Doing a successful job search requires the right essentials.
A tailored resume, cover letter, suitable qualifications, relevant experience and the right mindset.
Why do you need a job-hunting mindset?
Having such a job-hunting mindset is important because it is the beginning and end of a successful job search. Apart from that, you must also recognise that:
You’re selling a brand
Many candidates do not realise that getting hired largely depends on how you sell your brand. Your brand as a job seeker encompasses the skills, capabilities, contributions, qualities and potential you bring into that organisation. Your brand also includes the values and beliefs you hold, your work ethic, the principles you hold on to as well as the effect you have on the team and company culture as a whole.
To get hired, employers must value this brand. They must see your brand’s value and be able to clearly identify how you will be an asset to their company. Selling yourself means adopting the right mindset of growth, patience and resilience to convince employers you are the asset needed in their company.
The job market is competitive
When you apply for a vacancy, you are not the only applicant. Recruiters often receive dozens or hundreds of applications for a single position. Sometimes, these candidates may be more qualified than you. As such, the competitive nature of the Caribbean labour market makes job hunting quite challenging. Overcoming this challenge starts with having the right mindset to do so.
You will stand apart
Given the fierce competition within the Caribbean job market, standing out from other candidates requires work. Sometimes, receiving numerous applications can start sounding generic or repetitive to a recruiter. How then can you set yourself apart from other candidates?
The answer to that boils down to firstly your mindset. That job search mindset that trains you to adapt to change, overcome rejection and pursue growth is what is going to appeal to recruiters and help set you apart from others.
Be Open to growth and change
It is said that every person you meet can teach you something. The same can be said about every job that you hold during your career. Whether you’re at the beginning or middle or your career, having the mindset to learn from each experience is vital towards cultivating a learning mindset.
A learning mindset enables a person to grow and adapt to change. Employers seek people with these traits because it means their organisation has the potential and likelihood of growing and maximising its wealth.
Get Organized and become meticulous
Employers want people who know how to get things done as well as want to get things done. It’s one thing to have a sharp mind with lots of knowledge and qualifications. However, employers are looking for persons who can organise and utilise their knowledge on the job. Being organised is critical given the detail a person ought to spend tailoring their resume as well as keeping updated with labour market trends, company vacancies, interview appointments and necessary follow-ups.
Be Resilient against rejection
The unfortunate truth about job hunting is that not every job you apply for will be yours. Job hunting, involves a lot of rejection. Even though these rejections are usually not personal, it can be discouraging if you’re shortlisted for a position only to narrowly miss the cut. Sometimes, an interview may go well but the recruiter may select someone else who is equally qualified and also have the right personality for the role. Sometimes a job rejection doesn’t have to do anything with your qualifications or capability. The hiring process tends to get very subjective. Therefore, a mindset that’s resilient against rejection is necessary.
Be Patient
Sometimes you may send out dozens of applications and may not get a response for weeks, or any response at all. While you may be hoping for immediate employment, the waiting time for a response gets intense. A patient mindset will help you to allow the process unfold for itself, especially after you’ve performed your best in your application and interview.
Be Willing to step out your comfort zone
Job hunting is not a comfortable experience. It requires, as previously mentioned a high degree of organisation and adapting to change. Beyond that, it very often requires you to network, build relationships with people and sell yourself to a room of people. The there’s the interview questions which you should practice and then be prepared for those unexpected ones. Even for the most extroverted person, the entire job-hunting experience gets extremely uncomfortable at times because of the unexpected and uncertainty. Therefore, a key component of an effective job search mindset is being willing to step out of your comfort zone and being comfortable with the uncomfortable.
It gets you hired.
Ultimately the goal of every job-hunting candidate is to land a desired and lucrative position. Getting hired for a desired position involves having the right attitude and mindset to believe in your ability and have others do the same.
How to cultivate the right job-hunting mindset?
While adopting the right job mentality is not an overnight process, there are methods to develop your mental toughness, build a valuable personal brand and likable character. These include:
Identifying your strengths
Know what you’re good at, what you can accomplish and what you want potential employers to remember after they’ve interviewed you.
Using your resources
Use the people and sources of information to your advantage. Practice answering interview questions with your family and friends to prepare for your job interviews.
Make use of online content to learn how to adjust your body language, oral communication, grooming your appearance, answering sensitive questions with diplomacy, organising your resume and refining your social media profiles etc.
Manage your stress.
Finding ways to manage the uncertainty that comes with job-hunting helps you stay calm, patient and resilient. Anticipate rejection to prevent it from diminishing your resilience and motivation. As a job seeker, a good mental strategy would be to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Love being uncomfortable.
You must become comfortable with speaking to people you’ve never met and carrying enlightening conversations. Excellent networking skills builds trust, which is the most valuable quality you can earn with someone. Capitalising on a trusted network of individuals that hold you in high-esteem ensures you have more job opportunities than the average candidate.
