Why Being Unique is Vital to Your Success in Any Job Market

Standing Out
With more and more people competing for fewer and fewer jobs these days, the importance of standing out to employers is obvious. But even in times of economic prosperity, making a good impression can mean the difference between landing your dream job and just getting by. In fact, I am going to take it a step further and tell you that no matter your age, occupation or location, being unique is one of the key factors to your success in any area.

Here’s Why

• People Notice Unique. A business-owner looking for a new employee is going to read dozens, if not hundreds of cover letters and résumés. All credentials aside, it is going to be the ones that deviate a little from the boring standard that (s)he is going to remember.
• People Remember Unique. Imagine you talk to dozens of people at a party about what they did for spring break. Two months later I’m betting you are going to remember the one who hiked Everest over the ones who sunned themselves at the beach all week.
• People Are Looking For Unique. It’s no longer enough to simply learn and perfect a single set of skills. In today’s fast-paced job market, few people stay in a job for more than five years and rapidly advancing technologies are making lifetime learning a necessity to success. So how do you continue to attract the interest of key employers, customers and contacts? If you said “STAND OUT” then you’re catching on fast!

3 Simple Ways to Start STANDING OUT

1. Notice Your Interests, Hobbies and Talents. Do you love throwing parties? You might make a great event planner. Are your CDs organized alphabetically by artist? Personal organizing or assisting might be right up your alley. Even if your interests don’t appear to have any monetary value at first glance, start to take notice of them. You never know what might end up being useful to you (or potential employers) down the road!
2. Use the Power of the World Wide Web. In this day and age if you don’t exist on Google, you don’t exist at all (metaphorically of course). Start a website (free blogging sites are a great way to get started), utilize social networking sites and start getting your message/personality/credentials out there. Being easy to find on the web will make you that much easier to hire when the perfect job/contact comes along!
3. Create a Personal Mission Statement – And Share it! After you’ve exhausted step one (or even while you’re still working on it), take it even further and start to think about your “purpose” on this earth. Is there a cause you feel strongly about? How do you want to change the world? When you’re gone, what legacy do you want to leave behind? Write down everything that comes to mind and then hone and refine your mission statement into two to four powerful lines. Now for the most important part: tell everyone. That’s right. You’ll be amazed at the doors that start to open when people hear your LIFE PURPOSE. Tell all your friends, use it in your next cover letter and put it up on your new website. You’ve just taken unique to a whole new level.

Congratulations! If you’ve followed these three steps then I can guarantee that people are going to start to take notice. And this is only the beginning. Stay tuned for more articles and tips coming soon!