I got home from 2.5 years living and working in Asia in December and started the job search on New Year's Eve, settling in for the long haul. The odds were against me. The statistics weren't pleasant. The law of averages said that I'd probably be unemployed for around the 7 month mark. In other words, I was not looking at a fun time. Because I was abroad for so long, I am not allowed to collect unemployment, and whatever money I was able to save while abroad is every last cent I'll have for 6 months if I budgeted carefully. I had to work fast, and I had to work hard. I also had to have a plan B - if I didn't have any hopes of a job by April 2010, it was back to Asia with me. I was staring down the barrel of a gun, and sweating bullets.
I can now say that after 5 weeks of searching, I'm semi-employed. I have a two week trial run at a company, with potential to be permanent. More on that in my next post though.
The hardest part of the job search in my opinion is GETTING the interview. After that I'm fortunately a people person, have studied the art of interviewing, and usually prepare well beforehand. So - skipping the annoying SEARCH part of the job process, let's skip to the interview.
The best advice I can give you - Be Yourself. If you're not, and you're a cookie cutter of what you think THEY want - you will not be memorable. You must be memorable.
There are a number of tricks I can think of off the top of my head from the minute you walk in, to the time you walk out.
- Be there 10 min early. No question. If you're on time, you're late - end of story.
- Smile. All the time (but not in an overly perky grinning idiot kind of way). Walk in, smile and say hello to the receptionist. Ask him/her how she's doing. A lot of time if you're waiting and they don't look busy, maybe even strike up a conversation about the wall art or something. Often times hiring managers might ask the receptionist what you were like while you were waiting, or if you talked about anything. A pre-screen if you will.
- Shake Hands. Seems simple enough - don't forget it.
- Don't talk about the weather. Unless it's insanity outside and you've seen cows flying around, stay away from it. Such an easy topic. Mention something ANYTHING related to the business or the person. Sports? Alumni? NEWS? Just not the weather.
- During the interview it could go any which way depending on their style and method. Have a number of stories about yourself all ready to go that you can mix and match demonstrating accomplishments. Have 5-10 questions in mind or written down. Smile and nod. Demonstrate how YOU can help them if given the chance. Remember the job description's KEY WORDS. Keep eye contact at all times. Don't fiddle with your hands or clothing.
- Show your personality. These people want to know if you'll be a good fit there. Would they grab a beer with you after work? Will you separate work and life? Will you be on the company softball team? Etc. Etc. If you have an interest maybe the person you're talking to shares the same one too - and you can bond on that.
- Be Flexible. If they want you for more time, and you've got some plans afterward? You don't now unless it's a plane to catch or a doctor's appt. Remember all the work you did to get this - don't mess it up. Staying longer is a GREAT sign, and the more people you meet with, the better.
- Know what you want, and know what you're willing to bend on and what you just can't work on. If they want you to travel 100% of the time but you have a family and can't - well sometimes these things are deal breakers.
- Grab everyone's card. You can't get enough.
- When the interview is over, make sure to thank the person for their time. Shake hands again.
- Say goodbye to the receptionist - tell them to have a good day or thank them for their help. Engage everyone!
When the interview is over there are a few things you should MOST CERTAINLY do. First it goes without saying, always email a thank you. If you want to go above and beyond, mail one as well. Doesn't hurt. But ALWAYS email one. After that, if there was anything you talked about in the interview that you see floating around in the news and is worth reading - maybe forward it onto the person you interviewed with. It shows innovation even if they don't read it. And last but not least - KEEP UP WITH THE PERSON. TOUCH BASE! If they decide to go another way, thank them again and to have them keep you in mind for future positions. Just don't be a stalker - maybe within a week one quick email. If they want you, they'll get you, don't worry.
*Flip side - if they don't want you, there's not much you can do. Think of it as a first date that you didn't like. Would you want the person to constantly text/call you? No.
For an example on this working well - I interviewed with a company in November, and since I was abroad, I wasn't hired. I kept in touch with the recruiter, in December and January I sent quick emails, at one point I offered to bring her out to coffee. Turns out, the original position I interviewed for became open again and I was one of the first to be submitted for it again.
Don't burn bridges. Don't close doors. While you're searching - EVERYTHING is an open avenue. Not to mention - sometimes these people are just great resources for later on down the road in whatever business you're in. It all goes back to networking right?
Be Yourself. Show Your Personality. Good Luck!
I can now say that after 5 weeks of searching, I'm semi-employed. I have a two week trial run at a company, with potential to be permanent. More on that in my next post though.
The hardest part of the job search in my opinion is GETTING the interview. After that I'm fortunately a people person, have studied the art of interviewing, and usually prepare well beforehand. So - skipping the annoying SEARCH part of the job process, let's skip to the interview.
The best advice I can give you - Be Yourself. If you're not, and you're a cookie cutter of what you think THEY want - you will not be memorable. You must be memorable.
There are a number of tricks I can think of off the top of my head from the minute you walk in, to the time you walk out.
- Be there 10 min early. No question. If you're on time, you're late - end of story.
- Smile. All the time (but not in an overly perky grinning idiot kind of way). Walk in, smile and say hello to the receptionist. Ask him/her how she's doing. A lot of time if you're waiting and they don't look busy, maybe even strike up a conversation about the wall art or something. Often times hiring managers might ask the receptionist what you were like while you were waiting, or if you talked about anything. A pre-screen if you will.
- Shake Hands. Seems simple enough - don't forget it.
- Don't talk about the weather. Unless it's insanity outside and you've seen cows flying around, stay away from it. Such an easy topic. Mention something ANYTHING related to the business or the person. Sports? Alumni? NEWS? Just not the weather.
- During the interview it could go any which way depending on their style and method. Have a number of stories about yourself all ready to go that you can mix and match demonstrating accomplishments. Have 5-10 questions in mind or written down. Smile and nod. Demonstrate how YOU can help them if given the chance. Remember the job description's KEY WORDS. Keep eye contact at all times. Don't fiddle with your hands or clothing.
- Show your personality. These people want to know if you'll be a good fit there. Would they grab a beer with you after work? Will you separate work and life? Will you be on the company softball team? Etc. Etc. If you have an interest maybe the person you're talking to shares the same one too - and you can bond on that.
- Be Flexible. If they want you for more time, and you've got some plans afterward? You don't now unless it's a plane to catch or a doctor's appt. Remember all the work you did to get this - don't mess it up. Staying longer is a GREAT sign, and the more people you meet with, the better.
- Know what you want, and know what you're willing to bend on and what you just can't work on. If they want you to travel 100% of the time but you have a family and can't - well sometimes these things are deal breakers.
- Grab everyone's card. You can't get enough.
- When the interview is over, make sure to thank the person for their time. Shake hands again.
- Say goodbye to the receptionist - tell them to have a good day or thank them for their help. Engage everyone!
When the interview is over there are a few things you should MOST CERTAINLY do. First it goes without saying, always email a thank you. If you want to go above and beyond, mail one as well. Doesn't hurt. But ALWAYS email one. After that, if there was anything you talked about in the interview that you see floating around in the news and is worth reading - maybe forward it onto the person you interviewed with. It shows innovation even if they don't read it. And last but not least - KEEP UP WITH THE PERSON. TOUCH BASE! If they decide to go another way, thank them again and to have them keep you in mind for future positions. Just don't be a stalker - maybe within a week one quick email. If they want you, they'll get you, don't worry.
*Flip side - if they don't want you, there's not much you can do. Think of it as a first date that you didn't like. Would you want the person to constantly text/call you? No.
For an example on this working well - I interviewed with a company in November, and since I was abroad, I wasn't hired. I kept in touch with the recruiter, in December and January I sent quick emails, at one point I offered to bring her out to coffee. Turns out, the original position I interviewed for became open again and I was one of the first to be submitted for it again.
Don't burn bridges. Don't close doors. While you're searching - EVERYTHING is an open avenue. Not to mention - sometimes these people are just great resources for later on down the road in whatever business you're in. It all goes back to networking right?
Be Yourself. Show Your Personality. Good Luck!