They are coming. The questions – the big 3. The three questions you can’t stand that they always ask. The questions you hope they don’t ask. Those questions. The questions you better own.
What are they? You tell me. C’mon, job seeker – you tell me what they are. If the competition for jobs is greater than ever before and I believe it is – then the candidate (this is you) better be prepared better than EVER. You gotta prepare. You have to take the time on these 3 questions.
Meaningful work is hard to find – meaning you better mean it when you prepare. Your opportunities to present your skills can be few in this market.
The questions are coming. Why did you leave your last job, by the way? A new level of empathy exists for the job seeker but you still are going to have to answer this. Why did you leave? What did you learn while you were there? Yes, that is a question too, but it is where the answer to why you left ends up. You gotta answer why (brief) but I suggest gravitating quickly to something that reveals the perspective you gained. Potential employers like your acknowledgement of the bigger picture.
The questions are coming and they are individual in their focus. Here is the exercise – Look at your resume like you are hiring “you.” What would you ask you? What would you want to know about you? Now give you an answer – a great answer that flows. Practice it. Say it. Ask your significant other, spouse, close friend, an HR professional in your world to listen critically. The HR pro will have no issue listening critically. One last thing, does it make sense? Do your references support it? It has to flow.
We aren’t talking about how I can better develop sociopathic tendencies during my career transition to allow me to not flinch mid-interview. After all, the sociopath always gets the job – they just don’t keep it. I am simply saying, do your answers flow? Are you properly framing the discussion? You control their interpretation.
It isn’t just the words either – it is how you say them. Your abrasive tone that exists because of your bitterness needs to be harnessed. You gotta deal with that crap and the interviewer does not care about ALL THAT. This is not a time to take a shot at their hiring process either - you can resent it, just don’t express it in any way.
The questions depend on you, your career history and where you worked, how long you were there, what will you wear, the title that you had, the location that was bad, the travel you’ll accept, the hours you’ll work, the boss was a jerk – the questions, they lurk.
I don’t really know why I am rhyming – the job search is certainly about timing - maybe I am bored with my post – it is longer than most – yes, the questions will vary and I don’t mean to be arbitrary - so take this to heart and here’s a good place to start – with one that will definitely be asked by more than a few – TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
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