GMR 28: Get Hired - Tips for Landing Your Next Job

Episode 28
In this episode, we’re talking about how to land your next job. Our discussion is focused on how to get hired after you’ve found the job you want.  Whether you’re a person looking for a job or you’re a hiring manager looking to hire good quality people, this episode will help you.

Show notes:

Focused on entry-level career jobs, mid-career jobs, and potentially executive jobs, but if you’re applying for an executive job than everything in the episode should be second nature. (This isn’t necessarily for retail or restaurant jobs.) Be thinking in the $40,000 - $80,000 range, instead of the $10-$15/hour range.
 

Best advice first, stand out!

  • When a manager has a lot of applications they’re looking for someone that stands out. Things that pop-off the page (resume).

  • On a resume the things that really pop is work experience in the same field as the job. Work that directly applies and is written in a way that shows the person was an excellent employee.

  • What if you sent in a short video describing how much you’d love to be a part of the company and how this job fits your career passions?

  • Or maybe you send along several articles you’ve written related to the industry or past projects you’ve done that relate to the industry. Sending examples of your work puts you above 80% of people applying in my mind.

Networking is crucial to getting hired

  • A person who gets noticed through networking and relationship will have a higher value in the hiring manager's mind.

  • Begin asking your friends for a reference or job where they work.

  • This also speaks to who your friends are.

    • If you’re hanging out with duds, people who aren’t going anywhere, then maybe you need to find some new friends, because your network usually leads to your next job.

    • Charlie Jones used to say that you become the average of your top 5 friends.

    • You might need to get some new friends to grow your career beyond its current limits.

  • It makes sense to hire someone you know because that lowers the number of surprises in their work ethic, morals, cultural values, and background.

  • When a company needs to hire fast, they will often look first at their inner circle of friends, acquaintances, and friendly referrals.

  • If you work with someone and they leave the company, then stay in touch, learn where they went, how they are doing and don’t lose contact. They may become your best referral for your next job.

Work Insurance

  • It’s important that while you’re in your current job, you’re building a reputation in the industry or in your area that you’re a hard worker and knowledgeable in your field.

  • Start the networking now!

  • A loss of a job is a huge hit to your personal finances, but if you can have another opportunity lined up within a month due to reputation and networking you can save yourself months or even years of financial trouble.

Basic Advice:

  • Don’t stop applying for jobs

  • You need a specific cover letter, or your resume may not get looked at.

  • You should also target your resume to the job

  • You don’t need to include all your experience on your resume

  • Dress like a manager or a successful person in your profession

  • Never say anything bad about a previous employer

  • Networking is an essential component of successful job hunting

  • It’s acceptable to apply for the same job more than once

Preparing for the Interview

1. Research the Company.

  • Nearly half of professionals are going into interviews without having a well-formed understanding of the company and what they do.

  • Take the time to do your homework on the company's website, blog, social channels, Glassdoor, and Wikipedia, and be sure to check out their competitors and make a mental list of what differentiates them.

2. Find Out Who You're Interviewing with and Research Them, Too.

  • With 43 percent of hiring managers reporting that cultural fit is the single most influential factor in determining which candidate gets the job, how you come across in your interview is a big deal.

  • Based on your research and email conversations ahead of time, be sure you have as clear an idea as possible of how well you're going to relate with the people you're interviewing with, and prepare accordingly.

3. Prepare Creative, Insightful Questions and Craft Your Personal Story.

  • Prepare relevant and insightful questions ahead of time.

  • "Where do you see the company in five years?" can be useful in some cases, but make sure that the act of asking them doesn't compromise your own credibility. Depending upon your potential role in the company, the person interviewing you likely doesn't want to hear you asking about what the day-to-day activities will be--they want to hire an expert in your field, so act like one.

  • Focus on how your experience will benefit your potential new employer.

4. Bring Two Extra Copies of Your Résumé.

  • This sounds like a no-brainer, but I'm surprised at how many people show up to an interview without any copies of their résumé--leaving it to chance that the person they're meeting with was given a copy or had the chance to research them beforehand.

  • Bring a résumé for every person you're meeting with and you'll never be caught off-guard.

5. Turn Your Phone Off. Arrive Five to 10 Minutes Early. Be attentive.

  • It may seem like overkill with all of the options we have for silencing ringers and putting your phone on vibrate without actually turning the device off, but there's another reason you need to turn your phone off before an interview: so you won't be tempted to check it. You're at an interview for one purpose, and one purpose only: to land your dream job. Don't allow any distractions to creep in.

  • Naturally, you don't want to arrive late to an interview. If you're running late, call ahead and be honest as to what's setting you back. Aim for showing up five to 10 minutes early, as anything earlier can really throw a wrench into a busy person's schedule if they feel that they need to accommodate your arrival.

  • With employers consistently citing having a positive attitude as one of the most important factors in choosing to hire one candidate over another, showing that you're excited and engaged while listening to your interviewer will go a long way in showing off your stellar people skills.

6. Ask When to Expect a Decision and With Whom to Follow-Up.

  • If you're interviewing with multiple people, be sure to ask the hiring manager (or last person you interview with) when you can expect to hear back on next steps. There's nothing worse than leaving an interview feeling left in the dark about when the company is looking to make a final decision.

  • If you're paying close attention, how they respond will also tell you a lot about how they felt the interview went.

7. If You Want the Job, Say So!

  • Don't allow there to be any ambiguity about whether or not you actually want the job. If by the end of your interview, you're still feeling excited about the opportunity and want to move forward with the company, you need to say it! Never leave anything up to chance with the interview process.

Character is key!

  • Work on your character and become the person that others like to work with. Start by showing up earlier, leaving later, and actually working at work

  • Picking up trash on the floor in work areas, wiping the bathroom sink down after use may be small things, but they speak to the kind of person and employee you will be.

  • You need to proactively improve your position within your company, your company’s position in the industry.

  • Find ways to stand out and produce up to 4x the output of your fellow employees.

Great Resume Words for Leaders

  1. Spearheaded

  2. Pioneered

  3. Ignited

  4. Piloted

  5. Transformed

  6. Revitalized

  7. Modernized

  8. Optimized

  9. Budgeted

  10. Cut Costs

  11. Drove growth

  12. Invested

  13. Reduced

  14. Negotiated

  15. P&L Accountability

  16. Coached

  17. Mentored

  18. Supported

  19. Shaped

  20. Trained

  21. Motivated

  22. Uplifted

  23. Advocated

  24. United

  25. Galvanized

  26. We

  27. Convinced

  28. Won

  29. Gained buy-in

  30. Prompted

  31. Mobilized

  32. Spurred