Pick me! Tips on how to get the job.
Looking for work is very stressful. If you’re looking you are either displeased with your current position or are in serious need of cash. In either case the stakes – and your emotions – are high.
Over the last year I was asked to hire new talent in a variety of capacities for a local business. Some jobs were entry level and some required skills and experience. No matter the position, I saw a lot of people who had no idea how to apply for a job, write a resume, or engage conversation at an interview. I don’t mind – in fact I like – hiring people who aren’t polished. If the person can demonstrate that they have the ability and desire to learn and have a positive and professional attitude at the same time, I am happy to give them a chance.
“Why do you want to work here?”
One young man, I’ll call him ‘Dave’ came in an immediately made some giant missteps. I started with a pretty basic question: “Why do you want to work here?” He replied: “I need a job. You’re advertising 40 hours and I need the money.” Deep breaths, Amy. Deep breaths. I gave him another chance because I appreciated the vulnerability of his truth. “Ok, so you need some cash. What about this business specifically was of interest to you?” He looked at me blankly and repeated his first answer. I moved on and asked about his resume, past jobs, hobbies, interests…I wanted him to come out of his shell a bit. Who cares what his hobbies or interests were, I just wanted to see if he was passionate about anything. Nope. If he was passionate about something, he wasn’t willing to share. Looking at his resume and trying to make one last-ditch effort, I asked him about something he had written on his resume. “So, Dave, it says here you’re a team player. Tell me about your experience working as part of a group.” “Come on,” he said “I’m not a team player. I like working alone. Everybody puts that on their resume, but nobody means it.” (Giant internal sigh with a pleasant look plastered on my face.) I asked another question or two about why he likes working alone and then wrapped up the interview. Before he left, Dave made sure to instruct me to contact him about whether he got the job or not because he didn’t want to sit around waiting. Right, of course. I wouldn’t want to waste his time or get his hopes up.
Why bother telling this story? Because bad examples are a great way to learn. (Oh, and spoiler alert, Dave didn’t get the job).
What did I learn:
• If you’re paying attention, people tell you who they are and what they need right up front
• A job interview really requires the ability to look past yourself and consider what someone wants to hear in addition to (or sometimes instead of) what you want to say.
• Students in high school (this young man was maybe only 20) need to be taught how to communicate, negotiate, and navigate the important conversations that are looming ahead of them.
What I wish I could have taught Dave:
• Employers WANT to hire you! We have more important things to do than set up appointments with strangers all day. The sooner we can find the right people, the sooner we can get back to the mounting pile of work.
• Do 5 min of research about the company you’re interviewing for. Show me this job is worth 5 min of your time.
• Sell me on you. Make whatever qualities you possess assets. (e.g. “I am skilled at working independently. If you give me a task I will complete it as directed an on time with minimal supervision.)
• Read the room. If I am warm and smiling, you have permission to be too.
• It’s important to know what you need (a job) and it’s also important to know what you need to do to get it (sell yourself in a positive and professional way).
I hope Dave got a job. I really do.
