The
Hierarchy of Job Hunting Habits
Rarely
are there exceptions, however, the following represent critical job-searching issues
for which there should be zero exceptions. Break them at your peril.
The
single most important factor in job hunting is your eating habits. What you
consume directly affects your mental
processing ability, including the ability to concentrate and remain focused, attitude
and outlook, mental energy level, physical appearance and health status.
When
you walk in to be interviewed, sure employers want to know about your skill
level and qualifications, but what they visually discern shouts volumes. Yes it
is possible to conceal a few pounds, but hit that plus scale, and an interview
could turn south. There are no excuses you can offer to explain away a poor
impression.
Have
you ever observed someone driving a piece of junk down the road? What is the
first thing that pops into your mind? “Poor soul probably doesn’t have two
nickels to rub together.” In span of a split second, an opinion was formed. It
would not matter if the individual had $20 million in the bank.
Job
recruiters are no exception. Just like you, they make snap judgments based upon
your appearance. Yes, you can slap on a fresh coat of paint and clean the
windows, but if your chasse appears out of shape, it will be mentally noted.
Just because they don’t make comment should not be construed that it is not
important.
*
The
next issue on the hierarchy of bad habits is lack of cardiovascular and
strength exercise. The reason for placing this second is because all the
exercise in the world will not offset poor eating habits. Exercise will,
however, increase your physical stamina and appearance. Interviewing is a high-stress
producing activity.
You may very well be
able to endure a 20 or 30 minute interview. Should that activity stretch into
an hour-long examination, large segments of the population begin falling apart.
Successful interviewing demands physical stamina.
You do not have to
enroll in the iron-man competition, but you do need to blend strenuous cardiovascular
(primary) and strength (secondary) exercises for a minimum of 20 minutes per day.
If you cannot sandwich a seven-day routine into a hectic work schedule, than
you need to bump it up to 30 minutes five days a week. Increase the time duration
as you reduce the days. Exercising less than 20 minutes and less than three
days per week is not recommended.
**
Finally, the third important
issue is establishing and maintaining a job hunting routine. Merely flipping
open the help wanted section or cruise the internet will not cut it. Every employment-seeking
hostage on the planet uses that job-hunting strategy.
When we address a
job-hunting routine, we are talking about maintaining a nine-to- five routine that
involves a strategic action plan. On the front page of this blog, you will note
near the top of the screen a Checklist
option. You should print it for each interview and check-off each item as you
go.
If you are unemployed,
invest a few hours each day reviewing potential job interviewing questions. Seven
common interviewing questions appear in the Job
Interviewing Tips article. But don’t stop there. Serious recruiters have endless
thought-provoking questions designed to reveal your hidden talents—or, benign shortfalls.
Mindlessly walking into
a job interview unprepared to respond to basic questions is like walking
aimlessly through a minefield. When the landmine detonates, you will be cut of
at the knees. On the other hand, relate your knowledge, skills and abilities to
an employer’s specific needs quickly shift an interview into high gear. Plan to
invest a few hours each day planning, rehearsing and researching.
***
The culmination of your
ability to implement these critically important elements (eating habits, exercise and game plan) will determine your results.
Unless you were born into old money wealth and inherited a cash-rich company,
there are no exceptions. For those in need of securing new employment, how you
begin will determine how you will end.