The Persistent Job Search Attitude
232 miles. That’s the distance from San Luis Obispo, my home, to San Francisco, my city of choice. And in one week, I drove to San Francisco and back three times, to interview, interview, and interview again. No one was going to just give me a job. To land the job I wanted – a sales man – I needed a consistent, dedicated, and determined attitude. At the end of the day, attitude is as important as what is on your resume.
A consistent attitude is key throughout the entire hiring process, from the job hunt to the final interview. Beginning with hunting for the job and getting interviews, searching for positions and submitting resumes and cover letters on a daily basis is an effective way to open doors for you. Consistency in your job search and application submissions will result in more interviews and opportunity. I found that instead of looking for the perfect job and ignoring everything else, applying to a wide variety of jobs opened up opportunities I wouldn’t have known existed by simply reading a job description. After getting through the job boards and applications, a consistent attitude is still very important. As you interview more, you’ll develop a routine for answering common questions, find what works and what doesn’t, and become a more comfortable and efficient job seeker. You’ll grow to be more consistent overtime, helping you remain alert through the interview.
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who enjoys mock interviews, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to practice. Putting in the time to practice can be awkward or seem useless at times, but finding the time to work on answering questions will make you more comfortable and help you come up with better answers. Practice is part of a dedicated attitude, driving you as a jobseeker to put in the time needed to be successful. Another important part of dedication is to not be discouraged by rejection. Rejection is part of the hiring process, and being able to carry on after a company goes with somebody else is important. A dedicated attitude will make you better and help you move on, rather than dwelling on a denial.
Determination throughout the job search won’t just help you succeed, but can also show the employer the attitude that you will bring to the company. In my last couple weeks of university, I could think of a lot of other things I’d rather be doing than driving up to San Francisco three times a week to interview. However, the determination to have a fulltime job by the time I graduated pushed me to get up in the morning, drive 232 miles, interview, than drive another 232 miles home. Qualifications and experience are both important qualities that employers look for, but once you land an interview, employers are looking for determined candidates. By driving up repeatedly throughout the week, I was showing the employer that I was hungry for the position, and that landing that job was my number one priority.
Remember to stay positive and not to let rejection bring you down. If others receive offers before you, don’t be discouraged. Ask your colleagues what worked for them, read about interview best practices online, and stay determined. Happy to report, 7 round trips and 3,248 miles later, I landed a job. The harder it is, the sweeter signing the offer letter feels. I got the job. I was a sales man.
And now …. I’m a blogger. But that’s a story for another day.
Joe Hanson, the @TheJobChaser, is a blogging intern with SmartRecruiters.