Do This 1 Thing and I Guarantee—Yes, Guarantee—You Will Get a Job

When it comes to the job search, everyone�s with the lists: how to get a job; mistakes people make; ways to ace an interview; things you need to do today.

Enough.

There is a problem with all these lists. The problem is not that there�s not some good insights in some of them. It�s that no list will ever get you a job. Ever.

Know what�ll get you a job?

One thing: action.

Let�s do an experiment:

Right now, open a new browser tab/window. Go to your social networking site of choice. Think of a friend you haven�t spoken to in awhile�someone you don�t have anything important to talk about. Take however much time you need� when you think of that person, send him/her an invite to connect and a note that reads something to the effect of: �Just thinking of you; would love to connect when you have a few minutes and hear how you�re doing.� Then come back to this page.

I�ll wait while you go do that�

OK, now let�s review the experiment: did you actually do it? What would you have learned from a list, awareness that you should call? Hey: this ain�t �life appreciation class,� this is life itself. If you want something, you�ve got to move!

Others may care, but personally, I don�t give a hoot or holler about the proper etiquette for re-introducing yourself to an old acquaintance. I don�t give a flying fish about thank you notes or emails, either. Nor do I care about how awkward this all must be for you. All I care is whether or not you act. Because when you act, messing doesn�t matter. (As much.) When you mess up in your head, you stress; when you mess up in real life, you try again and improve. It happens without thinking about it whenever you refuse to give up!

I recently called a friend I hadn�t seen in 19 years. Out of the blue, just to say hi. That was awkward� for about a minute. Then we clicked and now I�ve 200 more people in my network. I called another friend, too� that conversation didn�t go as well. So? I lost nothing on that one. Ten minutes, maybe.

Now it�s your turn again: put down the list and go make that call. Bungle it. In fact, try to mess it up. You know what you�ll find? You�ll find you can�t. No more thinking about it, go do it!

Because they only way to guarantee that you get a job is to go out and get the job!