| Ultimate
Resumes eNews
SEPTEMBER 2005
Choosing an Employer
This is the second in a two-part series on
surviving the job search process with your ego intact.
In this newsletter, we take up where our last
newsletter left off as we explore more of the similarities between
job hunting and dating. Hopefully these observations will help you
to remember that rejection isn’t always bad and that you should
be applying the same scrutiny to potential employers that they apply
to you.
Be yourself, or you
may not get what you want.
Remember how you mom always told you to “Be yourself and if
others don’t like you it’s their loss”? Well those
words are just as true when you are searching for a job as they
are in dating. When dating, you shouldn’t change your behavior
to suit someone else, or you may wind up dating someone you don’t
really like very much. We all know people who are frightened to
be alone and who will modify their personalities to make someone
else happy just so they do not have to be without a significant
other.
The job search is no different. You may want
a new job — but don’t settle for just any job. Find
a company that is a good fit for your skills, personality, values,
and future growth. The key to getting a job is research. Find out
about the company, the people, the job, and all you can about the
kind of person they are looking for. That information can help you
to do a better job of presenting yourself in an interview. However,
don’t let the information change the fundamentals of “you”
when you interview. In other words, be true to yourself or you may
wind up getting a job that you don’t really want.
If your research
on a potential employer illuminates information that seems undesirable,
do not continue to pursue the opportunity.
Just because a firm is reputable, prestigious, or glamorous doesn’t
mean you will be happy as an employee. I know a woman who interviewed
at a prestigious consulting firm. Every time she went back for another
round of interviews she met more people at the firm, but she never
felt she connected with them. The firm, however, loved her! The
partners were enthusiastic about her and when they finally made
an offer it was just too much money to turn down. But, even as she
started the job, she didn’t really like the people she was
working with. Worse yet, she didn’t share their corporate
values. She was a creative type and this firm placed the greatest
value on its processes rather than innovative thought. Not surprisingly
she left the firm a year later because she disliked the work environment
and didn’t feel that the firm valued her contributions.
Don’t get caught up in flattery. Just because
they like you doesn’t mean you have to take the job. A prestigious
firm that doesn’t share your values, your views on work-life
balance, or your individual contribution may not be the right choice
for you. One way to find out more about the firm is to peruse the
company website, brochures, and annual report. Another way to find
out about the firm is to ask the recruiter or human resources representative
about turnover rates, average annual salary increases, what percentage
of senior management was promoted internally, and how they attract
experienced employees. When you gather enough information about
a firm you will be able to piece together a clear picture of the
firm’s financial situation and its corporate culture. Then
you can decide if the firm is right for you.
The bottom line is that you have to be true to
yourself or you could wind up with a job that isn’t fulfilling.
You may be able to “stick it out” at a job you don’t
enjoy for the money, the prestige, or any number of other reasons.
But, if you aren’t truly happy with your job you will find
yourself looking for another job before you know it. Why not try
to find the best job for you with an employer who truly values your
unique qualities? The next time you interview for a job remember
that you are analyzing them as much as they are interviewing you!
Liz Handlin, CEO, Ultimate Resumes
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