and what to do instead

Transcription

1 TOP 5 MISTAKES THAT LAND APPLICANTS A JOB THEY DON'T WANT

2 WELCOME let's get acquainted Interviewing is easy Hi, I'm Chris, and I'm an intentional interviewing master. A...what now? Intentional interviewing is all about going into an interview and knowing what you need to find out in order to sign on the dotted line. It's about having your checklist of must-haves before the interview starts, and asking the right questions to ensure that the role is a good fit. Unfortunately, as you'll find in the rest of this guide...a lot of people miss the mark. Being a career coach, I've heard time and time again the common stumbling block, "I didn't really know what I was getting myself into until I was a month into the job". Oh, hell no. I hate to break it to you, but this common complaint is often an indication of sub-par interviewing skills. Not to say you didn't impress the interviewers, but more-so, that you didn't hold up your end of the bargain. And that's why I've created this guide. What follows are the top 5 mistakes that land applicants a job they don't want, and some suggestions of what to do instead. I originally come from corporate too, so I get it. I used to work in advertising, and few industries have employees turnover as high as the agency world. I know the mistakes I'm about to share because I've lived them, and I know there's a better way. Read on and enjoy. Future you says "thanks". Chris Castillo chris@beempoweredachievers.com

3 TOP 5 MISTAKES THAT LAND APPLICANTS A JOB THEY DON'T WANT 02: You don't know what you want your dayto-day to look like 01: You don't think that it's possible to have a career you love that pays well Let's just get this one out of the way. One of the biggest things I see in one-on-one coaching clients is the belief that you can't have a well-paying, passion-led career. Whether it be the starving artist narrative we've seen in pop culture, or your parents telling you that "art history isn't a real major", this message has stuck. While we don't have time to go into the intricacies of the human brain right now, I can say that this belief blocks a lot of people from searching for the right career. Most career hurdles are either with the work we're doing, or how we're doing it. So often I see job hunters define their needs by solely "I want a Media Supervisor role at an Ad Agency in San Francisco". OK... What do you know about the team you want to work with? What kind of management works well for you? What size company do you think you can have the biggest impact at? All of these are questions you need to ask, otherwise I can promise you won't find what you're looking for. Start here. Begin defining what you're looking for. Opposed to just the job title, write out the ways in which you work best: team dynamics, company size, management, and the like. If you think this belief may be guiding your decisions, start a list of all the counter-examples you can think of who started successful, passionled roles. Oprah, anyone? "Only as you do know yourself can your brain serve you as a sharp and efficient tool." -BERNARD BARUCH w w w. B e E m p o w e r e d A c h i e v e r s. c o m

4 TOP 5 MISTAKES THAT LAND APPLICANTS A JOB THEY DON'T WANT 03: You're not sure if this is the industry or role you even want to be in Maybe you're having doubts about the moral compass of your industry. Maybe you've been in your field since graduating college and you're scared to "throw it all away". Maybe you feel like you fell into your role. Regardless, you're having doubts about the kind of work you're doing. If this sounds like you and yet you're still looking for work in your current industry... Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. This mistake is common, and unfortunately is the kind of thing we consider "irreconcilable differences". With my one-on-one clients, we look at how to salvage your experience in the industry and map it to something more meaningful. You can too. Take the time to get clear on this. Start by taking note of the activities that are totally "in flow". What activities are so fun that time flies? What trends can you find? Whether it's working with a career coach on it, or starting on your own...just begin. "Only make moves when your heart's in it, and live the phrase 'sky's the limit' " -NOTORIOUS B.I.G. 04: You forget to interview the interviewer You wouldn't buy a new car without asking about a few "must-haves", right? Unfortunately, for the 3 reasons listed above, many job hunters do just that. A majority of applicants search for new jobs just by typing their current job title in LinkedIn or Indeed! Worse yet, if they get in the door for an interview, they don't ask about the things that matter to them. They haven't defined what they're looking for, and they certainly haven't asked questions about those essential factors. They go with the boilerplate questions that they think they're supposed to ask... "What is a typical day like?" "How is the work-life balance?" "What does success look like in the role?" You can get a lot of phony answers to questions phrased like that, which is why I believe in BSproofing your interviewing questions. By failing to ask the right questions the right ways, people run the risk of being blinded by the big company name or great perks. Then, one week in, you catch them saying "I should have asked more about what my manager is like...she's a nightmare!" Organize your master list of must-haves, and only apply to roles that you think meet those standards. Once you get in the door, be sure to ask tailored questions to ensure the company job the bill, and ask for examples to sort out any puffery! w w w. B e E m p o w e r e d A c h i e v e r s. c o m

5 TOP 5 MISTAKES THAT LAND APPLICANTS A JOB THEY DON'T WANT 05: You're so eager to get out of your current situation that you "don't have time" to figure this all out. This applicant fumble goes out to all of you candidates in a role you want to get out of. Fast. Maybe you hate your boss or your team. Maybe you hate your industry. Either way, you're so desperate to leave that you'll take anything. Unfortunately, a lot of job applicants feel like they needed a new job yesterday, and they'll do just about anything to get it. Including compromising on the things they want in their next role. But guess what, people? This kind of behavior leads to a job that we hate just as much 6 months down the road, and the search begins again. I've been here. I once was so eager to find my new role (and leave a manager I couldn't stand), that I ignored the many warnings signs during an interview. There were plenty of things that the hiring manager said that should have signaled that the role wasn't the right next step for me. And yet...i was so motivated to make a change that I didn't care. I ignored the warning signs and took the new gig. Sure enough, within a month I knew I had made a mistake. I had to start all over because I didn't take the time to do the process right on my first time around! Take the time to do it right. Even if that means doing something you don't really want to do to hold you over. If you're desperate to leave your current gig, maybe consider driving Uber to fund your job hunt while you take your time. Otherwise I can promise you, you'll be back to square one in no time! "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? -JOHN WOODEN

6 NEXT STEPS I know, I know. You know some of the key steps to ensure you're landing a job you want, but now you're asking yourself, "how do I put this all to use?" Taking you through all the exercises and steps to apply these tips to your job hunt would require a novel! And a whole lot of time. Start with these exercises. If you're running into hurdles, or having some larger questions about where you want to go in your next career move, one-on-one coaching could be a fit for you. Some of the benefits of 1x1 Coaching: Reigniting your passion -- whether in your existing role, or something new with transferable skills. Becoming more self aware, honing on exactly what makes you tick, how you re motivated, and where your strengths are. Building your confidence and identify your strengths so you feel more than enough in any position you re in. If you're curious about whether it's a fit for you, reach out. Schedule a consultation on my site, and we'll go from there.