Why is that a third of lottery winners end up broke, meaning they are actually worse off than before they won all that money? It has been reported lottery winners have a much higher rate of suicide and depression than normal Americans. How could this be? The answer to me is simple…they didn’t earn it.
Success is a curse if not properly earned. People who earn massive amounts of wealth by starting a business or moving up the company latter get there through hard work and being smart. They know how they became rich and rarely go back to being middle class. The same principal is true for applying to jobs…I know that sounds crazy but hear me out.
Recently a few D.C. Hopefuls dropped this line on me “well my friend/coworker landed a job by applying online.” My response each time was “so what?” Just for a moment let’s table the fact that applying to jobs is a total crap shoot and numbers game. The majority of the time people don’t have the right resume to ever stand a chance and often are applying to jobs that are not truthfully posted. Heck with the lottery at least you have the same odds of winning as everyone else!
Let’s just focus on hitting the lottery…landing a real job through applying online. That is a nice short term victory but you cannot build a successful long term career that way. Think of your ideal position at 45 years old. Chief of staff for a U.S. Senator, Under Secretary for an Intelligence division, or policy maker on K Street, seriously I want you to envision yourself. Do you honestly think you got there by going onto to indeed.com and applying? You must know by now that is not how D.C. works.
This method can also hurt you in the short term and is high risk. It can hurt you in the short term because you are starting day one totally fresh. Yes, they interviewed you and liked you but you are starting from zero day one. I’ve had 5 jobs in D.C. (area) and only one I got through straight up applying online. This was back in 2013, long before I had the steadfast spirit, but in the moment I was very excited. As you know it was a disaster. My other four jobs I walked in day one having been recommended by someone who works there (twice that person was still working there and helped be learn the ropes) or use to work there. I was able to start day one with a level of credibility that would take a fresh outsider a few months to likely earn. When you enter the right way people usually assume you must be good, trustworthy, and hardworking until proven otherwise because why else would someone vouch for you in such a way?
You also remove a lot of risk. That second job I had no idea what I was really walking into. Sure I asked good questions in the interview but the people interviewing me really didn’t know what my actual job and client would be like. If I had really known what that job was I never would have taken it and wasted 18 months of my young career! All four of the other jobs I had a very solid understanding of what I was getting myself into. I got honest insights about the good and bad parts of the position and how best to excel. I felt like I was set up to succeed and shockingly I was successful!
Is there ever a time to apply online? The short answer is yes there are around 3-4 times I encourage online applications. Up until now I’ve only given this advice to accepted members of the D.C. Hopefuls Fellowship but today I’ll share one with you as well. Applying to jobs makes sense when you are following the advice of a contact. For example if your contact at agency ABC gives you the not so great advice to start applying on their site then you do it as proof you are willing to follow their advice. You can later use the fact you didn’t get the job as a talking point with them (See my blog Jumping Through Hoops).
In conclusion I want you to remember the goal is not to get a job it is to have a successful career. Getting a job only to fail (like I did with my second job) will set you back mentally and professionally. The goal is to get the RIGHT job and grow your professional network. If this is good enough for 45 year old insanely successful you then it should be good enough for twenty something you!!!
Stay Steadfast,
Tommy Pevehouse