A lot of people in this world have an attitude. Hire me because I deserve it. Hire me because I need a job. Hire me because my Dad says you should. Hire me because Fm pretty, tall, white, black, poor, rich, and so on. Wrong attitude! Let's get one thing straight. No employer owes you anything. If you want a job, you have to prove that you deserve it. You have to demonstrate you're the best qualified person, period. That means not only having the necessary talent to perform the work, but also being able to get along well with others. A boss won't care how talented you are if you're a jerk.
Having the right attitude can make all the difference in how an employer perceives you, and could be the one intangible that gets you the nod over the competition. Strive for the three Ps: polite, professional, and, positive. Nobody will hire you if you're rude.
Nobody will hire you if you're unprofessional. And nobody will hire you if you're a downer. This applies not only to how you behave on your interviews but to how you conduct yourself at all times during the job hunt. Treat the people in the mail room and at the reception desk with the same courtesy and respect that you would show a top executive. Never criticize former employers or colleagues, and don't make excuses for your shortcomings.
Project as much enthusiasm, energy, and pep as possible. Show the employer that you're a dynamo. Let her know that you're ready for long hours, working weekends, and whatever else it takes to get the job done. Make the case that you're a team player and that you're willing to make sacrifices for the good of the organization.
Organization
To job hunt successfully you must maintain extremely accurate records, and be able to competently manage mountains of information. You have to keep track of what you sent to whom and when. Be organized. Approaching your job hunt in an organized manner will prevent such mistakes from happening. And by organized, I don't mean sticking Post Its all over your mirror. I mean buying a notebook or loose leaf and keeping track of all the information and activities that pertain to your job hunt. For each target employer this might include: a profile of the organization and a description of the job that's available; copies of all the job search communications you've sent; a list of the phone calls you made to the organization and the outcomes of those calls; dates for follow up by phone or mail; your impressions of the interview; and the pros and cons of the job offer.
Try to devise a system that works for you. The most elaborate job hunting log in the world is completely useless if it doesn't suit your style. How you keep track of your search doesn't really matter so long as you do it in a way that you can follow. Maybe Post Its aren't so bad after all.
Luck
Yes, you read correctly. Although some would argue that by definition luck is out of your control, we disagree. People often get lucky because they put themselves in a position to be lucky. You win the lottery because you bought the ticket. The half court hook shot goes in at the buzzer because you made sure you released the ball as soon as you caught it. It's not a pure coincidence that you happen to be in the right place at the right time. How to enhance the luck factor? Take a nice, big, deep breath, round up all those ugly, negative thoughts swimming around your head, and as you exhale blow them all away forever and ever. Now go play the lottery.
Assertiveness
Job hunting is no time to be passive or shy. If this is your tendency, you may find yourself being passed over by employers for those who are more outgoing. Unfortunately, being assertive doesn't come naturally to all of us. Many of us have been discouraged from being assertive by parents who consider such behavior rude or inappropriate. Others have been raised in a cultural milieu where assertiveness is not the norm. It may take you a little while to reorient yourself. Try practicing being assertive with friends first until you get the hang of it. You might also consider signing up for an assertiveness training seminar.
Of course we're not saying that you have to change your entire personality, at least not permanently. But for the duration of your job hunt you'll find that pursuing what you want in an assertive manner will make a difference.
For example, if you're attending a career fair or alumni panel discussion, you need to strut right up to the participants and introduce yourself. Give them a copy of your resume and ask for their business card. In contrast, the shrinking violet posture will get you nowhere. It stands to reason that if nobody knows you're out there, then there's no way in the world they'll be able to hire you. It's like going to a party and spending the entire evening doing your best imitation of a wallflower. How many new friends do you think you'll make?
You also need to be an opportunist. If you see an opening, don't hesitate just go for it! One of our former students was on a bike trip with a few of his buddies the week following graduation. He was lamenting about the prospect of finding a job in the publishing field. Minutes later, the cyclists pulled over for a water stop where an older gentleman was quenching his thirst. It turned out that this gentleman just happened to be the president of a publishing company, and just happened to be in need of an administrative assistant for the summer. Seizing the moment, the student struck up a conversation with the executive, expressed his desire to be in publishing, and landed himself a job. After working the summer as an administrative assistant, he was offered a full time position in the fall as an editorial assistant. Now keep in mind that there is a definite distinction between being assertive and being aggressive. Being assertive is moving forward in a confident and positive manner. Being aggressive is using a forceful and combative approach which often infringes on the rights of the person you're approaching. Try not to forget this distinction.
Go Get 'Em
Well what are you waiting for? Go out there with your head way up high and give them lots of C.R.A.P.O.L.A. We wish you the best of luck.
