By Tracy A. Bumpus, CPRW
I had a good friend of mine call me recently for advice concerning her husband's job search. It seems he had gone on an interview within his present company for a substantial promotion and had bombed. It was one of those interviews, however, that "felt" like it went really well at the time, so it was doubly crushing when his boss called him in and said that he had done very poorly according to the interviewer. My friend wanted my advice on what to do as far as damage control and how to deal with her now very depressed husband. Unfortunately, what I could offer was more hindsight advice than future advice. One, he should have prepared for the interview (something he didn't feel was necessary). Two, he should have gotten a copy of the job description prior to the interview so he would know exactly for what he was being considered. Three, he should have been prepared to hear "no".
When I say be prepared to hear "no", I don't mean to approach a job search with a defeatist attitude. Expecting to be rejected, and being prepared to be turned down are two different things. When you expect to be turned down for the job, it will affect your attitude in the interview and almost becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Being prepared for a rejection, however, is different. It's an intellectual attitude, not an emotional one.
How you approach your job search has a direct effect on your success in landing a satisfactory position. It's possible to eliminate many possible rejections by doing your homework thoroughly before ever sending out a résumé. Do your homework! I cannot emphasize this enough. Do not apply to every possible opening for which you might remotely qualify. Research. Ask questions. Read. Find out what companies for which you would love to work and target them! Prepare for the interview by learning as much as possible about the position and company BEFORE going to the interview. If you really feel it's not for you, cancel the interview! It's okay. By developing a focus that encompasses your goals and is aimed toward companies' needs, you will significantly improve the number of offers you receive and shorten your job search. Proverbs 14:8 says "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways." In other words, have a plan.
Realize that not every interview will be successful. There are many reasons for that-the interviewer is looking for a specific personality type and you, the job seeker, don't quite match that profile; there is someone in competition that is more qualified; the job is already filled from within and they are just carrying out procedures to cover themselves (this happens a lot); the interviewer doesn't like your cologne or has a major case of allergies that day. There are many reasons for not getting an offer or second interview, many of which are out of your control. However, there are many more that are in your control, primary of which is your knowledge and ability to do the job. Arm yourself with information and be prepared to address the needs of the company. Knowledge will always be your best weapon in the job search. Develop it and use it fully. Remember the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:12 "Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor." Wisdom will get you a lot further than assets and mass mailings of résumés.
Here are a few wise tips for handling your job search:
Keep track. Track the number of résumés you send, the number of calls you receive, and the number of interviews you receive. If you are not receiving calls, review your résumé-it may need a tune up. If you are getting screening calls, but no interviews, you may need to practice your telephone interviewing skills. If you are receiving interviews, but no second interviews or offers, then maybe you need to brush up on your interviewing skills or take more time to prepare for the meeting.
Do not take it personally. This is probably the toughest one. Our careers are very much part of our lives and we are very sensitive about what people think of us as workers. Remember that an interviewer is just taking an instant snapshot of you, not looking at an oil portrait. A "no" doesn't mean they think you are a bad person! It's not a character judgment. It's a judgment based on 30 minutes of face-to-face meeting under extreme pressure. Think of Jesus Christ - he received the ultimate rejection, but he persevered in his mission to rescue us from our sins.
Don't give up. Remember the salesman. If he gives up, he's not going to get to that eventual "yes". Aren't you glad Jesus didn't give up?!
Don't lose heart. Find a job search coach, whether it's a professional, a good friend, or your pastor, who can give you encouragement when you need it the most. The average job search lasts 12 weeks with that time extending proportionately to rise in salaries. The higher the salary, the longer the hunt (usually). See James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, that God has promised to those who love him."
Pray regularly for God's will. He has promised that He will meet your needs. Luke 12:29 says "And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." Pray for what God wants you to do with your skills and talents. Search your heart and consider Galatians 6:8 "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction, the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life," and James 4:3 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
What may seem like rejection to you might simply be something that is not in God's plan for your life. Learning to wait patiently on the Lord's will is something we all struggle with. We live in a microwave society-we want it NOW. If NOW isn't in God's plan, we feel He's not listening to our prayers or He doesn't care about our situation. That is so untrue! God loves all his children and knows your troubles and worries. Give them to Him to carry. Trust Him with your career. You will be greatly rewarded for putting your job search on His schedule."
<Note from JobFairy.com: Faith is a good thing. Despite our supposed cynicism, three of the Fairies are ordained ministers! If you didn't get a particular job, God has good reasons why you shouldn't have been there. Yes, He is working off of a master plan, so don't worry. Unfortunately, you don't get a copy. Try not to freak out over this. Things don't happen on YOUR schedule - they're being planned with a higher agenda in mind.>
