5 Rules That Job Seekers Should Break Now

"The Wolf of Wall Street" depicts the cut-throat environment in Wall Street (2013), where rules are only made to be broken. It's the only way to earn lots of dollars without any regards to the law. It doesn't suggest that you must do the same unless you believe in your lucky stars. It's a different thing with job seekers, where the line between passivity and aggressiveness is blurred.

Think of Tess McGill in Mike Nichols's comedy-drama, "Working Girl" (1988). She's a secretary aspiring for an executive position, and her naiveté would prompt her to do a risky move. (She must pretend to be her boss, who would steal her own merger idea.) Hollywood prefers a happy ending, even if such a situation can land Tess in court (and cost her millions). On the other hand, Tess's actions illustrate that nothing will happen if you play it safe. It also applies to the #MeToo movement, which is more than a case of sexual harassment. (Actresses like Miriam Hopkins weren't called difficult by her peers without a reason.) If you believe in your abilities, then you'll not think about the others say about you. You want the job, you must adopt a proactive approach. Complacency won't get you an interview. The world has changed.

Don't Afraid to Break the Job Search Rules

The first-person approach to your resume writing. If you've studied English, then you should know better. If not, then common sense will tell you that your brand must stand out. There are no rules in the repetitive use of "I", which can be used often to persuade the employer (or recruiter) that you're the best candidate for the job. It doesn't mean that you must keep on mentioning your best skills. (This is the part where your proofreading skills must be put to good use.) How about the brand? It simply refers to your talents, if not skills. It depends on the job ads, which means you must not have identical resumes.

Send your pain letters to managers. Find a job through job searches is rather a lazy approach to a situation. The best athletes are aggressive in their game plan, which gives them the higher chance of winning. It's the same thing with you; if you're aiming high, then look for managers. Send them a pain letter, which doesn't detail your struggles. It's rather your accomplishments in your previous job, but it will be better to choose one. You can cite your best traits, which would lead to your success. And don't be hesitant about revealing your feelings. Don't make it too personal, though.

You can be the Jack (or Jill) of all trades. Is it possible to be a job seeker and a consultant at the same time? You'll be surprised after you do an extensive research on it. You're not stepping beyond the bound if you think that employers (or recruiters) can expect a lot from you. Be sure that you're the real deal. Everything must be done in writing. (You can't expect all employers to rely on their words. Consider yourself lucky if one remembers you.)

You're more than a few dollars than your last employer would pay you. This seems to be a tricky part, as many employers (or recruiters) expect job seekers to be transparent about their salary history. And then there are fields where everyone knows anyone and anything. You can't do anything about that part of the hiring question, but you can market yourself better. Look for one particular skill in the job ad, and recall your work experience. You can exaggerate the details if it will give you an advantage, but be prepared to put your works into action during your first month in your new office.

Do whatever the employer (or recruiter) is telling you to do. There's a gray area in this part, as some employers (or recruiters) will perceive you differently if you do otherwise. There's no harm in clarifying it. If you don't, then you must prepare yourself for a lengthy explanation. There's no need to be defensive about it, as long as you believe that this will make you noticed. And for the right reason(s).

It's a New Day

Employers (or recruiters) are clamoring for talent, so you can't whine about not finding a job. What can you do about it? Aside from following the above, you can start right now.

You're not insignificant in the hiring equation. As a matter of fact, you're more powerful if you know how to write your resume. If you're hired for the job, then it doesn't mean that you must pat yourself for a job well done. You can still negotiate your salary and benefits if you think you don't deserve it. If you have another offer (and a better one), then you don't have a dilemma.

Keep in mind that this is a war for talent, so you must go for it. Don't ever think of what might happen.