10 questions to ask yourself before start looking for a job
Angie Sofronidou
People and Culture I HR Generalist I Mentor I Mental Health I BBS (Hons) I MIB I MHRM
Without being influenced by anyone, ask yourself these questions, and the answers you get will determine a lot…
Whether you are in the process of finding your first job, or you have worked in the past / are currently working and now you just want to make a fresh start or your next step, it is necessary to gather a little strength before you start. Finding a job is not always an "attack", sometimes it presupposes that you have taken some time to "learn" yourself. So here are some questions that are good to ask yourself before you start.
1. Do I know what I want?
It is a difficult question. Many of us constantly do this question to ourselves and do not get a clear answer. But trying to give an answer is useful (even if that answer is not definitive or final). For example: In what type of positions have you imagined yourself working? What fascinates you the most? Where do you think you will dedicate yourself with more pleasure? The answer "I would like to be an entrepreneur in Fiji" is a popular answer, but we do not guarantee it will help you!
2. Do I have the skills I need to get the job I want? If not, what do I do about it?
Every job requires some essential skills. A developer must know popular programming languages, a salesperson must have sales and negotiation skills, a teacher must have updated knowledge and contagiousness. As the years go by, these skills change and modernize. Do you have what you need? Check the ads that interest you, see what employers are asking for and do your self-assessment. If you see that you are lacking some basic skills, do not wait start developing them now.
3. Do I plan to spend time finding work?
We have said it before, and we will never get tired of saying it: Looking for a job is a full-time job. Which means you have to devote time and effort to doing it well. You need to thoroughly research the positions and companies that you think would suit you, to talk to those around you, to network constructively, to shape your CV and to create a portfolio. Looking for a job does not mean that I send the same and unchanged CV in bulk to all companies. You need to see what each company is looking for and what culture they have and send material (resume + introductory text or cover letter) that will pique your prospective employer's interest and make them think: "Here is a case of a candidate who seems to have searched before sending "! It will be a pleasant surprise for them.
4. Is my resume really good?
Since we talked about CVs, let's say this: Unfortunately, many CVs out there are pre-made, have no "character", have spelling and typographical errors, or are huge. This means that the "owner" did not take care of them as one would expect.
Food for thought: What does it mean when you send a pre-made CV? That the employer will be afraid that you will handle your job with the same carelessness if they hires you. The CV is the first sample of work received by our future employer.
5. What do I have that others don’t?
What will catch the attention of a future employer, is to find out that you have something special. E.g.:
So take a look and ask yourself: Will my future employer find a good reason to prefer me over the competition? What sets me apart? What is my USP (Unique Selling Proposition), as we say in business? Once you discover your secret super-power, you will be able to present yourself with more confidence.
领英推荐
6. Do I know my priorities?
In an ideal world we would not need to have priorities. We could have a job that would combine all of these:
Unfortunately, such a job does not exist (if it does, never mind leaving it!), So you must decide for yourself what you prioritize. You have to compromise on some criteria.
7. Am I aiming for the right jobs?
Targeting job positions is like a circle with darts. If you aim very low in relation to your skills (in positions that are for much more junior / beginners), you will probably not reach the target. If you aim too high (eg in positions that require much more skills and experience than you have), again it will not work out! The point is to target ads and open positions that are close to your level and skills.
A little practice and you will do it with your eyes closed.
8. Do I take all the necessary actions?
To get hired in your dream job, most of the time it is not enough to just find ads and send applications. You need to do a lot more: clear your social media of "dangerous" posts, join a community of people who have the same work interests as you, receive work-related newsletters, follow the developments in your industry and do not let any good opportunity go to waste.
9. What kind of companies interest me the most?
Do you prefer to work in a small business? In a new but promising start-up? In a medium size? Or in a large-scale company? Every type of company has its pros and cons. Also think: what elements would make you proud to work there? Does the company have a good reputation? Do they produce something you like? Are they socially and environmentally aware? At the end of your question, make a list of the 10 companies you would ideally like to work for.
10. What are my goals for the coming years?
Usually, career counselors and recruiters ask you where you would like to be in the next 5-10 years. Before they do, ask yourself first. How do you imagine your future? "If you do not look where you want to go, you will go where you look." So make an indicative career path in your head, the steps you want to follow in the coming years: In what fields do you want to improve? What additional knowledge do you want to gain? In what positions do you want to be promoted? How much do you want to grow?
If all this sounds like a mountain to you, remember that mountains only look scary when you are at the bottom. As soon as you start climbing, the fear is followed by the joy of the climb, the fresh air and the incredible view! What do you see from where you are?