A Four Leaf Clover Mindset for the New Work World

By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC

With St. Patrick’s Day upon us, many of us hope to find our own four-leaf clover to bring a little luck our way. But I believe we can create our own kind of luck if we use a few strategic tweaks for success in the New Work World. So much has changed in both our personal and professional lives, and we must adapt to this new environment and remain open to new experiences. Even though scholars throughout the ages have suggested that luck is simply a matter of chance, almost like rolling a pair of dice, many people still rely on lucky charms, talismans, or the hope that finding a penny or a four-leaf clover might grant their much-desired wish. However, as a career consultant, I believe the right mindset and plan allow us to create great things.

Scientific studies have suggested that lucky charms might work if you believe they work. This may be a placebo effect in motion, but if it helps you achieve great results, it can be combined with new optimistic techniques. Having the right mindset in today’s work world is crucial to achieving our goals. We also need the right plan of action to go along with that beneficial mindset to help manifest our desires and secure the job we are seeking.

The third step of The Faremouth Method is “Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone.” There are things we need to do now that may be different from what we are used to when obtaining our desired career results. If we combine the “good luck charm” of a positive mindset with specific actions, we can experience greater job search success. Our luck may very well improve and allow us to thrive and grow. Let’s review these tips for creating our own luck in the New Work World.

1. Do a Self-Inventory

Before you land that dream job, you have to get clear about what is important to you. We are all different, with unique criteria for what will work best for us. We may also have family requirements that must be considered.

Do you prefer to work collaboratively with others, or are you more productive on your own? Are you better suited for a large corporate environment, or would you prefer a small to mid-size company? Do you enjoy frequent interaction with your supervisor, or do you prefer to work more independently with clear deadlines and expectations?

What type of work culture is important to you? Are you more comfortable in a very formal environment, or in a more relaxed one? When you gain clarity about the type of position you want and the variables surrounding it, you can more easily identify the kind of role and organization that will suit you best, as well as the companies or industries that may not be the right fit.

2. Update Your LinkedIn and Social Media

Recruiters and company department heads utilize LinkedIn more than ever before. If your profile has not been updated in several years, it needs attention immediately.

Social media is another area that prospective employers are reviewing closely these days. I have heard from countless employers in recent months that a picture or post on Facebook was considered offensive, and what was nearly a hire was rescinded because of something the employer found distasteful. My experience over the last year suggests that employers are reviewing candidate information under a microscope. My suggestion is to limit personal information on social media that could offend a prospective employer.

3. Your Resume Is Your Calling Card

Think of your resume as your personal branding and advertising tool. Make sure you are using keywords strategically when describing your skills so they relate clearly to the job you are seeking.

For example, I recently worked with a candidate who had been a teacher and was applying for a customer service position. His resume focused on lesson plans, reviewing homework assignments, and grading papers, and it was rejected. When he revised the resume a few weeks later and highlighted student interaction, problem solving, communication with parents, and technical discussions with students in his computer programming class, he was able to land an interview and ultimately receive a job offer.

Your resume must reflect transferable skills that are honest and relevant. If it does not, an interview is unlikely to follow in this New Work World.

4. Know When to Apply Online

If there is a company you are interested in, you need to check for openings frequently, sometimes almost daily. Experts now say that from the time a job is posted, candidates should apply within the first 48 to 72 hours to be considered.

With supply and demand constantly shifting, and many employers searching for skilled candidates, being strategic and flexible in your job search has never been more important. Check back often and submit resumes quickly so you can get into the consideration pool. Waiting a week after a job is posted may simply be too late.

5. Include a Customized Cover Letter for Each Job

A cover letter attached to your resume remains very important. Skipping this step can send a negative message to a prospective employer and may indicate that a candidate is not willing to go the extra mile.

I have heard many employers say they selected candidates who submitted both a resume and a thoughtful cover letter over those who did not. If you are applying for positions that require strong writing skills, consider asking someone to help you review or write the letter. A poorly written cover letter can sometimes be worse than not including one at all.

6. Send a Thank-You Note Within 24 to 48 Hours

Always send a thank-you note to the person with whom you interviewed. I recommend sending it by email so your message arrives quickly.

A simple thank-you shows follow-up, professionalism, and gratitude, qualities that can make a strong impression on a prospective employer.

7. Do Your Homework on the Company and Interviewer

You should know as much as possible about the company before the interview takes place so you can speak intelligently about the organization and its goals.

If you know who the interviewer will be, consider looking them up on LinkedIn to learn about their background. I recently had a candidate who graduated from a university with a strong alumni network. When the candidate looked up the interviewer and realized they attended the same university, it created an easy point of connection and conversation. The candidate also had strong qualifications for the job, and he ultimately received an offer from the company. Having that additional “culture fit” connection certainly did not hurt his chances.

This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate by making your own luck in the New Work World. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace activities and practices that could make all the difference in your success. While luck may involve chance, solid preparation, the best information available, and a willingness to go the extra mile certainly do not.
Our book Revolutionary Reinvention and our podcast Career Can Do may offer helpful guidance as you work to create your own luck and move forward in your career. When you combine a clear plan of action with a positive mindset, knowing what you want and how you plan to achieve it, you greatly increase your chances of success.

Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.