We've had a lot of posts lately with job seekers posting their challenges. And I absolutely love that. We always want to support you.
Hiring isn't one sided, there are people at the other end. And I swear they are human! They also have needs and challenges.
One of my goals is to always keep things balanced in HireClub and while I'm fully aware there can be power dynamics in the hiring process, ultimately your goal as a job seeker is to find an awesome career at a company that supports you.
You gotta pay the bills right?
Companies want to hire you. They need you to do great work. In fact according to the numbers, there's more jobs available right now than people. It's in your interest as a job seeker to understand those needs.
1 - Research the company and the product This is probably one the biggest things you can do! What's the company's main products? Have you used them? Do you know how they work? Do you understand why that product is important for them? Your research will go along way during your interview process to show you care and increase your chances. Do your home work!
2 - Apply to positions you are best suited for Too often, companies will see candidates apply for multiple positions at once. It's really hard to understand what someone is best at in this situation. Whatever your personal goals, generally it's best to go for the role you think you are most qualified for. Don't just apply to every role available. Make it clear on your resume why this position is the right position for you.
3 - Be accountable Show up on time, respond in a timely manner, be clear in your goals. I know job seekers hate ghosting, you'd be surprised how often it happens the other way. Having timely and great communication goes a long way in improving your chances.
4 - Know your salary goals Use sites like HireClub and payscale to have a clear idea on your salary requirements. Know what your number is and work with your recruiter to get clarity if that's a fit. Yes, you want them to say a number first but that doesn't mean you haven't done your research. Talk to a HireClub coach once you have an offer to work through any questions and get the highest salary possible for this role for you.
5 - Hiring is a collaboration Work with the company, they really do want to help you. While yes there are bad seeds, most companies are made up of people just like you and me. They want to work on great things and great people. They want you to succeed and the best way to do that is work together. This means mostly communicating clearly.
Put yourself in their shoes and think like a hiring manager, what would you want to hear from a candidate?
6 - Be ready for ambiguity Hiring as we know, is not a perfect process. People hate to say no to job seekers. Honestly, it's really hard. But they have to make the right choices for their company.
Sometimes that takes time to figure out. Sometimes they have to talk to multiple people who might be busy also trying to run the company. Sometimes at smaller startups, the processes aren't fully baked yet. Clear and proactive communication goes a long way.
7 - Use your networking skills Ultimately hiring is about trust. We trust our friends. HireClub is built on this purpose. Making real connections with people in the companies you are interested in is still the best way to get hired. By real I mean honest conversations as friends, not just being transactional.
This might mean going to company events or conferences. It might mean having great dialog online via twitter or blogs or HireClub.
But when you join a company, you are spending 8 hours a day with these people, it really helps to build a great relationship first.
8 - Be professional I know with Facebook and social media it's really easy to use communication shortcuts. But I think the quality of your writing online goes such a long way in communicating what kind of employee you are going to be. My favorite job seekers have excellent writing skills and are kind and courteous. Please, thank you, real compliments and feedback go a long way still!
9 - It's never personal There can be all kinds of reasons for a company to decide not to move forward. I know it hurts. You may have really wanted that job or thought the company was ideal for you. But for many reasons, sometimes it just doesn't work out.
While companies would love to tell you more why it wasn't a good fit, legally there are areas where they have to protect themselves. Recruiters and hiring managers hate to say no, but they have to imagine working with someone new for 8 hours a day with sometimes really info, often being cautious in hiring is the right way to go. It's never about who you are as a person, it's about the right fit.
10 - Focus on the next opportunity As soon as you did your best in an interview or phone call, respond with questions on next steps and then move on to the next opportunity. You are a busy and successful person and you don't have the time to put all your eggs in one basket. Check in once or twice and then let it go.
Hiring can be partly a numbers game and it is in your interest to move on quickly, even if you haven't heard back. No matter how much you want to hear back, you increase your chances by having more pies in the oven.
I realize there can be so many challenges as a job seeker, and I want this information to help you on your way to success. It's by truly understanding both sides of the hiring process, you'll see success quicker. If recruiters and hiring managers are sharing stories in HireClub, it can really help to hear them.
One of things I always advocate in HireClub is accountability and skilling up. Understanding the needs of companies is part of that process.
Please feel free to ask questions here, we are here to help!