We often tend to be highly critical of ourselves and anxious during a job search, falling for misconceptions of perfection, or missing out on small details that make a big impact. Here are 5 things that the hiring team of a company wants you to know about applying for a job!
Your Break is Not the End of Your Career
Many times, women, especially those planning to return after a career break, begin a job search apprehensively, believing a break will prevent them from being hired. This is not true - as long as you are proactive in your job search and bridge the skills gap through projects, courses, or internships, you can absolutely find an opportunity to grow your career. A break is not a career stopper; a hiring manager is more interested in your commitment to return to work and accountability with your career, more than the break itself. People have successfully restarted their careers even after 10 years of a break!
You Don’t Need to Know Everything
No, you don’t have to know every single thing! This is especially relevant in coding, problem solving or case-study-based interviews. If you are unsure of an answer, do not panic. Rather, be honest and try to vocalise your thought process on how you think you could approach the problem. Your way of handling a problem speaks volumes about your work ethic and behavior. This does not mean you can take interview preparation for granted- we’ll learn more about that in the upcoming point.
The Basics are Critical
While an interviewer does not expect you to have an answer at the tip of your tongue for every single question, you are expected to be thorough in your basics and your past experience! Before applying for a job, revise the fundamentals and be aware of the technological updates in the field you are interested in. Be completely thorough with the tools you have worked on and the projects you have worked on earlier - including the role you played and any significant results you brought in and be ready to answer questions on the same.
Your Attitude Matters
A hiring team pays close attention to how you conduct yourself, as it reflects how you would fit in with their team and work culture. If you are on a break, showing your commitment to returning to work could play a huge role in building trust and confidence with the recruiter. During an interview, be mindful of your body language and speak politely and calmly, even in a high-pressure situation. Do not lie and try to hide things, especially when it comes to your break or a skillset that you have not worked on. Instead, be open and honest and convey your willingness to learn and improve your skills. A hiring team notices your behaviour even outside the interview - be mindful about the smallest of things, including the way you communicate through emails and phone calls, or even the way you respond to other members of their team.
Rejection Isn’t About You
When it comes to rejection, the team is not directly rejecting you as a person! There are many unseen factors apart from skillset that come into play for a job role, such as location, culture fit, budget fitment, etc. Furthermore, opportunities can be put on hold or closed based on the situation. Remember that a rejection does not tie to your worth; it could be a redirection to improve on certain skills or a fitment mismatch with factors you have absolutely no control over. A rejection does not define you as a person, your self-worth, or your knowledge.
Restarting your career can be incredibly frustrating, but don’t give up! With the right mindset, preparation, and support, you can achieve anything you put your mind to.
If you’d like guidance on building confidence, interview prep, or tackling rejection, our career coach at HSI can help- click here to learn more
Her Second Innings supports women professionals on a sabbatical in their journey of getting back to work. The mission of HSI is to guide women to achieve financial independence. Support from HSI comes in the form of job interviews, reskilling programs in Automation, and, free Career Guidance Counselling. Sign up with us and complete your profile to get a call from our counselors to know your job fit.
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