For the last 4 years, I have helped a number of people make their CVs and coached them through the interview process to showcase the best parts of themselves. From how to go through the education life exhibiting bits of passion and interest in what you were doing all the while telling the story with a flow and a purpose to the choices made. Ultimately, expressing strengths, weaknesses and victories at the workplace with clarity and conviction. I believe that this has helped them to progress to their greener pastures.
In my mind, an interviewer is a person just like me and nobody likes to get bored for 30 minutes to 1 hour if they can avoid it. We are all emotional creatures and we do get drawn to the most interesting, exciting and “together” candidate. For this to happen, the candidate needs to know what they intend to showcase beforehand and practice… practice….practice. The more you practice, the easier the story rolls off your tongue and the more confident you are.
I also believe that you never lie on your CV or in an interview. You will definitely get caught. If you get caught during the interview, you are lucky because all you suffer is not getting the job and can carry on with whatever you were doing, however, if you get caught when you have landed the job, then you will get fired and this leaves you unemployed and with a tarnished reputation and fewer references. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, you will get caught.
I have found that most people (myself included) tend to undervalue themselves. They neither see their true potential nor the value of the experience that they have. This is what causes many outstanding people to feel “stuck” at their current job.
- They fail to aim higher, for instance, people tend to apply for a role similar to what they have in a different organization that pays slightly more. My challenge to them is that they should be searching for the role ranked higher than the one they have. If you are dissatisfied with the role you have now, you will surely be dissatisfied with the role in a different organization. The work tends to be the same and people are generally similar in the way they behave at work. You might escape your current ill-tempered boss just to find a similar version where you go.
- They are averse to risk, they feel that they could do more but are just afraid to venture into the world and try. Fear of a new environment, fear of failure and just change resistance.
- They fail to realize that people in leadership positions went to the same schools, studied the same courses and have similar upbringing to themselves. So why not you? Note that I stick to employment, people who own successful businesses are a whole different psychology for another day.
The real differences in people in employment stem from self-confidence, self- belief, appetite for leadership and work, ambition, desire for new challenges and desire to learn. Let’s be honest, anytime you move jobs, you have to be willing to be taught and self-teach to survive probation.
No one joins a new organization knowing much about it, you have to learn practically everything from their processes, their culture, where to find things, product attributes, information sources, new friendships and so much more. Your previous experience just helps to absorb and understand this information quicker and therefore perform at your job faster. In cases where your experience and exposure is more advanced, it helps you to provide improvement initiatives a.k.a become a superstar.
For years, I have provided this sort of information effortlessly expecting nothing and have watched people grow and get better jobs because of it. It is odd how we pay little attention to the small things that we do to help others without realizing that we are undervaluing our potential. So for now, I am ready to step up and stop undervaluing myself. I am ready to do more for more people because I realize that am good at it and can impact more peoples’ lives for the better.
If you need help or know someone who needs help finding employment, give me a call and I will do my best to walk with that person through their journey. Only this time, I might charge a nominal fee.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Megs' 