The Briefcase "Briefs" Job Search Newsletter - Issue #19

Do your homework, study the plays, win the game!

It’s game day, the plays are drawn and the quarterback is suited up, but has he done his homework? Has he studied the defensive plays? Does he know the ins and outs of the other players on his team? With the start of college football knocking on the door (Go Dawgs!), I can’t help but look for the similarities in career coaching and preparing for the big game.

I love to do everything I can to prepare my clients to put their best foot forward, play their hearts out and come away with the win. It is important for anyone looking for a new company, a new position, to re-enter the workforce or undergo a career change to do their homework. 

► Spend time researching the company’s culture, mission, leadership, recent news, products, and services.

► Know who you are interviewing with. Leverage your network for insight.

► Know how to answer most asked questions.

► Study STAR method.

► Practice. Do a real mock interview.

Just like in football, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. One solid play change can determine the game - a customized resume doesn’t mean a complete overhaul each time, it can be as simple as tailoring the headline to speak directly to the company and position.

A quarterback has to be flexible, react to the defense, and alter plays on the spot. Be the quarterback of your career and with each opportunity, take time to study the plays and show up to the game prepared to win.

I’m rooting for you,

Sarah

Ps. Georgia is playing Clemson this weekend. 🙏

“Boom 💥 goes the dynamite!”

Does it make me a bad person that I’ve watched Ball State University student Brian Collins’ epic sportscast gone wrong on YouTube dozens of times over the last decade?

Yeah, probably.

It’s such a relatable social media trainwreck.

We’ve all been there…right? We think we know our stuff and can just go in and “wing” it….

Only to realize that some preparation and planning would have been a good idea.

I talk to job seekers all of the time with deep regret over “winging an interview”

Going in to the interview, they underestimated the quality of the hiring manager’s questions and over-estimated their ability to talk about their career experience.

I get it. We are all balancing a full plate right now. Committing 10-15 hours to prepare for an interview feels completely unrealistic to some of you.

 19% of job seekers–at all career levels– winged their interview or spent under 1 hour preparing.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!

- Preparation will help you feel more in control. Being able to anticipate questions will allow you to appear cool, calm and collected.

- Research and preparation will also help you connect with the recruiter or hiring manager. It’s a simple fact that people hire people that they LIKE and that they would want to work with. When you’ve researched their background, you’ll be able to more easily make small talk.

- Research will also help you assess if the opportunity is a good fit.. Learning about the company, culture and their finances will help you avoid making a career misstep. 

💼 It’s so important to remember that you may only have one chance to make an impression on the hiring manager.  Want to book an interview coaching session? Click here to learn more

I’m on a mission to help job seekers land amazing jobs. Would you consider doing one of the following: