know if you were too expensive, because the company won't tell you. However, be optimistic in your job search. 

2.) You weren't a match for the company:  

 a.) Some companies have the courtesy to send out a rejection letter even if you didn't have an in person interview. If you had an in person interview and the company didn't feel you were a fit they do not own you an explanation. 

3.) You just weren't the best candidate:

 a.) Let face it: sometime we apply for jobs that we now we won't get. It's like talking to that girl/guy that you knew you had no chance with. A way to avoid this type of rejection is to look at the qualifications of the job and make sure you meet them. If you know you do not meet these qualifications do not be surprised if you don't get the job.

Rejection is hard for everyone involved. However, the great thing about rejection is that you always have your next experience to look forward to. You come out of every job rejection smarter. Use your interview/resume building skills to your advantage and land the job of your dreams. After all, one man's/woman's trash is another man's/woman's treasure!

Gold Medal Resume

A few tips for a Gold Medal resume:

In spirit of the Olympics this year I want to give a few tips for a gold medal resume. These are tips that will help you stand out from all the other applicants that are applying for the same position you are:

1. Read what the job requirements are and tailor your resume to meet those requirements

a.       If you look at a job posting, companies usually post what they call “preferred qualifications”. These are skills/degrees that the company is actually looking for, but will settle for less (and only SLIGHTLY less). Read the preferred requirements for a job and make sure that you are able to fulfill them as needed. 

           2. Don’t be afraid to show pictures of your accomplishments:

a.       As you already may already know, it is highly likely that the HR department will look at your social media profiles when they receive your resume. People live their lives and share on social media for multiple reasons (connect with family, to find a group of like-minded individuals, or just because you want to). If you feel you qualify for a position, then SHOW them why. Upload pictures of degrees, certificates, or any individual accomplishments. A four-year degree should not be overshadowed by one picture of you enjoying a drink with friends in a public environment. Remember: work-life balance.

             3. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE: Do your research on the company:

a.       Review the website of the company you are applying to. Some companies conduct phone interviews before in person interviews. I was eliminated from a position when I was asked “what do you know about this company?” I only knew what I saw on the commercials. A quick hint: view the press releases on the company website. These will tell you the most up to date news on the company. 

It is my wish that these tips help you bring home the gold in your job search. Just like with our Olympic athletes; a job search requires training, dedication, and practice. You won’t get your dream job right off the bat, and not every application you put in will land you an interview. However, when it is your time to shine you will illuminate the world during the deepest, darkest moments of despair in your life.

Staying Motivated During Your Job Search

Searching for a job is something that most of us have done in our lifetime. It’s a task that intimidates a lot of people for some reason. Many people see employment as a one-way street: you working for the employer. This is not the case at all. You are looking for someone to buy the skills you are selling. I’ve helped plenty of people with job preparation and I’ve developed a list of things to help keep people motivated through their job search. 

1. Your Resume 
• If you take your resume to 100 different experts, you will end up with 100 different resumes. People love to drill in your head how professional your resume should look. Before you hire someone to provide you with fancy fonts and headings; make sure the work experience YOU want to highlight is on your resume. After all, when you are in the interview and the interview asks you to explain what’s on your resume you want to be ready. What good is “Lowered AHT in call center to satisfactory operational levels” if you can’t explain what that is? Even if your resume is simple, it's what you want.
2. What You Should Be Paid 
• This is a hard conversation to have with yourself. Who really knows how much they are worth? To make things simple: NEVER APPLY FOR A JOB THIS ISN’T OFFERING THE PAY YOU WANT. Once again you are selling your skills, and you want them to go to the employer with the highest bid. Skilled employees are rare, and companies are willing to pay top dollar for certain talents. You should apply where you believe your skills will earn you top dollar.
3. The Interview
•  People seem to forget that the interview goes both ways. Walk into your interview with confidence because you are going to find out if THIS is the place where you want to sell your skills. For the most part you will be working at the same place you interview. Think about things like how far the commute is with traffic. In the interview you can ask “If hired, will this be the building/office I work in? Will there be a chance to work from home occasionally after training?” I don’t see this as a being cocky, just measuring the relationship that will be employer-employee. After the interview you should know if this the place where you want to work…NOT worrying about if you will get a call back with a job offer.

By all means I am not saying go into any job search process with a cocky attitude. However, be confident in your skills, your experience, and your degrees (if you have any). If you need some type of scale to measure skills, then I have one for you. McDonalds will never run out of people to flip burgers, but there is always a need for doctors in a hospital. Always remain confident in your job search and remember Slow Progress Is Better Than No Progress! 

Analyzing Addiction

We live in a world where addiction is part of life. When you are addicted to something you don’t notice because everyone else around you is addicted as well. We are addicted to social media, drugs, alcohol, and many other substances. We all hear that famous saying “denial is the first step to recovery”. When you are addicted to something you are in so deep that you see nothing wrong. A part of addiction is also being close to people who share your addiction.

Some of us choose lifestyle addictions that are no good for us. We hang with people with no desire to better themselves and we become just like them. Then one day you have that come to Jesus moment and you ask yourself “what have I been doing for the last 5 years?” This is the rock bottom, the place where there are NO MORE excuses, NO MORE people to take advantage of, and NO MORE reasons to stay addicted.

Addiction is a generational curse in families as well. Growing up I saw entire families on welfare, living in section 8 housing. People actually fight to stay on government assistance. Being poor is an addiction, and your kids grow up addicted as well. In the African American community if you make an attempt to succeed you are called “Uncle Tom”…because you try to shake the addiction of being poor. Occasionally, you will run across that kid who grew up poor, but made it to college and on to a wonderful life. Then you get one of those “black kid made it out of the ghetto” stories that everyone just loves.  

There is nothing wrong with seeking help for addiction. To make your life a better one, you can start by asking for guidance from people who are where you want to be. You will be pleasantly surprised to know that people who are successful were once addicted to the same things you were. Make small choices like changing your social circles. Hang with people who don’t agree with you all the time. When you are in your mother’s basement doing nothing; someone will tell you to get off your ass and do something productive.

Remember: Slow Progress Is Better Than No Progress. Set a goal that you can measure in increments, keep track of them weekly. No one can kick an addiction overnight, if anything you almost guarantee a relapse. Keep it Slow, Simple, and you will be Satisfied. Conquer your jungle!

What Motivates You?

What motivates people? Some would say: Money, Power, Respect. This motivates some, however we want to know what REALLY motives people. What motivates you to get out of bed every day to go to a job you hate? What motivates you to stay up till 2 am to finish writing that paper for class? What motivates you to stick to that strict diet? To put as simple as possible: what motivates you to put up with all of life’s shit day after day after day?

What motivates people purely depends on the individual. A motivational speaker goes through life just like we all do; one day at a time. However, that individual found a way to spread positivity through personal experiences. I was shot in both legs in Iraq and doctors told me that I would never walk again. Nine years later I’m not only walking, I’m kicking ass in everything that I do.

Proving people wrong motivates me. In Iraq someone looked through the scope of a rifle and made a decision to end my life. That person did not succeed, and every day on Earth I am motivated to be the best person I can be. I’m here to prove that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade and ask for vodka to go along with it. I would honestly love to walk up to the person who shot me, look them in their eyes and while shaking their hand say “thank you for the motivation”.

As long as what motivates you is positive, productive, and coincides with the law you will be successful. Our saying is “Slow Progress Is Better Than No Progress”. Whatever you are motivated to do it will take time. Your patience will be tested as well as your dedication. Stay humble, stay hungry, and keep roaring!