Getting the Job You Want, at the Salary you Want
This article first appeared on LinkedIn.
(1) KNOW THE EXACT JOB YOU WANT
Listen, I hate to break it to you, but people are not that creative. If you’re not clear on the job you want, nobody else will be clear on it either. You have to know the exact job and specifically ask for it (title and all). This is especially true if you’re looking to break into a new field or transfer your skills (I’ll write a post on transferable skills at some other point).
If you’re on the job market or unemployed, getting asked “What do you do?” is literally the worst, I know. But you have to take a breath and say something direct, like: “I’m on the job market and looking for a position at a creative studio as the head of HR.” Great, now people know how to help you.
When I’m interviewing folks, the first thing I want to know is whether the job they want is the job I’m offering. I don’t want anyone on my team to be settling, I want them to have exactly the job they want. That way, they’re satisfied and fulfilled and in a much better position to be productive. That’s fit, people.
(2) YOUR RESUME SHOULD BE A WORK OF ART
A well-designed, thoughtful resume matters. If it looks like a resume from the 90s, try again. Focus on specific accomplishments and metrics (duh). Be a perfectionist about your word choices and grammar. At the same time, be yourself, a little informality is nice sometimes. And no typos (don’t misspell “manger”). Leave your home address out of it, city and state is fine. And I will Google you eventually, so do me a favor and include your LinkedIn hyperlink on your resume.
Yes, I will look at the second page of your resume, but please make it worth it.
(3) GET TO KNOW YOURSELF A LITTLE
Before you start interviewing, do a little soul searching. What is your personal mission statement? Personal core values? What are you really good at? What are your triggers? What kinds of environments stifle you and which ones invigorate you? What was your worst job and what made it suck?
This is why this matters: your goal is to be authentic, genuine, and comfortable during your interview. Doing some self-work in advance helps with this. It also helps you ask real questions that will help you determine whether it’s truly a good fit (by the way, don’t be afraid to ask the recruiter what kinds of questions are typically asked during the in-person interview).
A word on being comfortable: don’t drink too much coffee or do anything else that puts you outside your regular vibe. You want to have a healthy amount of enthusiasm for the position, but you don’t want to overdo it either.
(4) FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING, KNOW YOUR SALARY REQUIREMENTS
When someone asks for your salary requirements, don’t provide a 40K salary range. When I hear ranges that big, I immediately assume you’re: (1) not currently earning in that range; (2) didn’t do your research; or (3) only interested in the job if it pays insanely well.
So, do your research and determine what compensation you truly need to be comfortable. Know your salary requirements within a 5K spread and now we’re talking.
And look, if your salary requirements are too high, the person asking will let you know. You can then consider whether you’ll take the job for less. It’s not ideal (I don’t like it when people take pay cuts) but it’s also not a deal breaker.
(5) COMPANIES AREN’T PERFECT EITHER
People aren’t perfect, so companies aren’t either. That’s why fit really matters.
It’s also why you shouldn’t make assumptions about a company. Just because a company presents well on the internet or has a high ranking on Glassdoor or whatever does not mean the company is issue-free. You have to remember that companies are typically self-aware of their issues and will screen for people who can thrive in their unique environments. Ultimately, we all want to see our people thrive.
Do not lose sight of your dream job. Being on the job market is a humbling experience for most, so expect lots of rejection, it’s normal. Maintain a growth mindset and see every interview as a chance to build your network, even if you don’t get the gig. Stay positive, no matter how impossible it feels.
And hey, have some fun with it… life’s an adventure after all :)
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