Recent studies have shown that most people in today’s society will work an average of 5-7 careers/jobs in their lifetime. Most of us know how to write a decent resume and apply for a job online but have never been taught how to strategically apply to find the “right” job. We find that most clients that we have worked with will say it is too much trouble to look or it takes too much time even though they hate their current job. We believe this is because they were never shown how to apply and interview to get the job they really desire. Here are the 4 tips you should use when looking for that next job.
Know That There is NO Perfect Job
It may sound obvious but this is the first and foremost thing that people need to understand before exploring the job market. They may not admit it but in the back of their mind, they may be looking for a job that pays more, gives more vacation and will make them happier. Perhaps they will look on job sites but realize that there isn’t anything out there or they are not qualified so they won’t bother applying or procrastinate in doing so. What is worse, is when they are so desperate they leave their current role and that jump at the first thing that comes their way. Remember that every company will sell their company as the best place to work and caring for their employees. The truth is that all companies have their good attributes and bad ones.
Know What You Want
One of the things we see when working with clients is that most people don’t know what they want. They may have been laid off or still taking some courses but don’t really know what they want to do next. This is perfectly normal. Most of us come out of school and have been told to get a job… any job. We just did what we were good at or came our way but never really took time to explore our strengths, desires and dreams. One of the best decisions we can make in our career life is taking time to stop everything and get out a journal and write down everything we were good at… no negatives. Write down your passions, what makes you dream and gets you excited. If you need help, ask your family and friends as what they think you are good at… remember, it is never too late to pursue your passions! If you have ever said, I’ve always wanted to be… ask yourself “why not”?
Be Prepared
One of the hardest things to do is to land an interview with a really great company and yet is still amazes us when we see how unprepared people can be. They have hired and sat in thousands of interviews from an employee standpoint and still can’t believe that the person or persons never researched any information on the company. One of the questions that is almost always asked is “tell me why you applied or what do you know about the company”. Before you go to an interview, make sure you write down (or google search) what kind of questions they may be asking. If you are nervous (which is completely normal), ask a friend or colleague to ask these questions to you as a mock interview. Interviewing is like anything else, the more you practice, the better you get at it but if you don’t practice, you won’t get better.
Be Careful
Remember that just because you have an offer, doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Research the company and see what others are saying about it. In the internet age, you are sure to get insight into how current and past employees feel about a company. Every company in an interview will say that they are the best place to work and have won an award for something or other. Talk this decision over with friends, family and people you trust. If they are excited for the opportunity and see you as a fit, then chances are it will be a fit as well. If you do get the job, be careful and never forget point number one. Each and every job has its challenges and it is how you approach it that can truly make a difference!