Hi Superstar,
Happy New Month! March brings with it the promise of spring, symbolizing renewal and endless possibilities. Just like the flowers blooming around us, your career, too, can experience remarkable growth and transformation.
As we kick off this month with boundless energy and a shared goal of landing our dream remote jobs, let's turn those aspirations into reality together.
Five Tips to Guide You in Your Career Journey this March
1. Unlock the Hidden Job Market
Job opportunities often hide behind the scenes, waiting to be discovered through the power of networking. Attend industry events, become part of professional associations, and dive into online communities related to your field. Connecting with professionals not only provides valuable insights but also unveils unadvertised positions, giving you a competitive edge.
2. Leverage the "Three Degrees of Separation" Rule
Beyond your immediate contacts lies a vast network of potential connections. Harness the power of your existing relationships to make introductions to professionals who may be just a few degrees away. Expanding your network in this way opens doors to job opportunities that might remain hidden through traditional channels.
3. Utilize "Informational Applications"
Stand out from the crowd by sending "informational applications" to your dream companies. Instead of a generic cover letter, share a brief introduction, express your admiration for the company, and sprinkle in a unique insight or suggestion related to their industry. This approach showcases your proactive mindset and genuine interest in the organization.
4. Craft a "Failure Resume"
Embrace your journey by documenting failures and setbacks, highlighting the lessons learned from each experience. This "failure resume" serves as a powerful testament to your resilience and growth. It's not just a personal reflection but a valuable resource to share during interviews, showcasing your ability to overcome challenges with grace.
5. Create a "No" List for Job Searching
In the pursuit of your dream job, establish clear boundaries and priorities. Craft a "No" list tailored to your unique job search journey. This strategic approach keeps you focused, prevents burnout, and ensures that every opportunity aligns with your career goals and values.
Lastly, I know we all started this year with enthusiasm and positivity to get our dream remote jobs and finally earn in USD. Well, guess what? You can still make that dream happen this month.
Featured Remote Opportunities on the Job Board
Resources to Help in Your Remote Career Journey
Our Resume Templates: Each template is accompanied by a comprehensive customization guide to assist you in tailoring your own resumes. Additionally, editable versions of the templates are provided for your convenience. Link
Our Social Media Handles: For daily tips on navigating your remote work career or tips to corporate success, check out our social media handles here Link
Introduction to Remote Work: Access our free ebook on what remote work is and how you can get remote jobs, especially other platforms to check out. Link
The ABC of a Successful Remote Job Application: Access our free ebook on how to tailor your resume and apply to remote jobs. I have tailored a resume template you can use as well as cold mail messages in drafting your cover letter. Link
The Remote Salary Handbook: This is the first published guide on remote work. Having been a remote worker from Africa, I know the struggles of getting good pay, I have been paid less countless times. This ebook lays down tips as well as templates to ensure no one gets to be like me. It’s currently on sale and would go a long way in your career journey. Link
What I Learnt from My 30 Days of Rejection
Rejection is not cliché, it is humane. I learnt this in November 2021, the month I like to call, “the month of back-to-back hit” because metaphorically speaking, every week, there was a gunshot wound to the chest. In plain words, I cried reading rejection mails. Jiang, the CEO of Wuju Learning, a company that trains organizations and employees to turn rejections into opportunities shared his experience of rejection in this Ted talk, he talked about how rejection is not something to be feared rather it is to be embraced in order to help you see opportunities.
Rejection shows you a reflection of life. It makes you see situations from another perspective and enables you to change yourself. This is what Robert Greene had emphasized in the 25th Law of Power as the power to recreate yourself. Through a series of rejections, you become stronger and more calculating. You become self-conscious and more determined to build the strongest version of yourself.
Frankly, rejection is inevitable. You can’t escape from it and if you are so “magically” lucky to escape it in your career, you surely find it waiting in your other spheres of life, for example - Your relationships.
More so, what if I told you that rejection is a blessing?
This might sound obnoxious but have we ever thought about the outcome of rejection and how our lives were after the impact? I have. In the first week of November 2021, I had gotten to the final stage of an interview for a remote job in the US, and a few hours before the offer call, I got a rejection mail with the note- “ It just occurred to us that you are from Nigeria and sadly, we are not hiring from your country at the moment”. At first, I was practically numb for a moment, and the moment after I burst into ugly tears. I felt like a part of me was robbed- my invested time and effort. However, the outcome of my rejection took three months to manifest. In January 2022, I started advocating for inclusivity in remote work on LinkedIn. I became known for my posts and it didn’t take long for founders and recruiters of remote companies to connect with me and send me opportunities.
I went from getting emails of rejections to getting emails of opportunities and connections on my thought of remote work for a global workforce. Today, I owe it to November 2021, my 30 days of rejection.
I mean if we are all going to chop breakfast, the least we can do for ourselves is to make our next meal more grandeur.
Yours Truly,
Mary-Esther Anele (Your Career Cheerleader)