So maybe you’ve been working for a while, and you have an impressive resume. With your previous experience, you’re armed with all the job-finding know-how. You’ve crafted the ultimate CV, you can interview like it’s nobody’s business, and your writing skills are flawless, enabling you to cook up a perfectly-tailored cover letter in minutes. Career transition? No problem. Moving on to your next job after a few years of the same thing? Easy, you think–all things considered.
Still, even for the most seasoned job search pro, there are pitfalls to avoid, and the one that the so-called “experts” fall for time and again, is the slippery slope of resting on one’s laurels. Now what does this exactly mean? A case of laurel-resting is quite simple. It’s a basically a variation on the “know-it-all” phenomenon. Know-it-alls typically exude an overconfidence in everything–in their resumes, their interviews, and their cover letters.
While confidence, of course, is generally a definite plus when looking for a job, an experienced job-seeker must remain cautious in not portraying herself as someone who’s seeking a job simply because she’s got past credentials. While experience certainly is a large factor in making a successful career transition, it isn’t everything. What employers really want to know, in addition to what you’ve already accomplished, is what you can do for their company that’s new. To what extent can you push your limits? How will you move beyond your previous accomplishments; how will you develop?
Even though an interviewer won’t necessarily ask you questions that specifically address the concept of self-improvement and continued innovation, it’s always a good idea to bring these notions to the table, whether they are expressed in your resume, your accompanying cover letter, or in the interview hot seat.
In order to successfully convey a true desire for self-development, you first have to sit down and think about it carefully. Ask yourself, what have I not done yet that I can potentially aspire to, using my former experiences as a spring board and not a crutch? Take note of these thoughts; write them down if you have to. Then, figure out how you can imbue these thoughts in all aspects of your job search process. As a job search pro, you’ve got all the basics down. Now it’s time to develop the finer points.
By Tim Handorf, who writes on the topics of top online colleges. He welcomes your comments at his email Id: tim.handorf.20@googlemail.com.
