5 Job Hunting Learnings

I had double cheese burger for dinner. That means a double-the-fun yet double-the-cholesterol meal. Weirdly, every time I eat one, the urge to write comes as a divine force. Divinity, for me, is all about accepting something you don’t really expect at all. It is something that you know you don’t deserve but accepts it anyway because you feel it gives a burden on your name. I pull my inspiration to write from this elysian force so that all my brains would work. Amen to you, dear cheeseburger. Anyway, I already have a job–but I won’t talk about it here because I believe that this matter deserves a separate entry. What I want to write about is a crystallization of all the learnings I imbibed during the painfully long process of job hunting.

1. Treat yourself as a brand. I read a management-related article about Lady Gaga (LG) and how she (he?) endured the rocky climb to popularity. In the lens of brand management, LG could be the epitome of effective icons and brands. She has a weird name but it’s so remember-able that it has penetrated every nation’s lingua franca. She might be a conglomeration of different pop icons but she was able to define herself uniquely and was able to prevent the explosion of the notion that she’s just a derivative. Lastly, she maintains a pool of loyal supporters and makes sure that they’re regularly engaged. Every time I have a job interview, I need to make sure that the employer will pick me among the different competitor brands. Don’t be a generic brand. And don’t be a branded commodity without strategic personal marketing. You are free to put any price on your tag–but make sure you’ll be worth the employer’s money. There are still many marketing strategies out there. I suggest you read some of them and contextualize them to your job hunter persona. Sooner or later, you’ll be selling like hot pancakes. With maple sauce and bacon on the side.
   

   Wear frogs, if necessary. | Photo from GlamourVanity.com

2. Don’t just be unique, stand out too. Many job hunters would boast about uniqueness as their personal asset. But hey, I think that’s pretty given. Employers would not really see that uniqueness factor in a one hour or less encounter. Or worse, they just won’t care or give a damn. Here’s what I do: I think how I can be unique then I think how I can stand out. Being outstanding is an explicit way of showcasing your unique abilities. On the other hand, being unique is an explicit way of telling someone that you’re different; telling people that you’re different does not make any sense until you answer the annoying question: “So what?”. Answering such question gives you the momentum to stand out.
3. Break the rules. A job opening is very noisy especially on the “qualifications” part. You read the job description and it wows you like it gives you the feeling that such job is your calling. Endorphins overflow until you start reading the qualifications. Female. 25-30 years old. Strictly honor students from reputable schools. If you feel that it’s your dream job, just go and click that Big Blue Apply Button. You have a pair of balls and a phallus. You are 21 years old. Your GPA is one inch short from the the Latin Honors list. Who cares? I had at least 3 interview appointments that, in principle, I shouldn’t had if the qualifications were Nazi strict. One of my friends just got a position even though he fell short on one of the post’s requirements. Go ahead, be Spartan (or Persian) brave.
4. Share your story and hear their stories. I don’t know if it’s just me–but I always tell my job hunting adventures to my close friends and invest some time in hearing their versions. The discourse during those conversations would not just boost your confidence in reaching for that job but, more importantly, will also give you the idea that you’re not alone. You are all in this together, and it shows when you stand hand in hand, you can make your dreams come true. What an inspirational song. Lastly, it gives you The Pressure. All of your friends just got a job. What are you doing, sir?
5. Intimidation is natural but transform it into a positive vibe. There’s an inside joke in my circle of friends–only people from this school and from this degree program can penetrate the walls of this venerated company. I believe that such inside joke replicates itself into other cliques as well. Mga Anak ng Diyos lang ang tinatanggap dyan! is a funny yet almost true statement I can read in some online message boards. Recently, I got into the last stage of an employment process wherein the shortlisted applicants have one thing in common: They came from this school. As a UP graduate, I know I have the guts to bring out my ninjuh swords and exhibit my ninjuh moves but I can’t help but to feel intimidated. You know what, intimidation urged me to take more confidence pills and to step up a notch higher so that I can steal the limelight. Intimidation will make or break you–just those two things. Of course, you have to take the good option. You guessed it right, eventually, I got the job. *poses like a ninjuh* On a different note, your fellow applicants, more probably, are also intimated by your presence. C’mon, intimidate them a la Art of War. Of course, I still promote a cheerful and friendly atmosphere between applicants.

Two months worth of job hunting is really a tiring process but it’s still a learning experience after all. I know that I’m already giving a cliche ender to this entry but it is so true I can’t help but to spill it without being afraid of banality haters. These five things are just the major ones but I can still think of many derivative or corollary learnings. Of course, these things worked at least to me though I believe that they can be generalized in the right context. I suggest that you transform these things into your own by considering your values and personal schemata. The world is yours to conquer, Mr. Job Seeker. And, oh, don’t forget to bring your cheeseburger–you need its divine powers every now and then.