DJH 415: how to connect with people in a real way

Admit Your Shortcomings

Whether you're currently working at a job, or interviewing for one, be sure to own your shortcomings.

Admit you don't know something. Be honest about your errors.

This builds trust with others, because it shows your fallibility. If you pretend to be perfect, people will smell it.

Then, once you own your mishap, say "next time I'll do it better" or "here's what I'm learning about this" to also display growth mindset.

Acceptance. Growth. Acceptance. Growth.

Make a cover letter and join the top 1% of job seekers

In our guide to cover letters, you'll learn the 21st century way to stand out and hook their attention.

"Writing is only a small part of the picture. It’s the Digital Age! You can add visual media (like logos and screenshots) that communicate more quickly and more efficiently than your words will."

How to connect with people in a real way

We like to suggest that you keep it real when you build connections, and give more than you ask. Our friends at Sidekick have some similar thoughts.

Perfect the art of follow-through. Making a new connection is arguably the easiest part of networking. Maintaining that connection though…not so much. Hoey recommends making small efforts to keep in touch, such as sending over an article that reminds you of them, checking in to see how they’re doing, or if they provided you with a reference or connected you to a colleague, letting them know how it went. Instead of focusing on what this person can do for you, work on creating a genuine connection, and recommendations and referrals will likely follow.

Quote of the Day

“Where you are now in life is the sum of the decisions you’ve made.”
— Ed Mylett

The Career Hackers Revolution

• Career hacking is about the relentless pursuit of discovering and doing what makes you come alive. Here are the core principles in the Career Hackers Manifesto.
  
• See two of our top posts: How to Make a Video Pitch and 100 Ways to Work Out Loud, so you can skip the resume and degree and be your own credential.
  
• Want audio? Head to the Daily Job Hunt Podcast.
  
• Can't get enough? Get the DJH Sunday Special for extra mindset juice.