One of the hardest things to do in any job search process is to be yourself while also being polished, on point, and focused on delivering a targeted message to your potential employer about how you will are the perfect “fit” for an open position.
Clients sometimes ask me how they can convey their sense of purpose and desire for a position without coming across as phony. My answer: quit trying to prove yourself and spend your time being yourself.
The logic behind this is simple enough. If you conveyed your qualifications well enough on your resume, cover letter, and other application materials, then the interview is less about that and more about two things:
1. Whether you presented your qualifications accurately, and
2. Whether you will fit into their organizational culture.
If you have presented your qualifications accurately, you do yourself a disservice by presenting yourself as someone you’re not. So try as much as you can to go into each interview “comfortable in your own skin,” and let the details settle themselves.
The truth you must be most comfortable with is that the most qualified candidate on paper often is not the successful candidate in the process. By the time an interview happens, you have been given a so-called “equal opportunity” to state your case, and the assumption you should take into each interview is that all candidates meet the basic qualifications for the job. This will allow you to meet your potential employer on a more equal footing. A good job match will be dictated as much by your potential fit into an organizational culture, or your ability to navigate the nuances of such a culture, in an emotionally intelligent and productive way, as it will be about your actual skills, experiences, and qualifications.
Understanding organizational culture is tricky. You must be ready to separate your interest in a particular job from your possible fit, and accept that a rejection doesn’t label you as “unqualified” for that type of position, or even for another position at that institution. It just means that wasn’t your day, and that wasn’t the job.
This will allow you to move on toward exploring other opportunities, and clear the path to a position and an organizational culture that will hopefully be a better fit for not only your qualifications but for you.
Whenever a candidate undertakes a serious, wide-ranging job search, keeping up with job search communications is a major concern. When I was in grad school, the universal tracking methods were a) a sheet of paper in a designated notebook or b) an excel sheet if you had access to a computer (I didn’t back then, at least not on a daily basis.) Today’s job seekers have many more options, and ultimately, it’s easier to stay on top of your search.
The biggest difference for today’s job seeker is access to real-time information available on the internet, using your computer or even your phone. In particular, tools that have been designed to help businessmen keep up with sales and relationship-building, or Client Relationship Management (CRM) can help you streamline your communication strategy and stay on top of your progress in different searches. And many of the best tools are free and integrate with common web applications (most notably Google).
The best of these (in my opinion) is Gist. Recently bought out by Research in Motion (creators of the Blackberry), Gist is a revolutionary tool that aggregates information about your contacts from the public streams that their blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other profiles put out there on the internet, relate them to any public information about their employers and networks, and allow you to see all of the above, in context with communication you’ve had between these contacts.
Screen grab of Gist's suggestions feature.
There has probably never been a more powerful tool for job seekers. Gist is intelligent, and you help it learn and get better. Each time you log in, it gives you suggestions for new sources of information about your contacts,which you can filter through, confirm, or ignore. It allows you to see communications and meetings between you and your contacts. And it lets you keep notes. All in one place.
Click on the name if a person or company, and Gist will compile a “dossier” for you. Connect Gist to your calendar, and as you prepare for your next interview, you can research your contacts, the company, and others you might be meeting with. You can see that you did indeed send in your latest resume, cover letter, and that all-important background check form. And you can read the latest news on your potential employer and prepare your questions and talking points more effectively.
Gist works well with GMail, Outlook, Firefox, and Chrome, and you can use it on your iPhone or Droid phone, so you can access new information while on the go (like at a placement conference, or on the way to your next interview.)
To some, Gist seems a bit “Big Brother.” I’ll admit that it really brings home the extent of information available out there in the public stream about individuals and institutions. But you have to remember that most of the information it shows is public, and that the rest of it is directly related to communications you’ve had with the involved parties. In this context, think of Gist as a powerful and personalized partner in your job search.
Work with Sean. I help higher ed professionals take control of their careers with tailored services including resume and CV development, LinkedIn profile optimization and networking strategy, interview coaching, and one-on-one career guidance.
