This Is How to Get Your Next Job With Andrea Kay

This Is How to Get Your Next Job With Andrea Kay Recently I had the amazing opportunity to interview Andrea Kay, author of  This Is How to Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want. Andrea Kay helps people get excited about jumping out of bed and raring to go to work. For the past 20 years, she has been creating and recreating Andrea Kay/The Art of Self-Direction, a career consulting firm whose clients range from rocket scientists and cowboys who want to change careers to accountants and engineers who have trouble relating to people. Here are highlights from the interview with Andrea Kay: What do employers really want in a job applicant? When I asked employers why they didn’t hire the last ten people they interviewed, they in so many words said the same exact thing. They didn’t hire the last interviewers because of how they seemed based on how they acted. In other words, it wasn’t their lack of experience necessarily, but instead, it was things that they did. Their behavior before, during, and after an interview. It was those things that made them conclude that the person was not the kind of person they wanted to hire. This person is immature, or this person is unprofessional, or doesn’t get along with people, or would be very difficult to manage or they don’t take criticism well. They concluded that based on how people seem from how they acted in the interview. Ideally, what every employer wants is the combination of experience, education, and functional skills but they are also looking for people who have traits and qualities that show they’re the kind of person they want to hire. They want somebody who gets along with others. They want somebody who gets the work done efficiently, effectively, and cooperatively. So they’re looking for people with good judgment and people they can trust. What should you do when you get the job? Do a lot of listening and don’t act like you know it all. Understand the issues the company is facing. Get to know the people, and don’t intervene right away and begin to give your opinion. Tune into their ways of doing things first. Always think about how well you stand out from your colleagues and always be somebody they want to keep or valuable. Think about the trends that are affecting the company. Don’t get sloppy with your work. Don’t forget who brought you to the dance. This means always remember who helped you get to where you are now. How can we show employers who we really are in an interview and on our resumes? Sit down and think about how you want to be seen by the employer. You can find a quiet place and answer these questions: What specific qualities do you want to exhibit? What do you stand for? If there was a motto that describes you and what you stand for, what would it be? How do you want others to feel in your presence? How do you want to approach problems, people, and opportunities? How do you want to be remembered? Thanks, Andrea! Want more inspiring interviews with career experts, check out Anna’s Get Ahead Club at thegetaheadclub.com.