Does Your Personality Fit Your Career?

By Ryan Mack

 
I remember my second year in college, and about my third intended major change, my dad asked me if any of my advisers had given me a copy of the book, What Color is Your Parachute (a.k.a...the job-hunter's bible).
I remember thinking at the time how stupid that sounded. All I was interested in was finding a major that wasn't too difficult, didn't interrupt my "extracurricular" activities, and provided me with a good salary after graduation.

It wasn't until many years later - in one of many unhappy jobs - that I realized the value of the book. Sure, employability and salary potential are important in your career search - but even more so is finding a position that is a true fit for your passions, interest, and personality.
Choosing a career that is not a fit for your personality is likely to leave you feeling unhappy and apathetic. If you don't know yourself as well as you'd like to, there are a variety of personality assessment tests such as Myers-Briggs available to help you identify your personality type. Assessments like the Myers Briggs can help you to determine what careers are a good fit for your personality type. If you aren't into assessments and feel you have a good understanding of yourself already, resources like the U.S. News Best Careers guide offers six general types of people and the types of jobs most likely to suit them.
If you are like most job seekers, chances are you have already completed as much education as you would like to for the foreseeable future - and have already started down what you may feel is a path of no return.
Rest assured, this is not the case. If you feel like I did, and have been in one unhappy job after another, chances are your personality is not best suited for your current line of work. Much like the trend of multiple marriages, these days people are finding themselves with multiple careers.
Perhaps your interests have changed or you have had a family or your lifestyle has changed. Maybe even your personality has changed. Whatever the case, the following three steps can help you make a career change before landing in another position that drains your spirit and your desire to succeed.
1. Know thyself. Socrates said it best. If you want to find a career that is motivating, inspiring, and moves you to succeed, you have to know what careers are best for your personality, personal life, and talents. Using resources such as What Color is Your Parachute or an online app can help you determine where to start your search.
2. Research, research, research. Once you have a better idea of your options, you can begin to research those that may actually be a fit. Chances are, greater than not, your career change will require additional education, experience, or training. Be sure you have a firm understanding of your potential profession and whether it is projected to grow. The Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good tool for anticipated earnings, job details, and employment outlook.
3. Gradual or radical. Once you've determined what careers are a better fit for you, plan your approach. Because some careers may require additional education, training or certifications, you may need to make a more gradual approach finding a job where you can gain relevant experience while pursuing the required education. A more radical, but safe approach may be to find opportunities with your current employer to change your career trajectory. Either way, making a big career change for the betterment of yourself in the long run, is worth the time and effort.

10 Things Employers Discriminate Against -- But Don't Tell You

There is one truth every job seeker must understand: Hiring IS discrimination.

With so many potential candidates applying to jobs these days, hiring managers have become very picky. The overwhelming selection forces them to look for ways to screen out applicants and narrow the choices.

Here are 10 things that could cause you to be discriminated against without you even suspecting. Hiring managers will never tell you that:

1. Your interview attire is a turn-off (too flashy, outdated, sexy, ugly).
2. Your physical appearance is unattractive (sloppy, severe, depressing, uncomfortable).
3. Your eye contact is suspect (you look away, blink too much, have shifty eyes).
4. Your handshake is uncomfortable (too weak, too strong, clammy).
5. You have word tics (you say ah/um too much, you use the word 'like' excessively).
6. Your communication style isn't a match (you speak too fast, too slow, too loud, too soft).
7. You come off wrong (use too many complex words, sound cocky, appear unintelligent, shy, confused, lazy).
8. Your body language sends the wrong message (giggle/fidget/act awkward/have facial tics/lack expression).
9. You don't seem really interested in the company and job (lack sincerity/self-confidence/clarity/conviction).
10. You don't send the right professional vibe (don't "click" with the hiring manager even though they can't figure out why).

If the list above sounds petty and ridiculous that's because it is. And yet it's reality. As mentioned earlier, hiring IS discrimination. So, pounding your fists and saying, "This is who I am, deal with me," isn't going to get you very far.

What can you do to fight back?

Before you go on an interview, research a company extensively to learn as much as you can about the kind of people that best fit its organization. Some things you can do include:

Read the bios of the management team.

Look for pictures of staff members and pay attention to their style of clothing.

Check out the social media profiles of people working there to get a sense of their personal/professional style.

Try to set up an informational interview with someone who works there to learn as much as you can about what the company looks for in a candidate.

Study the corporate website and pay attention to the design and what they chose to promote about themselves.

Landing a job means getting the hiring manager to see you as the best match for their team. This means paying attention to the way you are coming across in the interview. The more likable you are, the better your chances of getting an offer. It's up to you to make the hiring manager see you in the right light.

11 Questions To Ask Before Accepting A Job Offer

By Anthony Balderrama



By now, job seekers hopefully know the two cardinal rules of interview questions:

1. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, you better have something to ask.

2. You should walk into the interview room prepared to answer the classic questions, such as, "What is your biggest weakness?" or "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

But there's an often overlooked rule that you should remember for your own good:

3. You should be asking important questions at every step of the hiring process -- from the first time you speak to the hiring manager to the last conversation you have with him.

Have a list of questions ready before you start. You don't need to ask these questions to look good to the employer; you need to ask them to learn about the employer. You are interviewing employers just as much as they're interviewing you.


Here are 11 questions you should be asking employers throughout the interview process:

When you receive the first call before the in-person interview:

1. Whom will I be interviewing with?

The best way to adequately prepare for an interview is to know whom you'll be speaking with. You'll likely have different questions for the hiring manager than you would for the entire team or the department head. You'll also want to do some research on the interviewers so that you can ask them personalized, insightful questions.

Plus, if the employer can't give you specific names, you have to wonder if they're taking the situation seriously and are even a legitimate business. For all you know, you could end up in a room with 30 other applicants on the receiving end of a sales pitch. If a serious employer calls you for an interview, they'll already have interviewers lined up and should have no problem sharing their names.


2. Does the opportunity involve commission sales or purchase of a sales kit?

If you get a call out of the blue for a position you never expressed interest in, you have a right to be skeptical. If the position sounds confusing, or their description is too vague, dig deeper. If you get the feeling the position requires you to purchase a sales kit or there is no base salary, and you're not interested in that type of role, ask them up front. A reputable employer will answer directly and trust that you'll know if the position is right for you.


3. Can you tell me more about the opportunity and why you think my qualifications are a good fit?

You've spent a lot of time customizing your resume so that employers know you're serious about their specific role. You used keywords and quantified results to prove your worth. If employers can't pinpoint what attracted them to you, then they're probably not looking for a great worker to help grow with the role. They're looking for anyone who will accept the offer and won't hesitate to make a replacement if it doesn't work out.

During the interview:

4. What are your short- and long-term goals for the position?

Employers will probably ask about your career goals, but you should ask them what they want the person in this position to achieve. Are they concerned with increasing revenue, visibility, leads, improving morale, or any number of other things? You want to know that they have a purpose for this position and aren't just looking for a temporary solution.


5. Can you tell me why the last person left this role?

They might not tell you, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If the person got promoted or even took a better job elsewhere, that's a sign that the position is a good way to advance a career.


6. Who are the primary people I'll be working with on a daily basis?

Where does this role fit in the overall structure of the team and even the business? Will you get face time with people who can help your career? Will you spend most of your days in silence, typing on a computer? All that matters is that you receive an answer that appeals to you.


7. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the person taking this role?

No position is perfect. In fact, some roles are created to address a problem that needs to be solved. That could very well be what attracted you to the job. An honest employer will tell you what struggles lie ahead. That's your opportunity to turn the answer around as a challenge you're happy to accept and present some ideas of how you would tackle the obstacles. If the employer makes it sound too good to be true, it probably is.


8. Do you have any doubts about my fit for the position? I'd be glad to clear anything up for you.

Not all interviewers ask direct questions or are even very good at interviewing, so you might have to prompt them to tell you what their concerns are. Now is the only chance you have to clarify anything, so make sure you leave no question unanswered.


9. What is the timeline for filling the position?

You deserve to know when a decision might be made and what the next steps are. Hiring managers have a ballpark idea of how long the interviewing process will take, whether candidates will have to come back for another interview, and when a decision will be made. It might not be exact, but at least you have an idea of what to expect.

After the interview:

10. Have you made a decision? (If the given deadline has passed.)

If the hiring manager says it will be a week before you hear back, wait an extra day or two (or even three). Then follow up to see if a decision has been made. Don't pester her and don't show up at the office - that won't win you any points. A quick email to ask how the process is going is enough.

11. Do you have any recommendations for how I could improve my interviewing skills?

If you don't get the position, you'll be disappointed, but use it as an opportunity to improve your interviewing skills. Some employers won't give you tips, but others might give you feedback that will help you on the next interview.