Last week I talked about one of the pet peeves I saw in job applicants as a hiring manager. You know, the dreaded “foot in the door” comment.
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This week I want to tell you about another disappointing comment I hear too often. If you’re thinking this way, it could be contaminating your job search. And you might not even be aware why.
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Say you find a job post or hear about an organization you want to work for. Your initial reaction to a job posting might sound like this:
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“The XYZ job sounds like a fun job I would love and meet tons of folks and maybe move into a higher-level job after a couple of years.”
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A comment like this is usually said by job seekers who see the sole purpose of the job search as the fulfillment of their employment dreams. In other words, the motivating factor is what’s in it for you (which, granted, is important) vs. what’s in it for the employer, by hiring you.
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Now bear in mind, in the context of a win/win arrangement with an employer, this is a sound statement. The problem arises when it becomes the focus of what drives your job search. The Take-Away:
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If you don’t understand, emphasize and articulate what the employer gets from hiring you – and how it gives them a competitive advantage – then it doesn’t matter how “fun” you think a job will be, you’re wasting your time pursuing it.
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Then, you will find yourself saying, “I’ve been applying to jobs for months, and I never hear anything back.”
What To Think + Say Instead
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To be clear, this isn’t an either/or conversation.
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It’s not about meeting solely your needs, or solely the employer’s needs.
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It’s about – as any great relationship is – meeting BOTH of your needs. So approach job pursuit with a BOTH/AND spirit. As you think about how fun and awesome this job would be, I would then like you to stop and create additional statements that address the employer.
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Your Action Steps
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The next time you find a fun sounding job, take time to complete the following sentences and consider how you will delight the employer as much as the job will delight you.
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- My goal is to work with [qualities of your ideal target employer] to [solve these business problems]. This job looks like a perfect fit!
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- I’ll be able to use my strengths and prior experiences in [state your results using previous experiences and your innate strengths] to provide strong evidence I’m a highly qualified candidate.
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- I’ve spoken with 3 people who work at [organization] and details about the culture and work environment are those in which I’ll be able to perform my best.
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Once you’re clear on those 3, I’m okay with you saying it sounds like fun job. Just keep the equation even.
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It’s got to be a win for them, if it’s ever going to be a win for you.
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