In honor of author Stephen Covey, we’ve taken the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” from his all-time best-selling book and applied it to the job search process.
- Be Proactive
Being proactive in a job search starts by committing yourself to the search itself — make it a priority. Once you’ve done that, we recommend that you do three things: 1.) Develop a strong customized résumé and cover letter that is tailored to each position and organization you are applying to; 2.) Network. Whether in person or through social media, networking your way to hiring managers (or what we call the decision makers) is key to any job search; and 3.) Follow-up. Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear anything from the employer after having applied. It is your responsibility to follow-up with them to acknowledge receipt of your application, see where they are in the hiring process, and be willing to offer any information to questions they may have. Don’t be the “reactor” — be the aggressor! Being proactive in the job search will be one of, if not the, greatest asset you have going for you. - Begin With The End In Mind
Covey said, “All things are created twice: first, the mental conceptualization and visualization and a second physical, actual creation.” You are your own innovator/navigator, and thus must visualize what a successful job search would look like for YOU! What type of job would be ideal for you? What type of work environment would you thrive in the most? What type of culture and individuals do you see yourself wanting to work with? As part of that visual, set the stepping stones (goals) that lead to a job search action plan that gets you to the result you had initially visualized. - Put First Things First
When it comes to the job search, no job seeker is or can be successful unless they have strong self-awareness. By knowing yourself first, you cannot only determine what types of positions you are interested in, but also know how to represent yourself in your application materials and in the interview. In today’s job market, most employers are looking more at personality and soft skills when hiring. Know what you bring to the table and how it can help their bottom line; but also know what your limitations are. By becoming self-aware first, the rest of the process will seem a lot easier. - Think Win/Win
Go in with a winning attitude or in other words…be self-confident. Self-confident people inspire confidence in others: their audience, their peers, their bosses, their customers, and their friends. Gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success. Thinking with a win-win attitude is also about recognizing the small wins. For instance, applying for a position and getting an interview, but no offer is something I would consider a small win. We will all have to face rejection or setbacks, it is how we react to these that determines our success. Stay focused, believe and trust in yourself…and watch the magic happen. - Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood
It is your responsibility to effectively communicate your self awareness to any potential employer. In Career Services, we explain to students that there are three things employers are analyzing with any applicant: 1.) Do you know yourself? 2.) Do you know the position? and 3.) Do you know the employer? Most students fail to realize that the job posting or position description is their answer key — one that includes a “wish list” of qualifications, strengths, and experiences the employer is seeking. It is also a document that you can use to determine what types of interview questions you can anticipate in the interview. Here’s a tip: go through the position description and highlight all the keywords that represent the skills, experience, and knowledge you have. After you have highlighted the keywords, incorporate them into your application materials and determine 3-5 that are your strongest. These are the qualifications you will highlight in your cover letter, in the qualifications summary of your résumé, and what you will communicate in the interview when asked any questions related to skills, qualifications, strengths, etc.
Additional interview preparation tips! - Synergize
Having “synergy” involves being cooperative, able to work in a team, open-minded, and willing to find new solutions to problems. The employer has needs to fill and problems to solve — it is your responsibility to convince them that you can be the solution. Communicating effectively, being flexible and adaptable, and having strong problem-solving skills are what will make you an ideal job candidate for any employer.
Sharpen The Saw
A dull saw is like a pencil with no lead…it won’t get the job done! The same concept applies to you. It is essential in any job search that you take the time to re-energize or replenish yourself. Ways to do that include, but are not limited to, exercise and healthy eating, reading, volunteering, meditation, traveling or participating in a recreational activity. We don’t all use the “saw” the same amount, so some of us have to sharpen the “saw” more often. Stay sharp my friend!
