Today, I was at Target. This is nothing all that unusual, to tell the truth. This morning, I was looking for individually wrapped snack packages. Perusing the aisle, I stopped in front of a man and his boxes. It seemed that they were right where my targeted snacks would be. He was stocking the shelves and quickly moved his boxes so I could find what I wanted.

No, it wasn’t there. So, I asked him if he knew where to find them. He explained that he was the “Frito-Lay guy,” and gestured to his array of chips and snacks on the shelf on the opposite side. “Hmmm…,” I said, looking at the chips – none individually wrapped. “Thanks, but I was really looking for something in small packages.” He stopped what he was doing, stood up and walked down the lane, noting that what I wanted was probably there. I was impressed that he was being so helpful, especially since I wasn’t looking for “his” stuff.

I thanked him, picked out some snacks, and then remembered that I needed pretzels! Usually, I find what is on sale. Today, there was no question that I was going to choose Frito-Lay snacks. (Sometimes, there is more to your choice than price!) Laughing, I told the man that he had sold three bags of his pretzels by helping me find his competitors’ treats! I have a feeling that I’ll remember my little encounter with the Frito-Lay man whenever I am looking for snacks. Will I always choose that brand? Maybe not, but this story will most likely cross my mind every time.

Turning back down the lane, I said to myself, “I guess I know what I am blogging about today!”

If you are a regular reader, you already know the career connection…If you are looking for a job, have you considered focusing more on how you can help other people? Small acts of kindness not only help you engage and connect with your community (whether it is online or in person), they also may remind you of your valuable skills that you can use to impact others.

I’ve written about the value of volunteering during a job search, but just reaching out to your immediate community and making an effort to extend yourself and help people who ask (or even those who do not ask) can have a real impact. You never know what might result from focusing part of your job-search strategy on helping other people.

What do you think? Has helping other people helped you in your job search? Do you think making an effort to think more of others has the potential to improve your mood – and maybe your prospects? Share your ideas in the comments!