An Upside-Down Journey with a Dash of Humor

The job search is a journey, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and occasionally a few potholes. It’s not necessarily an easy road for most of us, but hey, if it were easy, we wouldn’t appreciate the success when we finally reach our destination, right?

Just ask anyone with a “great job” or a high-ranking position, and they’ll tell you it took more than one try to get where they are today.

If you’re serious about landing that dream job, buckle up, because the effort you put in will pay off eventually.

Let’s talk about the turndown.

Picture this: you’ve just received a generic rejection letter. Ouch, that stings. But hey, if you receive feedback, my tips will come in handy. First, give yourself a break. Let the emotion and disappointment subside.

Now it is time to get back to work! What you don’t want to do is “nothing.”

That work includes the need to –

• Reflect
• Regroup
• Enhance your interview skills.

Reflect

Identify examples you felt were really good. Check those off as a win.

Identify examples that were not strong enough. Consider any questions that caught you off guard so you can prepare better responses.

If you were told that you did not have the skills or experience needed for the job, this is not a bad thing. Let me tell you why!

For skills gaps, you have something tangible to work on. This will take longer, and you can’t conquer it overnight, but come up with a plan. Partner with your boss or someone else to determine ways to gain the experience needed.

Regroup

Take a deep breath and pull yourself together. It’s time to strategize and get back in the game.

• Update your resume
• Polish up your LinkedIn profile
• Start networking like there’s no tomorrow.

Remember, every setback is an opportunity for a comeback.

Stronger Answers and Better Storytelling

It’s crucial to have both during your interviews. Start by making a list of what you can work on going forward:

• More robust answers – Expand on your previous answers or come up with better examples that showcase your skills and experiences more effectively.
• Being a better storyteller – Assess whether your answers were too wordy or lacked sufficient detail. Strive for a balance that keeps your responses engaging and informative.

One common mistake is not providing the answer to the specific question asked. You might be eager to share your examples, but they don’t exactly answer the question. To avoid this, listen for the key words in the question. A telltale sign that you are not on the right track is if you are not using those key words when you answer.

That is why spending time reflecting and taxing your brain for the best examples pays off. Think about it. Most people will share the first example and be proud of it. You want to stand out with the more robust example that impress the interviewer.

Enhance Your Interview Skills

You have done your reflection and regrouped to come up with your best examples. Now it’s time to prepare and practice.

The best way to do this is mock interviews. The advice you will get from someone else will be invaluable. Let’s talk about how someone else can assist you with answers to the following question –

• Are your examples going to impress?
• Will your examples showcase your ability to perform the job you want?
• Are you doing a good job of explaining or telling the story?
• Are you using the right buzz words?

Think about the work environment and the words that resonate within the environment or company’s culture. It could be safety, precision, inclusion, innovation, or creativity. This will really resonate with the interviewer or hiring manager.

Share your plan with your current manager or mentor to get support. Your career development should not be done in a silo. It does take a village. If you are fortunate enough to have support and people that want to help you succeed, take full advantage!

I hope all of this has encouraged you to:

• Maintain a positive mindset and resilience.
• Set small, achievable goals to keep motivated.
• Surround yourself with people that will encourage you through the process.
• Continue to think of it as a journey.

In the end, your effort will pay off. So, keep your chin up. I know your dream job is just around the corner.