Motivation Monday Know When To Break the Rules

Motivation Monday Know When To Break the Rules During a job search, you need to know when to break the rules! In fact, some rules were made to be broken. Especially those that work against you. In job search and in your career, you have to know which rules to break and when. You also have to understand the rules well enough to know how to just bend them. This can be tricky and it usually requires a strong sense of self-confidence. Listen to the teenager in you As a child, you were taught to follow many rules at home and in school- no running inside, no chewing gum in class, do your homework, and the list goes on. When we were young we followed those rules if we knew what was good for us, in other words, if we wanted to stay out of the principals office and stay in our parents good graces.   But as you got older, you tested the rules. In fact, you outright broke them at times. And from this, you learned some valuable lessons. Taking calculated risks helps you learn, build strength and get what you want. Here are some job search rules you should know and which ones you can break. No Calls Please When job postings state no calls please that means you shouldnt call and ask about the job. You can call a friend or someone in the company youve been referred to and ask about the time-frame for filling the job and more insight about the company. No one will get hurt or injured if you break this rule. Resume Rules There are few rules in writing a resume; there are only preferences. If you put more emphasis and attention on building relationships, you may be pleasantly surprised how little the resume actually matters. Dont Break the Status Quo On the job, especially if you are new, it is important to fit in. You dont want to rock the boat. When, not if, you are told to complete a task a certain way, do it that way, just like you followed the rules as a kid. You need to learn why their rules exist before you can test it. However, there may come a time to break the status quo. When people or companies do things a certain way for too long, it can become dangerous to their health and survival. Dont Question Authority In my opinion, this might be one of the all-time dumbest rules ever. Yes, you and I should respect authority (our elders, senior staff, leaders and other high ranking officials) however, it does not mean you cant ask them questions. You need to learn from them. Never fear authority. Under the facade of their role, they are people just like you and me. Have a conversation with those senior to you. And I am not just talking to the new graduates here. No matter your age, you should respect the thoughts and ideas of others (younger and older). Do As You Are Told This does not mean you blindly do everything you are told. If you are asked to do something that goes against your moral values or seems unethical, you need to appropriately question why you are being asked to do it. This takes courage and has to be done with diplomacy and tact. How You Are Perceived by Others Does Matter Every decision or choice you make should take into consideration how it will impact others. Your choices must also weigh your own personal benefit. These can be tough decisions sometimes. At the end of the day, you have to be OK with what you have done or not done. Live life without regrets or fear!