Neha Khurram • Career Coach

Make your request a frictionless favor when job seeking, especially to connect with someone in another person’s network. People guard their networks carefully so if you do the research and do the work for the person, they will be impressed and find it easy to help you!

I explain the strategy of making it easy for the person to help by providing a forwardable blurb and hyperlinks, so they can easily reference the person you want an introduction to as well the job you applied to, and they simply copy-paste the request without any work.

In your template consider using a pleasantry, hyperlinking the target’s LinkedIn and the job, and sending a brief note about your background included in a template the person can pass along.

I also discuss why people might not help and encourage trying it out, especially to connect with someone in another person’s network.

Nobody mentions this. Companies have tools to screen for AI generated responses to application questions as well as uploading resumes and cover letters generated by AI.

Use AI to overcome writers block, cross-reference skills with a job description, score your profile, and help you rewrite sections of your resume. However, don’t hand it in the AI generated draft without using your own words!

You may borrow some suggested improvements but be sure you’re not just copy/texting from a gpt tool to a job application text box as it can copy over the code that triggers warnings on some systems.

Example tools companies are using to detect candidate fraud: Tofo FraudDetect, Sardine AI, CloudApper AI, Originality.Ai and many more!

These tools scan for keyword stuffing in white font, resume patterns, bot-like form filling and more.

Companies using these tools include Manpower, RE/MAX, Ashby, Rippling, Kaplan, Constant Contact and more! Don’t take chances. Your final draft should be edited by a human i.e you!

Knowing the exact job title, company, and industry you want to work in helps you keep your voice authentic and aligned with the opportunity vs shooting in the dark.

One of my favorite mindset exercises is asking clients to make a list of their life’s Greatest Joys.

It helps to think back to what you enjoyed most growing up.

Your favorite memories, hobbies, experiences, and people.

Some of my greatest joys are laughing with my siblings, dancing, soaking in the sun, journalling, and meeting interesting new people.

Spending time doing things we love with people that lift us up helps us build capacity to face rejection.

Summer is a great time to reconnect with your greatest joys. Don’t let it pass you by. ☀️

Essential questions to reflect on when preparing for an interview!
1. ‘Tell me about yourself’ = what we want employers to know about us
2. ‘Describe a time you had a disagreement at work’ = how we’ve resolved conflict
3. ‘Tell me about a problem you came across at work’ = a problem we solved and its impact,
4. ‘What made you apply?’ = why we want the role
5. ‘What do you look for in an employer’ = what we need to succeed,
6. ‘How does this role fit in with your goals and expectations?’ = and what could cause the role to not work out in six months.

Some of us know exactly what our calling is in life, or perhaps for the next season of life. Other times, we need a bit of guidance to figure it out. Try this journaling exercise to uncover your Ikigai, loosely translated to ‘reason for being’ or your calling.

Get a fresh notebook and pencil and start answering:
1. What does the world need?
2. What are you good at?
3. What do you enjoy doing?
4. What can you get paid for?

1. Be relentless with your time blocks including adding calendar holds for your breaks that can be used to grab a bite and catch up on your side gig or job search
2. Don’t take on extra work! Unless you’re actively trying to get promoted, focus instead on doing what you already do really well, and focus on protecting your reputation vs being a ‘yes man’
3. Dedicate consistent time block in the morning, evening, and over the weekend to keep things moving in other areas of your ‘Career Portfolio’.