This post is the second in an 11-part blog series to not only get you ready for that dream job interview, but put you on notice for how you can make it happen!
Ten Questions You Should Never Stop Asking
Question #1 - What is my work’s purpose?
Interviews are conversations and working for and with others is about relationships. Before anyone wants to discover your skills or what you can do, they want to discover who you are, what work means for you and how you view work in the context of your life.
If this is not a question you ask of yourself while you prepare to secure your next job, rethink this, please. If this question is throwing you off or turns you off – you really need to listen to this and define this for yourself. There is a reason it is the number one question to keep asking.
Your work’s purpose is the equivalent of a company having a mission statement that drives everything they do.
The realization dawned with this new century that we are all anointed – simply through our condition of being human – to live not just productive, but meaningfully productive lives. And this means that our work has a purpose, a loftier meaning that just collecting a paycheck.
Interviews are indeed conversations and this demands that you show up with your story – who you are – not what you do – first - and use this for every touch point you make in your job search. We all like to “put a face to a name” when we have in-person connections with others. The job-interview of today is about “putting our humanness” into our work story to enrich the conversation, make an authentic connection with the person sitting across the table and have the kind of conversation that gives the you the best chance of creating a work relationship – winning the job!
What is it that I do in my work that creates the most value in my work?
What is my perfect job? My dream job?
Which ten companies/employers hire for this job and are also companies that I would really like to work for?
Have I become a fan of those companies?
Have I identified the people who ultimately make the hiring decision for the position I am seeking?
Have I become a fan of those people?
Have I crafted a campaign to connect as a fan with these employers to let them know that I am a fan and why I am a fan?
Do I have a network of “weak ties” to these employers who will recommend me for the interview when the opportunity opens up?
Have I prepared my network of “weak ties” to promote me to their connections with my potential employer.
This post was written by: Marilyn Carpenter
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