On October 5, 2011, the world lost a visionary.
Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. In the 35 years since the founding of Apple, Jobs contributed to many major advances in technology.
The outpouring of sympathy and gratitude across the planet last Wednesday is solid proof that Jobs will be missed and remembered.
One of Jobs’ lasting legacies will be his memorable quotes and their versatility. As someone in the careers industry, I clearly see how job seekers can learn from and apply the leadership and wisdom of Steve Jobs:
“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.”
We all make mistakes. As Jobs so eloquently puts it, it’s up to us to keep calm and carry on. Maybe you accidentally forgot to attach your resume to the email you just sent or you forgot to set your alarm clock on the day of a big interview. It’s up to you to keep moving forward.
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
As a job seeker, it’s easy to look to the other guy and just do what he does. I constantly hear from job seekers that they don’t do things (i.e., send thank you notes) simply because no one else does. Don’t let other people be the standard. Make yourself the standard others can follow.
“I was worth over $1,000,000 when I was 23, and over $10,000,000 when I was 24, and over $100,000,000 when I was 25, and it wasn’t that important because I never did it for the money.”
In this economy, it’s hard to connect work and money. Not everyone is going to be as lucky as Steve Jobs, who found his passion early on. However, try not to settle for a career that just pays the bills. You might not be working your dream job right now. Be in constant pursuit of doing something that fulfills you beyond your paycheck. It’s out there – you just need to find it.
“Why join the Navy if you can be a pirate?”
Jobs was definitely a quirky man. He never followed the competition and he wasn’t known for doing things “by the book,” and for good reason. If he had, we probably wouldn’t be listening to iTunes, checking our iPhones, or using any of the many other Apple products we love. If you want to venture off the beaten path, try it out. There are so many opportunities out there for you right now.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
I frequently hear about people working in a certain field or taking on a major that doesn’t fit their personality or vision of who they want to become. They do this because their dad does it, or because it’s what their family expects them to do. If you feel genuine passion about something, then pursue that one thing with all the tenacity and enthusiasm you can! You might feel pressure to do something else, but your true support network will follow you wherever you choose to go.
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
While Jobs addresses entrepreneurs in this quote, it can really apply to just about anyone. In your job search, work hard and your efforts will pay off. It might take longer than you’d like, but you will find something perfect for you.
What do you think? What other job search lessons did Steve Jobs teach you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Pingback: 6 Tricks and Treats Every Job Seeker Gets | Cachinko