It's a Good Time to Get Back on the Job Interview Horse
The U.S. economy is doing well and the good news for job seekers is that there are many jobs to be found. Unemployment stood at 3.7% in September 2018 which is the lowest level since 1969. With over 7 million job openings, there are not enough applicants to fill open positions! This is a great time for mid-career employees to step out and explore new opportunities.
As we travel through our life and work journey, it’s easy for some of us to have remained in the same position at the same company or to have spent many years progressing forward within the same company. After all, life’s responsibilities can easily take over. Kids, mortgages, and insurance costs all add up. During the past years with the housing crisis and resultant collapse along with the economic recession, it may have been too large a risk to leave the comforts of your job’s security to make the move to another company, much less start a new career. Now may be your opportunity to reach for the job you’ve always wanted!
If you’ve been with your organization for many years and haven’t interviewed for a job in a very long time, know that things have changed and interviewing for a job may be very different from what you remember. The competition now is very competitive and as a mid-career candidate, you will probably be competing with much younger people!
The millennial generation is now firmly situated in the job market and the Gen Z group is entering the workforce with the older members of this group now being approximately 23 years old. CNBC.com reports that by 2020, Gen Z will comprise 36% of the global workforce. Companies are eager to attract and retain this younger group of talent. Gen Z employees grew up with a cell phone in their hands and these younger workers excel in the use of technology, which is an attractive trait to many organizations. This versatility with technology may decrease the time spent training the younger employees on the organization’s various platforms.
Remaining with your company for many years demonstrates that you have excellent experience, expertise, and are a loyal employee. The flip-side of this is that your longevity with a company could cause an interviewer to be concerned that you may not be as adaptable to a new environment or to new people. Interviewers may wonder if you possess the ability to adapt to change and they may question your open-mindedness. You must be able to speak to these issues and have valid answers and examples at the ready.
It’s a certainty that you will be asked, “So why do you want to leave your current company?” Have your answer prepared but do not speak negatively about your previous company, managers, or colleagues. Most hiring managers are aware of issues with other companies and may be familiar with other hiring managers industry-wide. They may play golf with the person you just dissed! Concentrate on what interests you about the position you are applying for, questions about how the position would function, or the exciting new industry you are eager to join. Keep the focus positive. Let the hiring manager know that you like change and are passionate about learning new things and experiencing new challenges.
Focus on your personal achievements at your current company. This proves to the hiring manager that you were an active and proactive employee for the past several years. This is evidence that you were not “that guy” sitting back, always first to eat the break-room doughnuts and accepting the status quo without question. Expand upon your progression in the company, pointing out the results of projects or initiatives you undertook and how these impacted the company. By all means, bring your Brag Book and have it ready with a few examples in case you are asked. (Note: If the hiring manager is younger than you, they may not be familiar with what a Brag Book actually is!) If you forgot what a Brag Book is, this article may help.
Let the hiring manager know how the more difficult projects you’ve been involved with rekindled your energy and passion for a job and you look forward to future projects with their company. Describe specifically any teamwork-related projects completed with colleagues. This may allay any concerns regarding your open-mindedness or aversion to change.
Emphasize your skill at relationship building. Be sure to mention any training of colleagues you may have done, seminars conducted, or meeting facilitations you participated in. Providing documentation from these, perhaps a participant’s completed survey, will only bolster your argument.
Don’t make the mistake of working so hard to finally get a job interview with your dream organization and then neglect to be fully prepared! Be honest with yourself. Are you rusty and out of practice when it comes to being ready for a job interview? You don’t have to do this alone. Find an objective job interview coach that can get you up to par again, rebuild your confidence, and fully prepare you to interview in the competitive 2019 job market.
Working with a job interview coach provides you with authentic, honest feedback that your spouse or friends may not be able to provide. Coaching feedback is intended to share with you what you have said during practice sessions and then reflect back to you how your words are being received by the interviewer. Genuine feedback naturally brings more meaning to your job interview answers, resulting in more interesting and most importantly, more persuasive answers.
Practicing your employment stories with an expert job interview coach is crucial. Saying them out loud is vital to thorough preparation. Many people will repeat the stories “in their head.” If you practice saying things in your head and never say them aloud, then your practice remains in your imagination. When you practice answering job interview questions out loud, with an objective third party, you move them into reality! Only then can a proper critique take place, which will allow for learning and growth.
Of course, the need for practice, practice, practice is a must! If you haven’t had a job interview in years, you may be fearful and nervous. Who wouldn’t be? Continued practice builds the confidence you may have lost along the way and it helps to dispel any doubt you may be feeling, bringing that monster under-the-bed into the light! Your job interview coach can support you as you rebuild your confidence as well as inform you of the latest job interview trends — fully arming you for battle.
The fact that the U.S. job market is expanding means it’s an advantageous time to explore a new position or a new career. It’s important to find employment that gives you meaning and speaks to your passions. It’s beneficial to have satisfying work in order to enjoy life. Now is the time! Get back up on that job interview horse. It may be well worth the ride!
I offer a free ½ hour introductory job interview coaching session. Contact me today to prepare for your tomorrow!