Best Way to Get a Job Nobody's Using...

A common email I get from LinkedIn readers goes something like this:

Dear J.T.,

I've applied to 100's of jobs and aren't getting any responses. I tailor my resume for each one and send a professional cover letter explaining how my skills meet their requirements, but still, I get nothing. What am I doing wrong?

Their mistake? Doing what everyone else is: going through the job search motions, but not really getting in the game. With that many people competing for the same positions using the exact same marketing approach, no wonder the results are dismal. It's like running on a treadmill but expecting to end up in a different location - when you're done you've gone nowhere and are left exhausted and unfulfilled.

Want A Job? Prove It!

These days, employers expect you to differentiate yourself from the sea of applicants flooding their inbox. They are blurry-eyed and tired of the same old resume and cover letter where you brag about how great you are. It's just a bunch of "blah, blah, blah" that goes in one ear and out the other.

What If There Was A Better Way?

There is, and just requires you open up and strategically share your passion. Not only does it feel good, it helps you stand out. Check out these two examples:

1) Shaylean is a about to graduate with a MS in Mechanical Engineering. He's applied to 500 (yes 500!) jobs, gotten 4 interviews, and no job offers. His problem? The 'spray-and-pray' method he is using lacks passion for the companies he's applying to. See here how he was advised to focus on his passion for automobile manufacturing as a way to show his depth of knowledge and high-level of productivity to get him a job. Read Shaylean's entire story here.

2) Todd wants a job at Dropbox so badly, he built a webpage and a video to show them his abilities and commitment to the position. He poured some major passion into his application as a way to showcase his capacity to work hard and be creative. See Todd's video and webpage here.

NOTE: There's A Difference Between "Passion" & "Fanatical"

Sharing your passion for what a company does and why you think they do it better is one thing. Getting crazy or silly just to grab attention is another. The key is to articulate and provide examples that prove you are a member of the employer's tribe. It's not enough to say you are a fan, you need to show that you understand how you will add value - enough value to justify the cost of hiring you. So, make sure that passion is demonstrated through actions that will prove to the employer you can do the job... and then some!

How have readers used passion to get them a job? What tips can you offer to help job seekers enjoy the process of sharing their passion with employers? I'd love to read your comments on this below!

If you want to read more of what I've written, check out my articles on Inc.com.

P.S. - First time reading my posts? Thanks for taking the time to stop by! Not only do I write for Linkedin, but I'm also founder of the career advice site, CAREEREALISM,and currently run the career coaching program, CareerHMO. I hope you'll check them both out!

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CAREEREALISM’s Founder, J.T. O’Donnell is a nationally syndicated career expert and workplace consultant who helps American workers of all ages find greater professional satisfaction. Her book,CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, outlines her highly successful career-coaching methodology. Purchase her e-book of CAREEREALISM for only $9.95 by clicking here!

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