The Voice of Job Seekers

Mark Anthony Dyson ★ Career Writer ★ Speaker ★ Thinker ★ Award-winning Blog & Podcast! ★ "The Job Scam Report" on Substack! ★ I hack and reimagine the modern job search!

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by Nissar Ahamed

9 Proven Tips to Prepare for Future Job Interviews

9 Proven Tips to Prepare for Future Job Interviews

The Voice of Job Seekers – Unemployed, Underemployed, Unappreciated Job Seekers Welcomed!

You did it!!

A recruiter has seen your resume and has scheduled an interview with the Hiring Manager.

For the past few days & even weeks – you have spent tons of time & effort to prepare that eye-catching cover letter and resume. You even connected with your old college mate to introduce you to the right recruiter in the company.

So far, you have done all the right things. And you have successfully managed to get that Job Interview. Congratulations!!

It’s not easy to get an interview. According to Workopolis, only 2% of the candidates get interviews. You have beaten hundreds of other applicants who wants that same job. And yet, you are the chosen one. I am sure you are beaming with pride and happiness. You nailed it.

However, this is the part where most candidates miss the mark.

I am sure you have heard the phrases such as “First Impressions Matter” or “You only get one chance to make a good first impression.”

And yet –

job interviews are where most candidates screw up

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.

And this is frustrating for both the candidate and the hiring manager.

I have been on both sides of the table. I have interviewed candidates on behalf of clients. I have also interviewed candidates to work in my company.

You would be surprised by how many candidates prepare. From first-hand experience, I would say only 2 out of 10 prepare for an interview.

Every time I see a candidate who comes in thoroughly prepared, I just want to jump across the table and hug him/her. However, this is rare.

OK!! Enough about the problem. What is the solution?

What can you do? How can you nail that interview? How can you make a lasting impression with the Hiring Manager?

It is an obviously simple thing. It’s called Preparation.

I know you were looking for the magic pill. I am sorry I can’t give you one. There is only one way. And that is to prepare for the job interview.

Peak Performance coach and Self-Help Author Brian Tracy often quotes “Proper Prior Planning prevents poor performance”.

Preparation will help you stand out amongst other candidates.

However, I think the main benefit of preparing is that it will boost your confidence. Most people lack confidence because they lack information. The more knowledgeable you are and the more you prepare – the more confident you become and the more you increase your chances of success.

Here are some ideas that will help you prepare for your upcoming interview.

1. Prepare about YOURSELF

I know this sounds silly. Why would you want to prepare yourself? You already know enough about yourself.

Take a moment – a day or two before the interview to sit down and reflect.

Think on paper. Write down your past accomplishments.

What are some of the things you have accomplished in your career?

– Was it helping your company implement a complex ERP system?

– Was it introducing Agile Programming Methodology to the company?

– Was it saving $100000 to the Marketing Budget?

– Was it opening a brand new Branch in a new city?

The more you self-reflect on your past accomplishments on what you have done – the more positive you feel

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. And that boosts your confidence. And confidence will shine through in your job interview.

Anytime, I have done this – I get very excited. Instead of feeling nervous about a job interview (which is natural), I am excited to go and share my story. I am enthusiastic about the interview.

Try this today. I guarantee you will change your mental and emotional state.

2. Know your RESUME

Review your resume in detail. Go over it with a fine-tooth comb. This might be a very good time to check for any errors.

If you have customized your resume for that particular job, then make sure you know your resume inside and out.

Since most hiring managers will use your resume as a guide during the actual interview – you don’t want to appear clueless when they ask you a question.

In almost all the interviews I have attended – in each & every case, the hiring manager had a copy of my resume. And they asked me multiple questions all from my resume.

In one case, I had accidentally sent the wrong resume. Oops!!

Luckily I had a few copies of my updated resume, and I shared that with them. I was able to save a disastrous situation.

Know all the details in your resume. Know the numbers, the results, and what you exactly did for each role. And sometimes, it’s not enough just to know the figures.

But also some detailed situations and stories….

3. Prepare STORIES

Whether they ask standard interview questions or not (more about this in a bit) – in most cases, hiring managers will ask you situational questions.

Hiring managers will ask you questions about your previous experiences. This helps them to gauge your thought process, work ethic, team working skills, etc. They want to know how you react in a particular situation.

This is where stories come in handy.

I suggest a simple framework when I am asked situational questions. I discuss my stories is this format

a) What happened?

b) What did I do?

c) What was the result?

State the situation and keep it brief. For example “We were being downsized, and I had to take on extra projects”.

Then spend most of the time on the What did I do part. Give them details. Tell them how you improved your productivity in spite of additional work responsibilities. What are some of the things you did? What did you have to learn? What did you have to sacrifice?,etc.etc.

And finally but most importantly, offer concrete results because of YOUR actions.

– Did your previous boss improve productivity in his team? If so, how much?

– Did your previous employer save lots of money because of your efforts? If so, how much.

– Did your new branch exceed sales results? If so, how much?

Your stories should be crafted in such a way that it makes the Hiring Manager wanting to know more. They should be excited to hear more.

A keyword of caution – don’t embellish or exaggerate or outright lie. I never recommend that. Most Hiring Managers can see through the B.S. Keep it real.

If you have done your homework as in step 1 (Prepare about YOURSELF), you should be able to come up with great stories to share.

4. Prepare your PORTFOLIO.

I strongly recommend you prepare a Portfolio before walking into any interview.

The goal here is to walk into an interview with lots of ammunition. I always recommend that you use a 3 or 4 part binder (you can obtain one from Staples).

I have personally used these folders, and most Hiring Managers were impressed that I went the extra mile. In some cases, we spent the first few minutes of the interview just talking about the Portfolio.

In each binder, insert your resume, cover letter, testimonials, recommendations, and other supporting documents.

Remember, you are selling yourself in an interview. And the more polished, professional and thoughtful you look – the better impression you make.

This is also an effective psychological hack. Usually, the Hiring Managers are ready to start grilling you as soon as you walk into the interview room. They either have a list of questions to ask or a framework to follow. When you walk in and hand them a physical object (your portfolio), it breaks their pattern. They are instinctively curious, and they want to know more. Besides, you have immediately differentiated yourself from your competition.

And make sure to bring 3 to 4 copies of each. I implore you to do this. I have walked into situations where their photocopier was not working, and they did not have a resume to interviewing me. Luckily, I had a few copies – which I handed to them, and the interview went smoothly.

In one case, I was attending a 5-part interview series (meaning I had to meet five people separately over the course of few months). It was a frustrating process. I met one of the hiring managers. As he was walking me out, he noticed that the other Hiring Manager was also in the office and was free. He immediately scheduled me for a meeting with the other manager. As I had my portfolio with me, I was able to begin the interview right away. This saves me another trip to their office. It also showed them that I was very diligent and well-prepared.

5. Prepare STANDARD INTERVIEW questions

Today, many companies don’t ask the standard interview questions anymore. However, don’t take any chances. If you have never met them before, don’t make any assumptions on the type of questions they might ask.

It is always a good idea to prepare your answers for the standard interview questions.

Prepare responses to the standard interview questions, such as:

1. Tell me a bit about yourself

2. What are your strengths?

3. What are your weaknesses?

4. Where do you want to be five years from now?

I know they are lame. And I hate them too. I know they are not personable questions.

However, as mentioned before, you only have one chance to nail that interview. So go in well-prepared.

And remember, always to personalize the answers. For each of the above standard interview questions – you can easily find canned responses on the internet. Don’t take the easy path. Spend some time preparing these questions in your words, and your experience.

6. Prepare for their INDUSTRY

You might be brand spanking new to the industry that you are applying for. But that does not mean you have to go to an interview clueless.

Stay abreast. Spend some time researching the industry.

For example, you are being interviewed for a Junior Engineer position for an Automobile manufacturer. Learn about the top 5 trends in the industry. It might be self-driving cars, electric cars, government subsidies for clean energy, etc.

A simple search on Google News will yield you lots of information on your prospective industry.

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Yes, of course, this will make you come across as smart and a knowledgeable candidate. That’s the end benefit.

However, the most important benefit is that you are doing this for yourself. The more you research a particular industry, the more excited you become. The more excited you become – the more you want to build a career in that industry.

Most hiring managers are looking for candidates who are in for the long haul. They want to see excitement and enthusiasm in the candidates. If you don’t prepare for what’s happening in the industry- they will automatically assume that you are there just to get any job. And as a result, will not take you seriously.

For example, a few years ago I wanted to work for a major software company. I was invited for an in-person interview. I spent days researching and learning almost everything about the industry. The more I learned, the more I wanted to work in the Software Industry. My heart was set on getting a job and staying in that industry for the long haul.

By the way, I did not get that particular job. However, I still work in that industry today, and I love it.

And guess what, whenever I have interviewed. My excitement and in-depth knowledge about the industry rubs off on the interviewer. And in most cases, they invite me for the next step.

7. Prepare about the COMPANY

This is extremely frustrating for Hiring Managers. Some candidates they meet who do not know anything about the company is baffling. It annoys them.

Learn about the company. Their story, what they create, who their customers are, who their competition is, and where they fit into the industry.

You can find all this information usually on their website. Today most companies have a Facebook Page and a YouTube Page. Watch their videos, news releases, etc… You will learn a lot.

This will also help you learn about the culture of the company.

People spend enormous amounts of time researching their next vacation. However, they spend minimal amounts of time learning about the company they might work for. On average, you will spend most of your waking hours working. Might as well, learn about the place you are going to be working for.

Here is a specific thing I recommend you learn about the company, and that is their Core Values. Most companies today share some values. For example, a commitment to excellence. Or a company that puts people first (example Virgin Group of companies), or a company that is Philanthropic (example Salesforce).

If you are meeting with an Executive or someone in Leadership function, make sure to bring this up during the interview. And you will see that they beam with pride when they talk about their core values.

Know in advance what that employer or company stands for.

Recently, we interviewed a candidate who was applying for a position in our team. We asked him a simple question “What do you know about us?”

He was scrambling to give us an answer. He told us that we had 20000 people (which was wrong). And he told us that we service and sell something that we never do.

And what do you think happened? Do you think he got the job? Exactly!!

8. Prepare about the HIRING MANAGER

Thanks to a Google Search, you can learn almost anything about anyone today.

LinkedIn is another great information source. Most professionals today are on LinkedIn (about 430 million+). Most LinkedIn users voluntarily share their work history, projects, and accomplishments. They tell us about where they worked, how long they are at the current job, etc.

During the interview, make sure you use the opportunity to ask them personal work-related questions (not their families or hobbies). When you ask them personal questions – it helps build a connection. And you can uncover a lot of things about the work culture by learning about why they are still there.

If the Hiring Manager says that she has been there for seven years and started off as a mailroom clerk, and today she is a VP. That tells you that she takes a lot of pride in working there. It also tells you that the company promotes on merit & loyalty.

If the Hiring Manager, says that he works there because of the people and how he looks forward to meeting his colleagues daily. That tells you that this company values people, and they are usually happy to work there.

At the end of the day, the Hiring Manager is also another human being. Yes, he/she is trying to fill a position, but they also have likes, dislikes, etc.

Build a connection.

9. Prepare QUESTIONS for them

Usually, at the end of the interview, you will be given an opportunity to ask questions.

When a candidate does not have any questions, it raises a RED flag!

For a Hiring Manager, it shows that the candidate either does not care enough about the job, or the candidate will accept any job.

Remember – a job interview is a two-way street. You are learning as much about the company as they are learning about you.

Don’t you want to know what the job entails? Don’t you want to know whether this is the place that you want to work at? Don’t you want to know what type of people work there?

Sometimes, candidates don’t ask questions because they are nervous. Or sometimes, they cannot think on the fly. Interviews are usually high-pressure situations, and sometimes our brain goes blank.

I recommend you go into the interview with a list of questions. Write them down on a piece of paper or your notebook.

Make the questions personalized, however, feel free to use the following questions as a guideline.

– Tell me what a day-to-day looks like for this role?

– What are your expectations of me in the first 30 days, 90 days, one year,etc.?

– What do you think is the impact to the company with the current changes in dot, dot, dot?

– What does the training program look like?

– What does your ideal candidate look like?

Asking such questions changes the dynamics of the interview. You are no longer in the hot seat. The Hiring Manager is forced to answer these questions.It shows to them that you are diligent, and you want to learn as much as possible about the role. And trust me, it does help you stand out!!

There you go – now you have the framework to prepare for your next job interview. As mentioned multiple times in the article, you only have one shot. So make it count.

When you follow some of these tips, I guarantee that your stress levels & nervousness will be reduced. You will stand out amongst the other final candidates. You will go into the interview more confident. You will make a lasting impression. And you will be ready to answer any questions that come your way.

What are some other things that you do to prepare for a job interview?

About Nissar Ahamed

Nissar Ahamed is an accomplished Growth Hacker with extensive experience working as a Blogger, Content Creator and Editor. He is the Founder and Editor of the Award-winning Career Blog,CareerMetis. The Blog has a community focused approach to career discussion and has earnt Nissar great respect amongst his peers.

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Filed Under: Interview, Job Tagged With: Interview, interview advice

by Nissar Ahamed

Losing Your Job Sucks– 8 Steps to Secure Your Next Job

UnemployedMarch.jpg

Losing your job is never easy. No matter what stage of your career or life you are in – it always hurts.

It hurts emotionally, financially and psychologically. A job loss situation is often followed by confusion, frustration, pain, etc. And it is human to have these unproductive negative emotions. We have all been there and have felt these emotions.

But how you react to your job loss is more important.

In this post, I will share specific ideas and strategies that you can use to recover from a job loss quickly; and secure your next job.

Disclaimer – it might be helpful for you to know that I have used these strategies not once, but couple of times in my life. And they have helped me secure new jobs in a short time (even recently).

So, let’s get started.

  1. Get it off your chest

This is the first thing you need to do if you lose your job. This is a must. This is the first time and the only time ever, I recommend people to complain.

It is important that you don’t react right away by calling all the recruiters in your network and sharing your job loss story. If you mention to them that “I have been fired or laid off, and I need a job, help me” – they will sense your fear, desperation. And trust me – they might never call you back. This will only hurt your chances.

The first few hours or even the first few days – don’t think of a new job or starting your job search process.

Inform your family, your closest friends. Share with only these people about what happened to you, and get it out of your system.

Most people who like and respect you will be more than happy to listen to you. They will lend you their ears and also empathize with you. Take advantage of this. Just vent and vent and vent –unless you get it out of the system. You will be glad to know that, even in this difficult time – there are people out there who encourage you and believe in you.

For some, they just need to vent for a few hours. For others, it takes a few days.

A word of caution – don’t stretch this phase too long. Trust me, venting and complaining can become addictive. And if you do this too much and for too long – the same people who lent you their ears – won’t anymore. Nobody wants to be around Debbie Downer for too long – not even your family and friends.

So keep this step short and quick.

Oh, and one more thing – do not vent on social media. Because what goes on Facebook or Twitter stays there for a very long time. Make sure you are only sharing this information with closest friends and family.

2. Chill and Reflect

You have been given an opportunity to get a downtime. When you are working full-time, you are always running non-stop on your daily tasks – making calls, writing code, client meetings, projects, deadlines, etc. And we get so caught up in doing stuff, that we don’t usually get time to really chill. And thanks to technology even during weekends and holidays- we are somehow still working.

So this downtime after your job loss is a perfect opportunity to unwind. Cherish it, enjoy it.

Go for a walk, go for a long drive, read some fiction, catch up on your favourite shows, go for a movie, take your family out, meet up with friends.

Make sure you are spending more time outside your house rather than indoors.

You will get a lot of personal insights during this process. When your mind is calm, you will make better decisions.

During this time of introspection ask yourself the following questions.

  • Should you look for another job?
  • Where do I want to work?
  • Do I start my own business?
  • How much should I ideally be earning?
  • What skills do I need to acquire?

Also, take this time to reflect on what went wrong, what can be improved, what you learnt, what is valuable about this experience.

If you have worked at your last job for 5 years – what did you learn on the job, what are some of the skills you have acquired, what are some of the key contacts you made.

The more questions you ask yourself at this time, the more clarity you obtain regarding the next phase of your career.

3. Fix your Mindset

So by now, you have a clearer idea on what you want to do next.

Before you start the process of applying for jobs – it is important for you to get into the right mindset. Your job search is 80% psychological and 20% strategy.

Here are some mindsets to accept & adapt

  1. Accept the fact that the job search will not be easy. Accept that you probably might get rejected. Accept that it might take longer than expected.
  2. Your potential employer is interested in what you can do for them rather than who you are as a person. They are interested in your contributions rather than your personality.
  3. Not everyone will be interested in you, and you will get rejections.
  4. You are valuable and companies need your skills.

In addition, a key mindset to adopt is that you are important. Often, a job loss can invoke self-doubt and you start devaluing yourself.

If you have worked for your last company for 5 years, then you had to be good, right? No company will keep someone on their payroll for a long time if the employee sucks. You have added value in the past, and you will add value in the future.

And this is why the reflection (2nd stage) above is important. Hopefully, by now you have figured out your strengths, aspirations, your value, your skillset. This will help you boost your confidence before you start the job search process.

If you are not convinced that you are a strong candidate and you have value to add to the marketplace – then you are too early, and you should not be applying for new jobs yet.

Please fix your mindset before you get into specific job search strategies.

4. Commit to the Process

We all know that job search isn’t easy. It is not fun. Many times it’s painful, you worry constantly and you will have self-doubt. It’s hard to stay 100% motivated when you have no income coming in. That’s why it is very important that you take the job search process seriously.

Yes, the job search is a process. It is a linear process. There are multiple steps, and you will have to go through each step before you obtain any type of a job offer.

It is imperative that you treat your job search as a full-time job. You are already past the chill, reflect relax stage. Now you have started the process, so please treat the process with respect and diligence.

When you are working full-time, you probably are in the office from 9am to 5pm.

Your new 9-5 job is to look for jobs. During business hours you will be researching companies, upgrading skills, preparing for interviews, applying for jobs, having conversations, etc.

If you start slacking off here – then it will lengthen the time it takes you to secure a job offer.

5. Get Your Ammunition Ready

You have taken care of the mindset and you have accepted the reality of the job search process.

Great!! Now, let’s look at specific strategies.

Create a brag file. Write down and if possible print your accomplishments and compile them. As you are collecting information for your brag file – you will start to feel more and more confident. Remember mindset (3rd Stage).

As you go through this process of creating a brag file – you will start feeling better. In some cases, you feel proud of what you have accomplished so far. We are driven by positive emotions as much as negative emotions. And it is crucial at this point, that you get yourself into a positive state throughout your job search process.

Create a target list of companies that you want to potentially work for. I recommend creating an excel spreadsheet. In the list, you should have the name of the companies, locations, key contacts (i.e. HR and Hiring Manager), etc.

In addition to this – make sure you update your LinkedIn Profile, your resume, your cover letter, etc. There are numerous resources on the web that will teach you how to create effective resumes and cover letters.

Contact your potential references upfront. Ask them for their permission to use their names during your job search process. And inform them, when you get to the final stages of your job search process –you are going to be counting on them for their help.

6. Tap into your Network

Reach out to your friends, colleagues (past and present) asking them for guidance and assistance. Connect with and reach out to recruiters in your circle – LinkedIn is a great resource for this.

In other words, tap into your network.

A lot has been said about the importance of networking and how you can shorten your job search process by using your existing network.

I would like to share a personal story on how I won a job offer in the past by tapping into my network.

A few years ago, I was going through some challenges with my then employer. I decided to chat with my network about my situation before starting my job search process.

I was having a conversation with a good friend. He was telling me that a Senior Recruiter had reached out to him 2 days ago. My friend at that time was not interested. He described to me what the recruiter was looking for. It seemed like a great fit for my qualifications and career aspirations. I shared my interest for the position.

The next day he connected me with the recruiter. The recruiter was impressed with my experience, and he recommended me to his client as a top candidate. He was very helpful in grooming me for the position. I went through the process with his client and ended up winning a job offer.

Had I not spoken to my network (my friend) – I perhaps would never have heard about this opportunity.

That’s why it is imperative you reach out to your network.

7. Start Applying for jobs

Most of the job offers I have won in my career- has been because I followed the traditional job search process i.e. applying on job boards.

There are lots of information & advice out there implying that traditional job search i.e. applying for jobs does not work.

I think that advice is nonsense.

Every day, companies spend hundreds of dollars on job sites such as indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. to look for candidates. If you visit these sites each day, there is an influx of opportunities out there.

And everyday people like you and me are winning job offers through the traditional job search process.

Full Disclaimer- the traditional job search is difficult and the odds are not in your favour, I would be the first person to say that, but that does not mean it does not work.

It works- trust me. It has for me, and others in my network.

However, you need a strategy.

This is where the Target list is important.

Visit the companies’ websites and search for openings. Most companies have this information on their careers page. Alternatively, search on LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor for these companies – and you will also see the list of advertised jobs.

Before you apply for any of these jobs find out who the Hiring Manager or Recruiting Manager is. This is not impossible to obtain, but might be difficult. In many cases, you will find out who they are. It is important that you customize your resume and cover letters to the role and the individual at the respective companies.

Track each job application on your spreadsheet. In your spreadsheet make sure you also add the URL of the job you applied for, and the date that you have applied.

A key thing, you might get a few call backs or interviews in the first few days. Don’t stop your job search process right away. Don’t get cocky or over-confident. Don’t get too comfortable.

Keep applying for jobs unless and until you receive a solid job offer in writing. Yes keep applying. I cannot stress this enough. Its human nature to rest on our laurels. And don’t make that mistake.

And once again – track everything.

8. Follow-up

In many cases, you won’t hear back from the jobs you have applied for.

Be prepared in advance for this. Remember Mindset (3rd Stage).

If you are not hearing back at all, then there’s a problem with your resume or cover letter. For example, you have applied to 50 jobs and got 0 interview requests– there is a problem. This is why it is crucial to track your applications. By tracking, you know how many jobs you have applied for, and how many interview requests you have received.

If you receive some calls, then your resume is definitely working. For example, you got 5 interview requests out of 50 applications- that is a decent outcome. Your strategy is working.

Please have realistic expectations –you will not hear back from all the 50 companies you have applied for. If you do, please contact me and tell me how – I want to learn from you.

A tested strategy that has worked for me is to send a follow-up email. I make it a point to send a follow-up email for all my applications.

In some cases, I have got a reply back right away asking for a screening call/ job interview.

In some cases, they reply back saying that I was not a good fit. Not a problem, at least I know the outcome of my application. And I can move on to other opportunities.

At the beginning of my sales career, I had sent follow up emails to two different job applications. One of them called me back the same day and scheduled an interview. The Hiring Manager told me that my follow up email was the reason he wanted to see me, I showed initiative and stood out from other candidates.

The other employer called me a day later and scheduled an interview.  I ended up getting both the job offers.  In the end, I picked the second employer, and I stayed at that company for 5 years. What might have happened had I not followed up?

Also, make it a point to follow up after each of your interviews or conversations with prospective employers. Send them a thank you note. If they met 5 candidates that day and you are the only one who followed up with a thank you email – then more brownie points for you.

If you are active on all your opportunities- there is a strong chance you might win more than one offer. And this puts you in a stronger negotiation position.

Very simple – the more jobs you apply for, the more call-backs you get, the more interviews you secure, the more you increase the odds of getting hired.

Case Study – Personal Story

I wanted to share a Personal Story, on how I used the above steps to win a new job within few weeks after losing my job.

Recently, I went through a job loss – I was laid off. The company I was working for downsized and shut down multiple offices across North America. In an instant, I went from happy at my job to being unemployed. I was shocked and confused. To be honest, it took me a few days to recover from the shock.

I took the first few days to tell all my closest friends and family about what happened. It was nice to get it off my chest. Many offered their condolences, some even gave me some advice, and some encouraged and motivated me.

I took a few more days to chill and reflect. It was still at the tail end of the summer. So, I enjoyed some long peaceful walks. I got plenty of time to reflect. I was able to figure out what I wanted and what I did not want in my future career. I decided on the type of company I wanted to work for, where I wanted it, and the potential compensation.

I created a brag file. I collected a few LinkedIn recommendations (I have written a post on how to get more LinkedIn recommendations). I lined up my potential references. All this significantly, boosted my confidence before I was ready to apply for jobs.

I created a spreadsheet/ Target List and started compiling a list of companies to pursue.

I created a brand new resume and a cover letter. I uploaded them to job sites such as Monster, Workopolis, Indeed, CareerBuilder, etc.

I started applying for each job on my target list one by one.

And then I went through the process with a few potential employers.

From the point, I was unemployed – it took me 5 weeks to win 3 job offers. In retrospect, I am very happy that I lost my job. I am able to start working on an exciting opportunity (much better than my previous job). I look forward to starting my new challenge.

Some Quick Stats

  • # of jobs applied 150
  • Rejected /Disqualified 23
  • 1st/ 2nd Stage Interviews 25
  • Final Stage Interviews 4
  • Job Offers Received 3
  • Job Offers Accepted 1

Yes, it was stressful and frustrating. And I still am yet to hear from close to 100 positions I had applied for.  Yet it does not matter.

The reason I shared my story is because I have used exactly the same strategies that I have recommended for you. I have practiced what I have preached.

It has worked for me recently, and I am pretty confident that it will work for your too – if you follow the process.

Lost your job? Not a problem, the best is yet to come.

Follow the process above and you will be successful in securing a new job.

All the best in your job search!!

About Nissar Ahamed

Nissar Ahamed is an accomplished Growth Hacker with extensive experience working as a Blogger, Content Creator and Editor. He is the Founder and Editor of the Award-winning Career Blog,CareerMetis. The Blog has a community focused approach to career discussion and has earnt Nissar great respect amongst his peers.

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Filed Under: Interview, Job Search Tagged With: Interviews, Job Search

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I moderated a panel on Wealth Management for executives by Black Enterprise Magazine in October 2023 in Miami.

I was interviewed on Scripps News show, “The Why!” 4/13/2023

I talked with John Tarnoff and Kerry Hannon of “The Second Act” podcast about job searching after 50 in October 2022.

I was on “The Career Confidante” podcast to talk about “boomerang employees” and “job fishing” in June 2022.

Making Job Search a Lifestyle With “Dr. Dawn Graham on Careers,” SiriusXM Ch. 132, Wharton School of Business May 2021

In May 2020, I talked with LinkedIn’s Senior News Editor Andrew Seaman on “#GetHired” Live.”

Beverly Jones, host of the NPR podcast “Jazzed About Work,” invited me back to talk job scams, job search trends, and AI tools in April 2024

WOUB Digital · Episode 183 : Job search expert Mark Dyson says beware of scams, know AI & keep learning

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