Job Hunting 101: How self-reflection can help you nail your next job interview.

Getting a job interview can be one of the most exciting career experiences— especially if it’s a job you’ve been dreaming of for a long time. After all the work you’ve put into company research, resume building, and networking, finally being asked to attend an interview is a hard-earned reward. It’s easy to find yourself intoxicated by the idea of moving into a new role or jumping up the corporate ladder. By the time we step into the interview room, most of us are dead set on proving that we are the perfect person for the job.

Why, then, is it so common for workers to feel burnt out at new jobs? Since the pandemic, worker burnout has become even more common, with over half of current employees reporting some form of burnout. This can happen years, months, or just weeks after starting at a new company— sometimes doing the very same job that you were so excited to interview for not so long ago.

How could it be so common to burn out at a dream job? The answer, in part, lies in the way potential hires approach the interview process.

BENDING TO FIT THE JOB

Most of us get so caught up in the excitement of proving that we’re right for a job that we forget to ask another, equally important question: is this job right for me? This question provides the foundation for confidence and self-advocacy, which are critically important in any professional setting.

Telling interviewers what they want to hear is an easy trap to fall into. After all, we want to be hired, right? But we have to be careful not to become so focused on proving our value to the interviewer that we forget to advocate for our own needs.

Here’s an example: it turns out your new location would require a two hour commute. “That’s no big deal,” you say. Sure, it’s a little long, but why risk hurting your chances as a candidate??

Here’s another: When the interviewer asks if you’re a “people person”, it’s easy to give an enthusiastic “of course!”, even if you know you focus best when you have some privacy.

Fast forward two weeks, and you’re spending multiple hours on a bus commuting to and from an open-plan workplace. The travel drains you, and you can’t do your best work because of the lack of privacy. Is it any wonder you might start to feel burnt out?

Compromising on seemingly small details can lead us to starting a job in a setting where we are continually bending ourselves out of shape to fit perceived needs, rather than building a fulfilling career that works for us. This kind of professional pressure is often felt most acutely by people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and other minorities, as they are more likely to feel the need to contort and edit the way they present themselves in order to match some imposed standard.

IDENTIFYING YOUR NEEDS

When you’re doing your interview prep, make sure you create a list of things you need in order to do your best work.. This includes everything from office layout to location to work hours to dress code– consider everything and anything.

Reflecting on what brings you joy can be a deeply meditative experience— and that’s ok! Dig deep into your priorities and desires. How much alone time do you need each day? What kinds of social settings do you thrive in? Will you have access to food that you enjoy? Even thinking about seemingly small things like lighting can be important as you explore what you need and want from your work environment.

Once you feel like you have an understanding of your work needs, write them down on a piece of paper. This list is your commitment to yourself, and should hold an important place in your mind during the interview process.

KNOWING YOUR VALUE

Do butterflies flood your stomach at the idea of being honest with your interviewer about your work needs? If so, you’re not alone. Advocating for yourself can be scary, and it’s important to have something to fall back on when you’re feeling uncertain. That’s why you also need to spend time reminding yourself of your own value, and what strengths you’re able to bring to the workplace.?

Remember, job interviews are negotiations. You have something of value to offer your future employer. It’s ok to use this value to help build a career in which you can thrive.?

Strengths can be professionally based. Work experiences, skill sets, and industry knowledge are all excellent places to begin when exploring your value. But don’t forget to consider interpersonal strengths as well. If you have an innate talent for cheering people up, that’s a strength. If you’re a good listener, that’s a strength. If you’re a natural leader, that’s as much a strength as any learned skill.

Before your interview, take time to remind yourself of your worth. Repeating affirmations is a great way to internalize the values you want to bring to your next job. This will not only ease anxiety, but it will allow you to negotiate your next step from a position of self-assuredness.

By constructing a clear view of your needs and value, you’re positioning yourself to take on a role that suits you. When a job provides the things you need to be happy and successful, it drastically reduces the chances of burning out in the first 3 months. And if taking this approach means walking away from a job that isn’t right for you, that’s not a failure. It’s a success!

The first steps have a huge impact on the course of the journey. Make sure you’re plotting the course you deserve from the very first moment.