Control and Influence in a competitive job market
It’s a competitive market, control what you can?
If you want Control and influence in a competitive job market
, it requires preparation, persistence, and above all it a positive attitude. It’s not as hard as it may seem. There are many things that you can do to put yourself in the best possible place to succeed when looking for a new position.
We have broken down what you can control and influence in a competitive job market into just a few areas:-
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Preparation is the key
Preparation is vital and cannot be underestimated. It is important that you are always representing yourself well and that you prepare thoroughly. You are representing “brand you”.
We have been witness to many situations where a candidate has not prepared adequately. The fallout of this is a fairly long list but these are a few of the more obvious ones: –
The Interviewer knows fairly quickly (yes, really). We can see it in your demeanor and hear it in the tone of your voice.
- You approach the interview in a half-hearted manner (even though you really want the job), by this point it is too late.
– This isn’t a fake it until you make it scenario. - People talk – whether you are talking with a consultant, in-house talent partner, HR, or the client. If you did not prepare well enough, you are very likely to miss out on the current opportunity and will harm any future prospects with the parties mentioned.
- Conversely, if you have prepared, you tend to be calm and you’re able to answer questions clearly, build rapport quickly and this may open up opportunities beyond the role in question.
Individuals that tend to do well in interviews, not only talk about themselves, they tend to be engaging and open, they have thoroughly researched the client and are able to ask and pose articulate questions. This isn’t a one-sided conversation, you can, and should ask questions.
Attitude is everything
In a competitive market, you may find yourself consistently applying for jobs, you may not even get a response, you may get a negative response and you may be asked for an interview. To what end so you can be benchmarked against internal candidates and then not get the position on a technicality!
Let’s be honest it can be soul-destroying and this is just the beginning of your journey.
Persistence pays off
Persistence is critical. There will be setbacks along your journey (if not, you have been extremely fortunate). We know you have heard this before, but this is where attitude and mindset play an especially important part of your success.
Attitude is everything, don’t underestimate this. This is an area that employers really focus on and it difficult to fake (and nor should you). Your experience or CV gets you through the door, your attitude and passion can be a critical factor in getting you that job and helping you differentiate yourself.
Experience and skill
This can be a “catch 22” and there is no silver bullet. You either have the skill and experience or you don’t.
This is one area you cannot manipulate. Your experience speaks for itself, it either resonates with the employer or doesn’t.
With market dynamics changing, we often get asked about the opportunity to be able to change industries and transfer skills. By no means is it impossible, but in tougher economic conditions it can prove to be challenging.
There are things that you can do, we recently wrote an article on the importance of networking, many start this too late or do not realise the importance of making meaningful connections.
Contact Us
