Making a career choice and sticking to it is not as easy as it sounds, especially in today’s economic climate. It can be nerve-wracking to go through the process of choosing a path, especially when you’re not sure if it’ll take you to a long-lived career.
How can you be sure that going in a certain direction is the absolute best thing to do?
It’s natural to feel job interview anxiety. If you aren’t nervous, it means you don’t care. So, those butterflies in your stomach indicate several things are at stake for you: your career progression, how your contributions will make a difference, the achievement of financial goals, and your overall well-being. They are all at risk.
Jitters are common in such a situation because many things are being evaluated. Every interview question you answer will be scrutinized. Your clothes make an impression; your posture, your long silences, or scratchy throat reveal nervousness. The feel of your handshake can make or break you. And, let’s not forget today’s environment – how you come across on a Zoom video call. Job interview anxiety can also be troublesome as well. You may be too distracted to think clearly about what you need to say, and you may give your interviewer the impression that you lack confidence.
Why do we procrastinate around keeping our resumes up to date? Six reasons that will resonate with you are:
Career joy is a choice. But, how does one opt for career joy? It takes self-awareness, self-appreciation, gratitude, a focus on others, and a determination to control one’s life and career. Here are a few pointers to get you going:
Self-Awareness of your strengths is the foundation of career joy. The Gallup organization which has created an easy assessment to identify your strengths, Strengthsfinder 2.0, has defined them as a combination of talent, knowledge, and skills. When all three are present, the result is a strength. So, think about whether you are leveraging your talents, applying your knowledge and using your skills on a daily basis. If you are using your strengths, then you are bound for career success and fulfillment.
When dissatisfaction with your career begins to gnaw away at you every day, it’s a red flag telling you that you are not in your ideal job or career. Staying passive and just keeping your head down at work will only frustrate you more. Be proactive and dive into the discovery process. It requires an investigative mindset to conduct much-needed self-reflection, research on careers and jobs, dialogue with others, and persistence. It won’t happen overnight with a major AHA moment. You want to conduct your due diligence to ensure that you are making the right move into a new job or career. Here are 10 tips to help you with the process of discovering your ideal career:
The question that is usually asked towards the end of the interview is “Why Should We Hire You?” There are different versions of this question such as: why are you the best candidate or what value do you feel you bring? Interviewers ask the question because they want to hear how well you can impress them. How articulate are you about yourself? If not you—then who? It’s your last chance to impress. This question can be answered as a summary statement that combines your qualifications, the research you have done on the company, and what you have heard during the interview relative to the job and their needs. Think of it as closing the sale. What are the features and the benefits you can offer; what are your differentiators? It must be strong and convincing and all about the company’s needs—not yours.
You have made it through the initial telephone screen with the recruiter and the next step is to be interviewed by a panel. That can be nerve-wracking and it seems like a lot of judging by 2-5 people at one time. For companies, it makes a lot of sense because it takes the least amount of time for them, and for you, it gets you in and out quickly. But, how do you remain calm and answer the questions in a way that keeps you in the running as a top candidate? My top 12 pointers are:
The # 1 mistake job interviewees make is not spending enough time on developing answers to possible questions that may be asked. Let me share a shocking statistic with you: the average person spends less than 60 minutes preparing for an interview. You might be surprised that this is not enough time. In my opinion, 60 minutes is just winging it and it will not get you the job. So, why don’t job candidates devote the time to get ready for an interview? I have heard many reasons over the years such as:
“It’s only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.” Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs knew that saying no allows you to focus on what is important to you. Yes, we are all so bogged down with our career “have to” tasks that we cheat ourselves of the “want to”. And, the bad news is there will always be demands placed on us at work and at home that often distract us from getting the high priority items done. Let’s also remember as kids we are taught to never say no. However, to do more of what you want, you must re-learn how to say “NO” to the “have to.”
One of my favorite HGTV shows is “Love It or List It”. The two conceptual questions are:
Case in Point: These two concepts made me think about so many of my clients who are struggling with “loving or listing” their current job. If a job opportunity does not arise quickly after previewing and interviewing, what can one do to “love” the current job?
Here are 6 steps you can take to turn your current job into one you want to keep…
