Tips for job hunting
Most folks will find themselves at a point in their lives where they are looking for a job. There are similarities in approach I’d recommend for everyone regardless of whether you’ve just graduated from college and are now in the deep abyss of looking for your first “professional job” or you’ve been in the professional world for decades and you’re wanting to align your values and personal goals to a company and your career. The first step is gaining clarity on what is important to you. Not your parents, not your peers, not your overly opinionated uncle who may be wishing to live vicariously through you. You need to get clear on what makes you excited and will energize you day to day. Some questions to ask yourself:
What sort of projects that I’ve worked on in the past did I really love and feel proud of?
What parts specifically did I enjoy?
What makes me feel challenged in a way that I feel accomplished?
What are my personal goals?
Once you’ve answered these questions you’ll gain some clarity on the types of jobs and industries that may align with who you are. I’ve found the most learning happens while you’re in a job itself, though. So, in the job hunting and interview process, your goal is not just to impress who you’re talking to, but equally as important you need to interview them to understand what the day-to-day will look like to determine if this job would even be a good fit for you.
Based on what you’ve enjoyed doing in the past, create questions to ask that will help you determine how much of your time at work will be spent doing things you already know you enjoy. For example, if you love taking on challenges as a group and collaborating with others, and you ask a question of the hiring manager where they say 90% of the job you are looking at is individual work with you working on your own at a computer, that may not be the best fit for you.
One of the biggest determinations of whether you’ll enjoy a job is your relationship with your manager, and others at an organization. A manager can make or break your experience at a job, and the people you work with regularly is a determining factor in how connected you are to a company. Get a good feel for the person you’ll be reporting into by asking questions such as
Can you tell me more about your management style?
What's the career trajectory for others that have worked under you?
What sort of resources are available in this role in terms of support?
It’s a good sign if a manager talks about how they’ve developed and elevated people that have worked for them and if you feel you have a lot to learn from them.
To better understand company culture, I recommend asking what the employee retention rate is (look for 70%+) as well as reading Glassdoor reviews. You’ll get an idea of overall sentiment of employees at the company, as well be able to read specific feedback that may relate to your personal goals. For example, if there’s a common theme in reviews that people are disappointed that the in-office policy is so rigid as they want to work from home more, but you personally enjoy working in person - that company policy that some may not like would actually benefit you based on your working style and desire to be around others.
The hiring and interview process is about understanding from both ends what it would look like to bring you on into a role. A company wants to hire people that will be a good fit for the role, as well as aligned to the company culture and goals. The same should go for the applicant. Make sure you ask questions along the way that help you to get a good feel and understanding for what you will be doing, why you’re doing it, and how you’re doing it to ensure what you would be doing is aligned with who you are. It’s okay to determine within the interview process that there’s not a fit on your end, and if you’re not sure you would enjoy a role, ask more questions to find out or ask to speak with others at the company.
