14 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE APPLYING FOR A JOB
Every job search may start with a few simple questions: "How do I apply?" or "Do I know anyone there?" But if you want to succeed in your search, you need to stop and ask yourself some more challenging questions first.
So if you want a job, do some soul searching and here are 14 queries that can help guide you through the interview process:
1. What is it that I want out of a job?
This should be your top priority because chances are you're the only person who knows what's important to you in terms of what your ideal job is like. If you can't answer this question, then somebody else will have to decide for you, and they may not have your best interest at heart. So make sure that before you start applying for jobs, you know what it is that will satisfy all your needs...both monetary and non-monetary.
2. How do I stand out?
In a job market where millions of people are just as qualified or maybe even more qualified than you, what makes you uniquely different from them?
If there's nothing that stands out about you, then you're going to have a hard time getting your foot in the door. You'll also have a hard time maintaining any position because everybody has flaws - and if yours aren't obvious, they could be easily exploited by others.
3. What is it that I'm looking for in terms of monetary compensation?
Many people think that the main reason to take a job is for the money, but it's rarely (if ever) one thing or another. For example, having a low paying job can eventually give you more significant financial opportunities in the long term if it forces you to live below your means. However, some people don't have that kind of discipline and would rather take a high-paying job with lots of benefits instead of saving money on their own.
It all depends on what your values are - but whatever they are, make sure that there is at least some type of internal consistency between them and the career choices you're making. That way, when tough times come along (which they inevitably do), then you'll be able to find ways to cope with them because you know why those particular decisions were made.
4. What risks am I willing to take concerning my freedom?
This is important because many jobs involve giving up a certain amount of your free time or even some personal freedom to be effective. For example - if you're an engineer who works for NASA, then chances are that they'll want you to work at least 8 hours per day (sometimes more). The same thing applies if you're working in a corporate setting - and it's debatable whether somebody working with computers should be punching the clock when there is so much potential for automating those tasks out.
On the one hand, nobody likes being bossed around, but who wants to get fired? You need to know where your boundaries are and how far you can go before things start getting ugly.
5. What type of work environment do I thrive in?
This is a tricky question to answer because the ideal work environment is different for everybody. For example, some people will be incredibly uncomfortable if they have too much unstructured free time -. In contrast, others won't feel motivated unless they're working on something engaging and high-risk...kind of like gambling in its way.
On the other hand, there are many jobs out there that not only don't require high levels of motivation and risk-taking but discourage them. You've probably met people like this before....they measure their success by how well they can get along with everybody else so that they don't rock any boats or ask questions about that which they do not understand.
6. How much time am I willing to spend commuting and why?
It would help if you considered this before beginning a job search process because the commute is often measured instead of salary and benefits when adjusting for the cost of living. And sometimes it can even outweigh those factors altogether - especially if your daily drive takes two hours each way or you have to get up at 4 AM every day to be at work on time.
7. What does success look like from my perspective, and how far am I willing to go to get there?
You'll need a lot of money, connections, patience/perseverance, luck etc...but beyond that, you also need some larger vision as to where you want to be in the future. For example, some people might be able to retire tomorrow because they are already independently wealthy. Still, others might not have any savings and would need to work for decades more to reach their goals.
So what is it that you're aiming for? Do you want a big house/car, autonomy, freedom of schedule or something else entirely? These are vital questions that must all be answered before jumping into a career - otherwise, how can you ever hope to achieve your dreams?
8. What other factors tend to motivate me?
It's no secret that most people will do whatever they can to avoid painful/stressful situations. Although this might make some people lazy, it's just how the human mind has evolved to protect us from making bad decisions and regrettable moves.
For example, if you tend to be motivated by money, you might need to find ways of upping your income on the side while working full-time (or at least more hours than the norm). The same thing applies to people who are (for whatever reason) incredibly motivated by sex or food. These will be tough drives for most people to resist because deep down, we all know that they're great motivators....it's just that society tends not to approve of them as much as others.
9. Am I prepared?
If there's one thing we've learned about job searching throughout the years, it's that preparation is vital. This includes everything from researching the company to preparing unique answers to possible interview questions and creating an effective cover letter and resume. Make sure you're ready by asking yourself: Do I know how many people will be interviewing me? What do they know about me? What kind of impression do I think I'll make? And finally: How can I get ready?
10. How do I stand out?
You may find that your skills are just as good, if not better than the other candidates vying for the job. To make yourself stand out from the crowd, you have to ask yourself how you're going to differentiate yourself from others. Not all jobs will be published publicly or announced on career sites like Monster and CareerBuilder, so you must think about this before applying for a job. What can I offer above and beyond what an application provides? Why should they call me in? Are my qualifications genuinely unique? And finally: What's my biggest weakness?
11. Does my resume tell a story?
The way your resume looks is just as important as the way it sounds and reads. Resumes should be true to who you are, but they also need to tell a story of your career progression. That's why every resume should have a clear purpose that highlights the most relevant information about you, what makes you uniquely qualified for this job, and how you're an ideal fit for their team. Ask yourself: Why am I qualified for this position? What was my role in each job I've done? And finally: How will my past experiences prepare me for future success with this company?
12. How can I prove my value?
Once you've found a job posting that's right for you, the ball is really in your court to make sure the company knows how valuable of an asset you are. The best way to do this is by talking about and highlighting your past successes. Ask yourself: What am I great at doing? What product or service did I create that people loved the most? And finally: Why should they hire me instead of someone else?
13. How will it fit into my career goals?
Job searching has become more than just finding a paycheck or gaining experience with a new skill set; there's a more significant reason why many professionals want (and need) to keep moving forward in their careers. Ideally, you should be asking yourself: When do I want to reach a particular goal? Do I have a map of where I'm headed? And finally: What's my next step toward achieving that goal?
14. Can I see myself working here long term?
It doesn't make sense to ask yourself whether or not the company will hire you if you aren't even sure if you'll like your job. Ask yourself: How can this position impact me positively in the future? How does it help others around me succeed as well? And finally: Why would this position keep me engaged and focused for years to come?
Final Thoughts
We've had jobs since the beginning of time. Jobs are just a way to remunerate ourselves for the work that we do. It's not just something that people do to survive - it's something they want to do because it allows them to have a better quality of life. Or as John Lennon said - "a part-time love affair with my own life."
Let us know if we missed any crucial questions! :)
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