The MicroTrain Blog

Tip of the Week: Before You Apply For That Job!

I am almost certain we have all been asked, “So what do you want to be when you grow up?”  Now throughout your life your answer may have changed a hundred times or maybe not, but the question is still relevant.  What do you desire to do for a career and more importantly why?  Ask yourself some key questions:

• Do I like this career?
• Are jobs available?
• Are salaries adequate?
• Do advancement opportunities exist?

Long-term job satisfaction is typically found when you engage in tasks that coincide with both your skills and your interests.  And these 2 areas should help serve as guides along your career plan.  Remember, employers are looking for employees that will love what they are doing, thus willing to commit to a long tenure with the company!  So doing some homework to identify the right type of job for you is the proper place to start!   

• What Kind of Job Do You Want?
  
• How to Find the Right Job
  
• Preparing for Your Next Career Move
  
• What Company Do You Want to Work For?
  
• Find the Best Job for Your Personality
  
• 6 Reasons to Make a Career Change
  
• How to Prepare for Your Career Future
  
• Ten Myths About Choosing a Career
  
• The 10-Step Plan to Career Change
  
• Career Chemistry: The Best Jobs for Six Personality Types
  

“People always fear change … You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so … Fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind.”  Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it … Inaction breeds doubt and fear.  Action breeds confidence and courage." – Dale Carnegie.

This article, http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/an-interview-with-your-favorite-person-yourself.html, suggests it may be time to become a subject matter expert on your favorite person … you! Yes, time to thoroughly interview yourself! We talk to ourselves all the time but rarely ask ourselves serious insightful questions to know our true selves. So, choose a quiet place to be alone and without interruption. Relax, talk out loud, in a mirror, be honest, be yourself and take notes. 

Using this method can be very enlightening. It challenges those things that may block productivity. This type of preparation can also calm fear and anxiety by bringing suppressed procrastinations and dreaded activities to the surface to be recognized and resolved. Simply giving acknowledgement could be all that's needed. “Know thyself” – Kassandra McGhee.  

Look at this process as another way to practice how well prepared you are to sell yourself honestly and professionally.  Also how well you research target companies.  Make sure you include questions to demonstrate your worth and connection to company ambitions. 

When you find that you know yourself quite well, you ARE your subject matter expert! You know the value of research and practice.  And you certainly understand that knowledge, action, truth and preparation conquer fear.  YOU are confident and hold the keys to your success.  CONGRATULATIONS!

“The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free” – Oprah Winfrey.