The most important questions to ask yourself when youre looking for a job

The most important questions to ask yourself when youre looking for a job The Most Important Questions To Ask Yourself When Youre Looking For A JobPosted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun Perhaps youve been made redundant, or youre seeking to step up in your career, or youre returning to work after taking time off to raise kids. Whatever your reason for looking for work, there are several essential questions that you need to ask yourself. Steve Gunther, a consultant with specialty recruitment firm 2discover, says that its important to clarify these points in your own mind so that you are clear and targeted in your job search, rather than sending your resume out willy-nilly. You should also be prepared to answer these questions in an interview and if youre not asked them directly, make sure you find a way of working these points in. Articulating them will help to set you unbekannt from the pack. What is your motivation? Other than the obvious need to pay the bills, its important to ref lect a little deeper and ask yourself what really motivates you when it comes to work. What gets you out of bed in the morning and keeps you fired up? Is it working in a fun environment, creating systems, feeling that you are helping others, being creative or having autonomy? Being clear about your own motivation is the first step to finding yourself a great job that will keep you happy and fulfilled. What are your personal strengths? This question is often asked at interviews, but for many people its something they havent had to articulate before especially those who are a little out of interviewing practice. Dont just limit your thinking to your professional strengths. Perhaps you excel at motivating others or are a great multi-tasker, evidenced by your ability to juggle multiple projects at work while also being an avid runner who knits and participates in a book club. Make sure you let your interviewer know about all the great qualities you could bring to their organisation. Wh at are your points of differentiation? Reflecting on your strengths is important, but heres where it gets a bit more interesting. What actually sets you apart from others in the marketplace? What makes you unique and what can you offer that no one else can? How can you add value? If youre going for a job in IT, then presumably all your competitors will have similar qualifications and strengths when it comes to programming skills. However, maybe you also have exceptional writing skills which would be very attractive to a prospective employer. Or perhaps your particular forte is creating new systems and structures a skill that might come in very handy in organisations requiring someone to create order out of their chaos. Highlight qualities that are essential for the job youre applying for, but dont be afraid to mention characteristics and talents that may not be part of the job description it could be the added extras that you bring that set you apart and nab you the job. Think abo ut your accumulated experiences, both professional and personal, and use specific examples. Demonstrate your practical application rather than speaking in hypotheticals. Cite a solution to a problem that you came up with, and how that led to a positive outcome. What are you looking for? Remember, its not all about what the employer wants. Its just as important to think about what you are looking for in a job and in an employer, so that you enjoy going to work every day and are not always watching the clock, waiting for the day to end. Think about what industry youd like to work in, the size of the company youd like to work for, the kind of culture, and where youd like to be in five years. Its all about finding the right fit, from both your perspective and the employers. That way, everyones a winner. Prepare to ace your next job interview with these top tips ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInteres ted in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesquestions to ask in a job interviewaccounting interview questions and answersclinical nurse interview questions and answerspublic health nurse interview questions and answersgovernment courses for government jobs CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire angeschlossen Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineJosie ChunRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCAREER ADVICEMBAWhats An MBA?What is an MBA? 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