My hope for you is that you’re enjoying summertime and putting job stress on the backburner. But just in case, I’m here to help!
In this month’s newsletter, how to know if you’re in a dead-end job (and what to do), how to answer a common interview question that tends to stump people, and some very quick advice about cover letters you can act on immediately. Read on.
Think You’re in a Dead-End Job? Think Again.
Are you in a dead end job? I can definitely help you get a new one. But in the meantime, there might be more you could do to get something valuable out of your current role.
For instance, are there training or development opportunities you haven’t taken advantage of that could serve your career in the long run? Are there soft skills you could be honing in your day to day? Think about things like communication skills, empathy and negotiation skills.
Even if there’s no advancement potential for you now, is there perhaps an opportunity to gain a mentor who can help you prepare for the next step in your career?
Most jobs have something to offer, if you’re willing to take it. And when you can’t take it anymore, call me.
How to Answer This Common Interview Question
There are certain questions hiring managers will ask that we call “behavioral questions.” These are the ones designed to suss out how you might act and react on the job.
They might sound something like this:
“Tell me about a time you resolved conflict at work.”
“How do you handle it when you miss a deadline?”
The tricky thing about behavioral questions is they are unpredictable — which makes them harder to prep for. The best way to prep, in my experience as a Executive Recruiter, is to
practice “thinking on your feet” by googling “common behavioral interview questions” and talking yourself through answers out loud.
Once you’ve learned HOW to answer these kinds of questions, you’ll be able to handle them in an ad hoc way in an actual interview.
This Month’s Recommended Reading
On Harvard Business Review: What’s Your Listening Style?
On The Next Web: 4 websites to help you create a clean, attractive resume
Very Quick Advice About Cover Letters
Real quick — because I know you don’t want to read an entire article about how to write a cover letter — here is a checklist of how to approach a cover letter that will actually get read all the way through:
✅ Address it to a real person whenever possible
✅ Start right off the bat with an attention-getting line that immediately connects you to the role
✅ Remark on something you love about the company or, even better, the role — which means doing your research
✅ Most important, explain succinctly and convincingly why you are the one and only right person for this job
Another piece of advice I have for job seekers? Consult with a recruiter like those of us at Johnson Recruiting Group — and you might not even have to write the cover letter in the first place!
Until next month…
James Johnson
Johnson Recruiting Group