Going The Extra Mile

It’s hard to get a job these days. “We’re not in a recession,” they say. People are still being laid off and there’s increasingly more competition for the same job. For instance, certain areas of the industry are on a hiring freeze with no end in sight. So what must one do to stand out from the crowd?

Recently, a friend shared a story with me about someone she met that went “the extra mile” in efforts to obtain a new job. The young lady she met had applied for a job at the Hilton hotel.

Now it’s safe to say that many job openings receive thousands of applications. With that said, you really can’t get a feel for a person just based on their resume. So she decided to jump on a plane from up north and come to the Hilton hotel in North Carolina to speak with someone about the position.

Unannounced!

When the hotel manager heard that she was on site, unexpected, at first, he was very annoyed by her for showing up without request and having intentions of speaking with someone about a position, that day. Fortunately, her attitude and persistence had impressed other members of management and they convinced the hotel manager to conduct an interview with her.

After five separate interviews, she was offered the job! The hotel manager was very impressed and told her that if she hadn’t made an appearance, she would not have been chosen for the position. She asked the manager how soon do you want me to start and he said, two weeks.

Of course, she was very grateful, but didn’t have a place to stay because her life was up north. The hotel allowed her to stay there for a month so she could get her affairs in order.

Going the extra mile can start out being a lonely road to travel and end up rewarding you beyond your greatest dreams. Step outside of your comfort zone and make it a habit of living there. By doing so, you put yourself inline to life changing experiences everyday.