Millennials. You are strong, confident, purposeful and visionary—and in stark contrast to the past, you are the most educated generation. But let’s face it. Many of you may be sabotaging your search for that perfect job (or even a job) by not doing your homework.
You may have thought, when you walked down that commencement aisle, that you were done with homework for good. But remember those skills you learned in your schooling days that you wondered if you would ever even put to use again? It’s time to dig them out.
As you head out (or continue) in your journey to land a job and build your career, tap these 6 tips—and apply them—before and during your interview.
1. Do your research
Don’t EVER walk into a job interview blindly. You may have applied for hundreds of positions, but you should always make sure to know about the company that
called you back. It shows intentionality, that you aren’t just in the lottery for a job but actually want this one. It shows that you care.
2. Confidence is good, arrogance is bad
One thing millennials are is confident—often to a fault. Don’t pretend you know it all. Be willing to learn and accept constructive criticism. Confidence is a valued trait, and you want to let potential employers know that you can handle the job. But sometimes there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And employers can sense arrogance from a mile away. Nobody wants the know-it-all employee who sees tasks as below himself, or who strives to be the superstar and can’t work as a team.
Check yourself at the door before you head in to that interview.
3. Go for substance
If you want to be taken seriously, dress the part and show that you mean business. But don’t focus on dress alone as the end-all. Real stories are what will really connect you with your interviewer. Rather than just answering
interview questions with a statement, dig down to find examples that illustrate your statement. Stories are personal and stories connect. So put some thought into your next interview.
4. Overcome commitment-phobia
Too many millennials suffer from an inability to stand still for long. Job and career growth is important, and you should always take an opportunity. But in an interview, your potential employer wants to know that you actually want to be there and aren’t just hanging out waiting for the better opportunity. Develop and share your
vision for your growth to show them that investing in you is a wise decision.
5. Educate yourself
Finishing
War and Peace may have been quite the accomplishment in your college days, but it’s most likely not the thing that will land that job you’ve been eying. College doesn’t prepare you for life. It gives you tools for success, but you must actually employ them in your future for them to do any good. One of the often overlooked tools is the skill to pursue knowledge. Don’t approach the job search appealing to a degree. Continue to learn and supplement your acquired knowledge with practical, in-demand skills by taking online courses, reading books and mentorship. This will
put you ahead of the degree-bearing crowd.
6. Find the hidden gems
We all love those powerhouse jobs that everyone is scrambling for. But unless you have the greatest skills in the world, the chances of standing out from the crowd of other millennials are slim. Instead,
identify what you love about that job, and find another company that will fulfill that—in a less cattle-call kind of way.
Your job search thus far may have hit no returns. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Lock your millennial vision into success and step into that interview confidently.
