Mantra for the successful job hunter

Do you have a mantra? Do you have a famous quote or a simple saying that you replay in your mind when you have to deal with a certain situation? I have posted this question to people in all types of professions from managers to entry-level employees in every field from healthcare, retail and banking to education, business owners and entrepreneurs. I was impressed with the mostly positive mantras that were posed, but I was equally impressed with the lack of true motivation some people expressed with their intonations. Not all were negative, but some were neutral which did not give any kind of vibe of positivity.

Personally, when feeling overwhelmed or drowning in paperwork and responsibilities, I always say to myself, “I am not overwhelmed, I am resilient.” When I am faced with a challenge because of unforeseen circumstances that are the complete antithesis to what my goals are, I say to myself, “This is not a problem, this is a project.” A simple change in mindset can transform your nervousness into action and your stress into calmness and reassurance. Turning a negative thought into a positive action is much easier than you think. NY Times bestselling author and former Navy Seal Jocko Willink has a mantra in which he says, “Discipline equals freedom.” I considered adding this to my daily war cry not for stressful or negative situations, but to prevent any situation or stressor become an issue. So, although we have a saying that we like and we repeat it in our minds when we deal with a situation, perhaps resetting the framework or game plan of your day with a simple positive thought can make all of the difference in how you deal with any situation.

For a job seeker, career changer, or someone sitting across the table at a job interview, there is a certain self-control, self-reliance and self-restraint that you need and it all begins with discipline. Sure, there are lots of techniques that can dramatically increase your chances of landing your dream job, but I can assure you that this idea will have a profound effect on your goals and outcomes in all aspects of your life, especially on your job hunt and interviews.

For someone sitting down and starting to write a resume, google job listings, or dead calling for new opportunities, I always recommend that you begin the process with a mindset of discipline, where you put a game plan into motion by executing specific tasks and determined times for the maximum benefit. So write down or type out your immediate goals:

Game plan for the week

MONDAY

I will visit the company’s website to read about them to understand their values and wants.

I will network with at least 5 people that I know that work in this industry.

I will scroll through social media and engage the person who works for that company.

TUESDAY

I will reach out to at least 3 hiring managers.

WEDNESDAY

I will engage 5 more people through email and social media.

THURSDAY

I will follow up if I do not get a response.

FRIDAY

I will read through my notes, see my progress and limitations.

Come up with a new game plan on Monday with more focus.

(This is just an example and I am sure that you will do a lot more each and every day. You can use it as a guideline, if you like, but I recommend putting more kindling underneath the logs before you start the fire. If you are not doing more than you are not helping yourself.)

It all starts with setting specific goals, no matter how large or small they are. The discipline of this method involves keeping track of your steps. I recommend keeping a log, either in the form of a word document, a note reminder app or a good, old fashioned composition notebook. Keep track of the person you are trying to reach out to, their contact information and the date/time you attempted to involve yourself with them.

For an interview, having a game plan is as simple as reading a scripted and detailed question and answer formatted list of potential questions so that when the time comes to answer a question that is thrown at you, it will not be a surprise. You have to be able to interpret and respond to the interview questions with confidence. One mantra that you should never embrace is, “I will wing it,” or, “I will hope for the best.” If you are prepared with a solid picture of your accomplishments, your strengths and a positive spin on your weaknesses, you will have the freedom to answer any question with authority and ease no matter what is thrown at you and you will know exactly what to say.

The simple discipline of writing, studying and preparing for interview questions will provide you with a sense of freedom because you will feel calm, less pressured and you will never be caught off guard.

Having a structured and organized strategy will give you the relaxed confidence you will need, and from the point of view of the interviewer, it will dramatically increase your chances of impressing them.