Mark Hirschfeld

There was an article in the newspaper about a woman who was recently invited for an in-person job interview. She thought it went well but didn’t get a call back.

She followed up and found the position had been filled. When she asked why they hired someone else, they said: “When you came in for an interview you wore your mask the entire time. We thought you might be one of those people who will complain about every safety issue.”

Each of us will need to decide about what kind of work environment for which we will feel comfortable. In the case above, the woman was actually relieved she found out that their values regarding safety weren’t the same as hers and went onto her next career opportunity.

I used to work for a utility that highly valued safety, and I never felt unsafe when I worked there. That was important to me, so in that case my values and the values of my employer were aligned.

Use online resources to understand the safety culture of a prospective employer. Additionally, you can use networking skills to gain additional insights.

Do your homework. Find a job that is right for you in an environment and culture that fits what is important to you.

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As I look back on my career, there are several folks who mentored me and, in doing so, significantly contributed to my growth and development.

My mentors encouraged me, stimulated my thinking, introduced me to new people and experiences, and offered timely advice.

And, yes, they occasionally coached and corrected.

The main quality of an effective mentor is a person who will take the time to meet with you and offer some of what I mentioned above. They don’t necessarily have to be older or have more education or training. You need to be open to honest discussion feedback and guidance.

You might not see the exchange as mutual, but a good relationship can be of value to the mentor as well, who enjoys the opportunity to help.

As Bruce Springsteen sings: “nobody goes it alone.”

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The psychologist Carl Jung said: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

There will be people you meet in your job search that might even have tested the great Dr. Jung, but his admonition rings.

Along the way you will meet networking contacts, recruiters, hiring managers and others who will say or do things that will irritate you.

Lean in, just for a bit, into the irritation.

~ Is there a certain topic, perhaps of your work history, that makes you uncomfortable?

~ Is it something about the person? Is there a bias you have for which you are not aware?

~ Is it something about the setting? There are some work environments, for example, I’ve found to be less comfortable for me.

Early in my career I learned that I wasn’t comfortable with conflict. It irritated me. But over the years as I’ve come to appreciate and see the value in conflict, it is a bit easier for me to understand that the irritation I’m feeling might take me and others to a better place of understanding and action.

Don’t immediately dismiss some of those irritating moments. Reflect on them. Learn from them. Help them strengthen and inform you on your job search and beyond.

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“Be bold, but wary! Keep up your merry hearts, and ride to meet your fortune!”

This a line from J.R.R Tolkien, but it’s not in the Lord of the Rings movies– you would have to read the trilogy.

To me, it’s a wonderful call to action.

Folks out of work might lack confidence. That’s understandable, but please remember you have skills and abilities and goals for which there is an employer who is looking for someone just like you.

But do be wary—not every job or company is a great match for you. Do your homework and find the right opportunity.

And be merry! Take a positive mindset into every contact and every interaction. You will have disappointments, but keep a positive attitude throughout and have supportive friends at your side when things get tough.

Get out of your hobbit hole and get moving with your job search. Be bold. Be wary. Keep your heart merry.

Your next opportunity is out there.

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Don’t you just love job interviews? (Tongue firmly planted in cheek)

This is a question you’re likely to get in a job interview, so best you think about how you will respond.

Recruiters and hiring managers have told me that by asking you to respond “to what a former manager would say” you are revealing what you think about yourself.

Tricky!

Think carefully about what descriptors you use to answer this question, because what you say may be telling a prospective employer a lot more than you think. You can also use this as an opportunity to provide an example or two of your successes and accomplishments.

And, of course, be honest.

This is one of those questions for which you will want to practice (there’s that awful word “practice”) with a friend. Record your response and review. Think about how well your response represents you and helps advance your search.

So, what would a former boss or coworker say about you?

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A friend of mine didn’t seem happy with his current job and industry. He was paid well and was good at what he did but felt like there would be other work that would provide him with additional satisfaction.

He decided to conduct a series of confidential networking interviews with folks in two industries for which he had interest.

Before his interviews he did some research, learning about the industries, trends and challenges. He then had confidential conversations with several folks in the industry. After the meetings he told me:

“Mark, I guess the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”

He didn’t make a career change, but he viewed the effort as a success. In his case, he learned that he actually was in a pretty good position and recommitted himself.

If you have a job, it doesn’t hurt to look. You may find a great opportunity, or you may find the grass on your side of the fence is just fine.

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While most of us want our dream job, the reality is we may have to settle for something less.

If an ideal job isn’t available, you can choose a “bridge job”, which I define as less than ideal but one you can be employed now and use to “bridge” to that better opportunity.

Sometimes a bridge job is just about getting a paycheck. But here are some other ways you can think about this tactic:

• Learn a new skill. Consider bridge jobs where you can learn a new skill or gain experience that would make you more valuable for your future dream job.
• Make new contacts. Choose a job where you could make some contacts that could help you in your career.
• References. Be awesome in your bridge job so that you earn a reference.

Not all bridge jobs are created equal. If you choose this route, pick a bridge job that helps you move forward, which gets you from one side of the bridge to the other.

It’s a great day. Let’s get moving.

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I reached out to ten folks who’ve been in the job search coaching business to help identify the most commons mistakes job interviewees make:

1. Being unprepared, including not doing homework to understand the employer and the job,

2. Not using your understanding of the prospective employer to ask your own questions,

3. Being late,

4. Speaking poorly of a former employer or boss,

5. Lying,

6. Failing to give responses that showcase results you have provided that can help them contribute to their success,

7. Having a bad attitude,

8. Not following up after the interview,

9. Sharing too much information that isn’t relevant to the job, and

10.  Inappropriate attire.

The good news is each of these mistakes can be easily avoided—prepare, prepare, prepare.

It’s a new day. Improve the way you tell you story, in networking conversations and job interviews. Used this list a guide to improve how you present yourself to the marketplace.

In the meantime, I’m keeping a good thought for you!

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Do you know the saying “you’re too far into the forest to see the trees?”

This can happen in the job search. You get so focused on all the tasks that you can’t see the trees.

You could be busy, but not productive.

At least every other week I recommend you stop and ask yourself the following questions, either on your own or with your coach:

· What feedback have I received about my search? How can I build upon that feedback?

· Has there been an “unexpected success”, where I got a positive advance that I wasn’t expecting?

· If I received a rejection, what feedback did I receive?

Based on those questions, amend your job search plan using this method:

· What will I START, where I begin something I haven’t done before?

· What will I STOP, because doing that is not helpful to my search?

· What will I CONTINUE to do that will help me advance my search?

This “start, stop, continue” exercise, done based on working “on” your search, can help align your efforts and keep you moving forward in your search.

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You hear athletes talk about times when they are “in the zone”, when they’re performing at a high level and time seems to fly.

Research shows that all of us can experience this feeling, and if we are in the right job can experience this in our work.

Think back on you prior work experiences:

• Have you had times when you felt “in the zone”?
• If so, what were you doing?
• With whom were you working?
• What may have gotten in the way of that feeling?

You will likely be more successful and enjoy your next job more if it gives you an opportunity to be in the zone.

Want a satisfying job? Find your zone.

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