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Simple Ways To Utilize Critical Thinking In Your Job Search

Simple Ways To Utilize Critical Thinking In Your Job Search by Mark Anthony Dyson

People want results by doing what’s easy for the least amount of money or time. It’s true with clothes, fitness, and job search. It takes critical thinking to successfully job search when you’re scaling your career for more money and satisfaction. It’s going to cost you strategy and effort at the beginning. It’s costly, but it’s essential.

Below is the episode with Bethany Wallace from earlier this year as we discussed principles of critical thinking, but I want to summarize and add to what was said.

1. Put yourself in the shoes of hiring managers.

Researching the company is critical, and so is knowing what you can about the team you’ll be working with and the people you’ll interact with during the interview process. Know if and how you’ll be a fit on the team.

What does this look like? Find out what skills are critical for the position. Most students find out adaptation and perpetual learning are key. Know the professional organizations they participate in, the team goals and values, and how they work. When you research the hiring manager, find out what success is and their criteria for rewarding performance, if any.

2. Approach the job search with the mindset of a consultant

Consultants target problems and bring an array of strategies to solve them. They are looking at the cause of problems, how it’s affecting performance and results, and finding long-term solutions to save the company money and time while increasing production. With a consultant mindset, you will ask specific questions to drill down to the root of issues.

What does this look like? Use LinkedIn to find the last employee who held the position. After a 10-minute discussion about the position and its challenges, ask if there are other people you can talk to who work for the department or as an internal partner. If an employee refers you, ask them about their experiences.

I wrote about the consultant mindset several times here and here. I highly recommend reading them to get started.

3. Position problem-solving as a case study

More employers are testing candidates on how they think. You must be ready to either document or verbally present you’re abilities to problem solve.

What does this look like? When presented with a scenario, you’ll need to show your knowledge of the problem, the possible problems you will confront, and how you’ll solve the problem. The employer may look for your summary of why your proposed solution works. It may be a short-term solution, but you must know why. The answer might not be right, but it shows your critical thinking.

We learn so much from thinking out loud with people who had the experience of doing it so well. You can pay a coach for it or people you know who can help you with thoughtful strategies. It’s inexpensive to clarify what you want and where to do it. The only cost you pay is the time.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

This Is Why Your Spouse Is A Great Career Advisor

This Is Why Your Spouse Is a Great Career Advisor by Mark Anthony Dyson

Many of us would love to work with our spouse in some way shape or form. Not me.

She is so honest with me that it hurts, and I am not one to crawl in pain all day long. Having said that, she has offered some of the best career advice. She said I should start a business. She surveyed her family and came up with a name before purposing the idea. I have not looked back since, nor entertain any regrets.

She suggested I write a book. I am playing with the idea although I have an e-book and white papers for public consumption. I am already overthinking it. Maybe if I had a co-writer, but then again, I have trust issues.

Not all spouses have that gift, but I married my wife because of the painful honesty she is loaded with about me. I recommend it if your spouse is honest with you that you invite the truth. I mean, about everything, particularly you. It’s a risk, but it’s a win. Here are my five reasons why you should seek painful but honest career advice from your spouse:

1) After the pain comes the healing. Your spouse is honest enough to tell you that you don’t have what it takes to be a great poet. And even if you were, would it pay the bills? What if you asked others and were told the same thing? Then probably, you’re thankful that the conversation took place.

2) Your spouse can encourage you like no one else. He or she knows what motivation buttons to push. Who doesn’t need someone remembering your strengths?

3) His or her critiques are often open doors to fix relationship issues. Sometimes our spouses critiques are double-edged swords. You asked for his or her opinion, but this particular time it had a ZING to it. Is this an opportunity to look a little deeper to see how deep the issue relates to home?

4) The advice is to protect you from yourself. Areas that used to be your strengths are no longer as valuable, and your spouse indicates that you should move on. On the contrary, the advice may mean, “Win.” she says. “Go win!”

5) Your spouses vision may be bigger, brighter, and bodacious than yours. How encouraging and strengthening is that? When you think supervisor, he thinks executive vice president? You may have to analyze if that is realistic or not, but the point is this is your spouses vision of you.

When you ask for help from your spouse, it is likely you’ll receive reality. At least you can start there. It’s a good thing they can crush you like no one else if their advice stems from love.

Would you trust your spouses’ career advice? Why or why not? Let me know what you think in the comments.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

How To Really Stop Underemployment From Stealing Your Soul

How To Really Stop Underemployment From Stealing Your Soul by Mark Anthony Dyson

Underemployment sucks in a few ways. As family and friends remind you the gratefulness you ought to have a job, you feel enslaved. Sometimes, it’s torture. Other times, it’s depressing. There is no shortlist for the range of emotions you feel from day-to-day. It’s frustrating, hurtful, and downright depressing.

You used to laugh, find fun in doing extra work and fostered meaningful relationships. Now you feel like an outsider. Perhaps your peers moved up or moved on, and you’re here.

Did you take this position as a bridge job? Did it have the schedule for you to be home more with your family? Did it provide some insight into future career goals? Whatever your reason you are over it now, aren’t you?

Most of you just know you need to move on. Perhaps you can’t identify what it is you feel or why? I got you.

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Here are three signs you’re underemployed and what you can do to ease the pain:

Any bit of enthusiasm for this job has dissipated

Depressed? Maybe not, but you are not happy and finding fault and shortcomings in the real things. If people are initiating lunches, casual conversations, and after work sets less could be a sign of your lack of positivity.

TIP: Start being intentional in finding and speaking positively about people who have stood out accomplishments either business or personal. You don’t have to be the cheerleader, but try being the noticer. Not only it could change your outlook on the job, but possibly bring you positive visibility.

It is as stressful as anticipated divorce

You want to leave now, but the job search is slow for your desired industry. You have bills to pay, and it’s tough to make it through the day. Some days you just want to quit. What’s worse– you can care less about what anyone associated with that job thinks about you.

TIP: Leave work at work. Leave the problems at work. Don’t try to overcompensate for uncompleted work not done during regular hours unless you’ve committed it to a deadline.

You’re always thinking of ways to escape

You can’t stop checking the schedule daily published a month ago. Are you thinking of ways and reasons to call off? It’s stress. It’s boredom. You have the “Cheshire Grin” just like the cat from Alice and Wonderland. You call off of work with no regard for the consequences.

TIP: Time off has its proper place, but it tips off your employer you’re unhappy and looking for a job. Even worse, you are unavailable for critical assignments and projects. In most cases, you want to leave on your terms.

Are you a loyalist to everything including friends, relatives, former girlfriends/boyfriends, former teachers, and neighbors. With employers in 2017, you can’t be sentimental.

It’s time to start looking for a meaning transition to a fulfilling career. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.

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And believe me, you’ll set yourself up for a lifetime full of regrets.