Recently I had an open position at my communications firm. In only a few days 102 people had applied. Having worked for bigger firms for my entire career, I was used to experienced HR people screening my candidates and then recommending the ones that were best suited for the position. (It was as if qualified candidates almost magically appeared.) Needless to say, I was completely oblivious to all the work that goes into screening candidates and have a new and deep respect for all the work that the talent teams put into finding the right candidates. Since the employees that work with me now came through referrals or through working together in the past, I really had no experience in hiring from scratch. Slightly daunted by the sheer volume, I read through all the resumes trying to figure out which one of these people – if any – would be my perfect candidate. When you have a small business it is absolutely essential that you are working with the right people and that they have a broad range of skills, are smart, efficient, thoughtful, have the right attitude and are a pleasure to work with. I was amazed at how many missteps people make on their job searches from their resumes through to phone interviews and then in person interviews. So here’s some tips/reminders to polish up your act and find the right job for you:
8 Key Things To Do/Not Do On Your Job Hunt
- Research the company you are applying to be a part of. Not just a quick scan of their website. Really look into what the company stands for and who their clients are (if that is applicable). Understand what they do. Although this seems like a no brainer - it isn’t.
- Spend time on your resume and any materials you are sharing about yourself. Is it well worded? Are there typos (you would be surprised how may resumes had typos!). Is it an accurate reflection of who you are and what you have accomplished? The accomplishment part is key.
- Ask questions. As much as you are being interviewed as a candidate, you are also interviewing your potential employer. What do you want to know about the position? About the firm? Now is the time to ask.
- Understand as much about the position as possible before you meet for an interview so you can know if potentially it is for you. So much of the meeting is about chemistry but I was shocked when I met a candidate who said she had never really thought about working remotely but was up to try it for a bit - when it was very clear that was a big component of the position.
- Play up your strengths. You have to be your own best advocate. Be truthful but be your own PR person.
- Have a sense of humor. Of course that is if you have one. But a little levity goes a long way.
- Follow up with an email or a note. If you are interested in the position, let your potential employer know. And actually, even if you’re not, it’s polite to thank them for their time.
- Be truthful. 15 minutes before an interview I got an email saying the person I was supposed to meet was “caught with a flat tire”. Not sure if that was the case or not although am giving them the benefit of the doubt. I responded right away and many hours later they were back to me saying their tire had gotten sorted. I certainly hope it didn’t really take that long. But really?
When I started my career, the understanding was you paid your dues and did anything you needed to (within reason). Long hours and hard work were signs of paying those dues. Today, people are much more focused on finding positions that satisfy them and they don’t feel the need to pay those same dues. It’s a great thing that people are more focused on what will bring them satisfaction but often the reality is that you may not have that luxury right from the start. Our immediate gratification society and the way our child rearing culture has changed, means the people entering the work force today expect to be satisfied from day one. Although there is no question that finding a career path (or even several) and company that fit with you are essential, there are times that you will need to have to do the unfun stuff, too. And while it is true that working long hours and putting in “face time” does not equate with working smartly - there is a fine balance between finding what you love, embracing it and understanding the hard work you need to get there. That is an exciting and challenging thing to discover. And I am pleased to say that the new addition to my team just started. Hopefully she will work hard, have fun and be fulfilled. Because that is the sign of a great match.