Hard work

One of the big frustrations that I hear from job seekers is that they've always been hard workers. They do the work that nobody else wants to do. They stay late or put in extra effort to complete critical tasks.

When it's time for them to start a job search, they feel lost - even cheated - because they don't know how to talk about why employers should hire them.

Their work didn't win them any awards. They received very little recognition for their efforts.

What's more, they feel like they won't be competitive in the job market, because employers won't see their value as hard workers.

"Work harder, not smarter."

"Hard work doesn't guarantee success."

"The reward for hard work isn't a promotion; it's more hard work."



I have a completely different take on the hard work conversation.

Working with job seekers - from all industries and all walks of life - has taught me that there's tremendous value to uncover from people who consider themselves to be hard workers.

1. Their hard work often saves a company from losing customers, dollars, or time.

2. Their hard work often creates new opportunities for their teams - new avenues to explore, or maybe new products or services.

3. Their hard work enables a company to earn more revenue than they would've earned if the extra effort hadn't been made.



What's your take on hard work? Does hard work have value in today's world?

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