No whining allowed
Don’t waste time wallowing in self-pity during job search
Searching for a job — no matter what the circumstances — can challenge the very thoughts of your self-worth. Despite the well-intended support of family members and friends, it can be rough when job offers don’t come pouring in.
After all, what is wrong with you that you can’t get a job offer? The answer is usually “nothing.”
Most people don’t realize that when a person is hired for a job, it’s more of a reflection on the person doing the hiring than it is about the ability and professionalism of the interviewee. That is why I so often recommend that you focus on the individual who is interviewing you and the needs of the company. Keep in mind that you’re not there for yourself; you’re there for the company that’s doing the hiring.
So because the hiring process is more of a reflection on the interviewer’s skills than on you, does that mean you don’t need to work at improving interviewing skills and resume preparation?
Of course not. You need to clearly and succinctly provide the reasons why you’re an excellent hire for this particular role. You want to come across as being professionally competent in the skill sets required to fulfill the job’s duties, as a genuinely nice person and as someone who will take responsibility.
There’s little time for you to feel sorry for yourself or grieve because the phone is not ringing with positive news about your job search. Each day, you need to diligently improve your chances with the proper job-search and interview activities.
Here are a few things to consider for your checklist.
➤ Constantly improve your resume. Reread and edit the document, and ask others to review it and offer ways to improve your positioning with the right words and detail.
➤ Practice your interviewing skills by role-playing and answering questions that usually come up in an interview.
➤ Think, talk and write in terms of your accomplishments in prior jobs versus duties, both in your resume and your cover letters. Potential employers must believe you can do the job.
➤ Always write a “thank-you” note after a job interview. Mention your desire to join the company and perhaps something that was mentioned in the interview, and express your appreciation for the interviewer’s time. The sooner the note is received by the interviewer, the better.
➤ Keep everything in perspective. We all offer valuable contributions to an employer. No doubt you will be saddened when you don’t get a job offer, but the real loser is the company that passes you over.
Good luck, and keep on keeping on.
— Gary Moore is the president of Insight Edge. He has more than 30 years of business experience and specializes in the Personality Priority hiring process, sales and leadership training. Visit Moore’s website, www.insightedge. com, or send email to garymoore@insightedge.com.