We live in an age where people feel entitled to everything. People won’t lift a finger unless they’re getting something in return.
Technically, no one is entitled to our work. However, we’re also not entitled to pay for our work. Just because we do something does not guarantee we’ll get compensation. Just because we pay someone does not mean they’ll give good work in return, or vice versa.
Because of our selfish, entitled mindset, going the extra mile is almost unheard of. Even going the regular, standard mile is something people generally don’t do.
Sometimes at work I’ll go out of my way to do something, and a co-worker will chuckle and jokingly ask if it’s in my job description.
Honestly, I don’t know what’s in my job description anymore. I just do what I’m asked and what I see needs to be done without worrying if it’s what I’m “supposed” to be doing.
Imagine for a moment you do create value for free. You do a little work, you say “Hey you don’t have to pay me for this right here, but give me a job and I’ll do even more.”
Imagine you want to get a job baking for someone. You can use your imagination to decide why someone wants to hire a full-time baker. Which do you think is more likely to get hired, showing up with a piece of paper that says “I can bake well,” or showing up with a plate of homemade cookies you know taste like heaven on earth?
Probably the person who brought proof of their abilities, right?
So how do you apply this same idea to a job like marketing, or sales?
Prove you can do the job they need done. Take a look at the job listing you want to apply for. Do they mention a task you can do for free on your own? Create a few Facebook ads, design an email campaign, create a marketing strategy, do some research for them, find some possible sales leads, whatever it might be. Doing actual work is so much more impressive than throwing a resume among hundreds of other resumes and just waiting.
In the day and age of doing the bare minimum both in our applications and our work, going above and beyond sets you apart.