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Today, I was at Target. This is nothing all that unusual, to tell the truth. This morning, I was looking for individually wrapped snack packages. Perusing the aisle, I stopped in front of a man and his boxes. It seemed that they were right where my targeted snacks would be. He was stocking the shelves and quickly moved his boxes so I could find what I wanted.No, it wasn’t there. So, I asked him if he knew where to find them. He explained that he was the “Frito-Lay guy,” and gestured to his array of chips and snacks on the shelf on the opposite side. “Hmmm…,” I said, looking at the chips – none individually wrapped. “Thanks, but I was really looking for something in small packages.” He stopped what he was doing, stood up and walked down the lane, noting that what I wanted was probably there. I was impressed that he was being so helpful, especially since I wasn’t looking for “his” stuff.
I thanked him, picked out some snacks, and then remembered that I needed pretzels! Usually, I find what is on sale. Today, there was no question that I was going to choose Frito-Lay snacks. (Sometimes, there is more to your choice than price!) Laughing, I told the man that he had sold three bags of his pretzels by helping me find his competitors’ treats! I have a feeling that I’ll remember my little encounter with the Frito-Lay man whenever I am looking for snacks. Will I always choose that brand? Maybe not, but this story will most likely cross my mind every time.
Turning back down the lane, I said to myself, “I guess I know what I am blogging about today!”
If you are a regular reader, you already know the career connection…If you are looking for a job, have you considered focusing more on how you can help other people? Small acts of kindness not only help you engage and connect with your community (whether it is online or in person), they also may remind you of your valuable skills that you can use to impact others.
I’ve written about the value of volunteering during a job search, but just reaching out to your immediate community and making an effort to extend yourself and help people who ask (or even those who do not ask) can have a real impact. You never know what might result from focusing part of your job-search strategy on helping other people.
What do you think? Has helping other people helped you in your job search? Do you think making an effort to think more of others has the potential to improve your mood – and maybe your prospects? Share your ideas in the comments!
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Article by Miriam Salpeter
Miriam Salpeter, author of Social Networking for Career Success, is a CNN-named "top 10 job tweeter" and contributor to U.S. News & World Report's "On Careers" column. Quoted in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and NBC news for her cutting-edge career advice, Miriam is an in-demand writer and speaker regarding job search and social media. She offers custom packages for job seekers and business owners, including transforming resumes and creating social media profiles/personal websites for clients. Keppie Careers has you covered. Let's get started!
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http://www.talagy.com Jennifer Turner
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— Gloria MOur mock interview really narrowed down my weaknesses. Thanks for your great suggestions to improve. I'm much more confident and ready to take on my next job interview now!
— Alex MI had an interview yesterday with a company that I'm very excited about. I had sent them a version of the resume we worked on about a week ago, and they responded back within 24 hours asking for an interview! Thanks for everything!
— Lauren BMiriam understands the frustration of the twenty-something trying to pursue a career and has devoted herself to helping others achieve their goals. My correspondence with Miriam has resulted in not only a renewed determination in the pursuit of my career, but also in a remarkable transformation for both my resume and, perhaps most importantly, confidence in myself.
— Susan PI did get a job offer today based on my new resume - more than I had in 1 month with the old resume! (Received this email within 48 hours of delivering new resume!)
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