6 Lessons I Learned From My Job-Hunting Experiences

Source: Lifehack

Job searching can be a frustration experience especially if you go for interviews and never get hired.

Did you know you can learn lessons? Have a look at this

1. Don’t just rehearse answering the basic questions; anticipate the trivial ones.

If you’ve been in the job-seeking arena for quite some time, you’ve probably mastered the skill of answering the omnipresent interview questions. However, a lot of hiring managers have outgrown this custom and began injecting fresh ideas into their interview guidelines

You don’t have to know what exactly the hiring manager will ask you, but it could help if you brush up on unique interview questions online. Anticipating trivial inquiries can help you become more self-aware and confident.

2. Sell yourself but do not lie.

One of the challenges I faced in my neophyte stages of job-hunting was describing myself. The thing is, the hiring staff needed to prove the part of my CV where I said I had excellent written and verbal communication skills, and they gave me a chance to demonstrate both.

You might think that there will always be applicants who are better than you, and you’re probably right. But if you really want to get the job, you have to make your case stronger by talking about your skills and your accomplishments.

It may be tempting to sugarcoat your achievements but remember that when you get hired and your boss discovers your lie, your reputation and your job will be on the line.

3. Dress up for the job but do not sacrifice comfort.

The kind of outfit you should wear to interviews depends on the company you’re applying to.

Dress like it’s your first day on your new job. Avoid anything that you still have to break into, such as new shoes, unless you fancy risking blisters on your feet on the day of your interview.

Skip anything that doesn’t fit comfortably but don’t go overboard in dressing up. A wrong choice of outfit can affect your disposition and might even sabotage your chances of impressing potential employers.

4. Make friends with other applicants.

Making friends with your fellow applicants has its merits. For one thing, talking to someone while waiting can help you relax your nerves, and for another, it helps you expand your professional network.

Your job application can only have two outcomes—either you get it or you don’t. Either way, good friends in the field can point you to other opportunities and vice versa.

However, engaging fellow candidates shouldn’t be invasive either. Keep the conversation to a professional level.

5. Bring a book that you enjoy reading.

I mentioned earlier that some interviewers ask applicants about the books they’ve read, but why would they want to know? An applicant who likes to read communicates openness to new ideas and the will to learn new things. Case in point: if you want to up your chances of getting your dream job and make a good impression, become more interesting by reading different kinds of material.

6. Remember that at the end of the day, the person who will interview you is human.

Job interviews can be nerve-racking the first few times you do it and even more so when (a) it’s a big ticket job you’re trying to get; (b) if the person who’s interviewing you is a company executive; or (c) both. And while there are some hiring managers who take pleasure in intimidating candidates, many of them are simply doing their job.

Relax, it’s just an interview. And while getting the job would be fantastic, a rejection shouldn’t define your entire career.

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