Most of the time, when you hear someone use the phrase ‘self-awareness’, it’s in connection with personal growth, and about how understanding yourself can help you improve. That’s true; but have you ever thought about how self-awareness can be a valuable job search tool as well? Think about it: there are lots of different jobs out there, but not all of them are going to be the right fit for you. Where do you start, and what is the best way to utilize your valuable job-seeking time and energy to ensure the best results? Understanding yourself, your skills, your work preferences, and your expectations is an important part of putting that puzzle together. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help increase self-awareness in your job search and improve long-term results:
Understanding the skills and experience you have to offer sets the tone for a productive job search in a number of ways. In addition to giving you a good idea of where to start your search and what kinds of jobs you are most likely to secure, having this information will help you better ‘sell’ yourself to potential employers on your resume and in interviews. Employers know that there is a big difference between saying you have certain skills and being able to put them into action, so when you can speak confidently and intelligently about your specific skills and abilities, it helps you stand out, and helps employers understand the valuable contributions you could make as part of the team.
The goal is not just to get hired; even more importantly, it is also to be successful wherever you go. So, it is imperative to think about the types of jobs and work environments that you are best suited for. Do you love customer service, but cringe at the thought of working in a call center environment again? Do you prefer working independently, or do you need the energy of a team environment to help you stay motivated throughout your workday? Often, knowing what you don’t want or what doesn’t work for you is just as important as knowing what does. Why? Because it helps you avoid unsatisfying jobs, prevent excessive job-hopping, and increases the likelihood that you will land somewhere you will thrive!
While it’s not productive to obsess over what other people think of you, it is important to be mindful of how you might come across to others in professional situations such as job interviews or networking events. This will help you modify your approach so you can keep things appropriate for the environment. For instance, if you are going to a networking event and you know that you are naturally a very close talker, keep in mind that physical boundaries vary from person to person, and standing too close to someone may make them feel uncomfortable. You can still be your authentic self – just recognize that some situations may require tempering certain tendencies back a little bit. Body language, word choice, personal presentation, and hygiene are some important factors to keep in mind when reflecting on how others may perceive you.
What are your expectations about job duties, schedules, and requirements? Are they realistic based on what you bring to the table and what is available in your location? Recognize that you may need to manage your expectations if there is a discrepancy between what you’re looking for, the experience and skills you can offer, and what is available within a reasonable travel distance. Otherwise, you may have a hard time securing employment. Distinguishing your must-haves from the nice-to-haves is a good place to start, as it will help you identify areas that you could potentially be more flexible in. For instance, if making more per hour is your number one non-negotiable, but a short commute doesn’t rank highly on your job search criteria, then it makes sense to extend your search radius (within reason) if local employers don’t offer what you’re looking for. Most jobs probably won’t check off ALL the items on your wish list – so you must prioritize your needs and compromise accordingly.
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I absolutely love the collision of creativity partnered with analytics. Being able to be creative in my job makes the work I do fun every single day, and being able to add power to the company with analytics gives me a feeling of adding a unique value to the team.
I like to say I didn’t choose staffing, it chose me. After years in call center sales, I took a job at a local online job board and immediately found my calling working with both employers and job seekers on the job advertising and application process. When my position was eliminated I immediately knew that Manpower was where I wanted to take my skills and passion, and hope that it is my forever home.
I often get asked if Manpower works with women. It is one of my favorite questions because it allows me to talk about our rich, vibrant, and forward-thinking history. We absolutely work with women, and Manpower has been around for so long that we were pioneers in women taking on professional careers.
I was a dietary aide at a nursing home. I have so many fun stories about the residents that still bring a smile to my face.
Cats, Dogs, or Reptiles?Well I can emphatically say NOT reptiles (they are actually something I fear). But I have a dog and a cat and I love them equally.
I grew up in Monmouth, Maine – a quaint small town set right between Lewiston and Augusta.
As a mom and a full-time professional, I love to eat anything I don’t have to cook. If I had to pick a favorite though… I would say Pinky D’s Food Truck – Poutine is life.
I go through spells of my love of cooking. I love when a new season comes and I can embrace things from BBQ to casseroles. If I had to choose a favorite though, I would say I love making the copycat Chipotle burrito bowl recipe I found online.
So many people. My son, because he has embraced who he is and makes no apologies, my daughter because she gives me hope for the future, my husband for his loyalty to his family, my mother for her patience in raising me, and my boss (I promise I am not trying to earn brownie points) but she is the most amazing business leader I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
I love movies that make you think and show people overcoming adversity and challenges. So I would say American History X and 8 Mile.
Not much of a reader of anything other than business books, but when it comes to fiction again I enjoy books that take you into other people’s lives and challenges – so my favorite would be A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Have you ever played a sport, adult league or back in school?I played soccer and softball growing up.
Pool
Spending time with my kiddos – there is nothing better! I also love photography, so everywhere I go I am taking pictures.
Either country or 90’s hip-hop – it depends on my mood.
Without question Melissa McCarthy – I love everything about her! I often joke about going from ‘hot-mess to hot-ticket’ and she shines in that kind of role.
Movies. Granted I don’t get much time for that with a little one around the house, so Bubble Guppies it is.
It doesn’t matter if you are applying to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company or an entry-level position at a small mom & pop diner, all hiring managers are looking for candidates that hold themselves personally accountable.
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Admit Your Mistakes EarlyYou will make your fair share of mistakes, it is human nature. The key to success is not hiding them, brushing them under the rug, or placing blame on others – it is quickly recognizing the error, fixing it if you can, or reaching out for assistance when necessary. |
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You Are In Control of Your ResponseWhether you are faced with a challenge, an unexpected change, or a conflict with a co-worker or boss, you are in control of how you respond. Personal accountability is about recognizing that you are in control of your actions, behavior, and attitude – then taking the next best step to move forward in a productive manner. |
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Make The Best of Every SituationTo thrive at work, you must recognize that the only constant is change. If you (or the company) is not changing, chances are you aren’t moving forward. By looking for positive opportunity in every situation, you are setting yourself up to be successful no matter what unexpected curveball is sent your way. |
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Own Your Work and AttitudeNo one likes to be micro-managed, and the truth is: most leaders don’t want to have to micro-manage their team. The best way to avoid that unfortunate scenario is to manage yourself by owning your work, your effort, and your attitude – before someone else has to. |
Click on the links below to access other tips we have shared throughout this series.
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Do you want to experience increased job satisfaction? Have you ever wanted to see your ideas implemented in the workforce or be given more autonomy? What about increasing you long-term earning potential and career longevity? If you answered yes to any of those questions, recognize you have more control over attaining your goals than you may think. The key lies in demonstrating a commitment to holding yourself personally accountable.
Here are 5 key ways to demonstrate that you are an employee that values and exudes personal accountability.
There are many things that happen within an organization that employees have little or no control over. Perhaps there was a shake-up in leadership, a machine broke down and impacted your work, or you work with someone that appears to have a lack of professional boundaries. Personal accountability is not taking responsibility for everything that happens around you, but instead recognizing that you control how you respond. It can be incredibly empowering and freeing to solely focus on the things within your control like your attitude, behavior, and how you choose to react to any situation.
One aspect of your work that you can most certainly control is the quality of what you produce. Whether you are counting widgets, budgeting the organizational finances, or designing snazzy graphics for social media – the work you produce and the effort you put into it is completely within your control. Paying attention to detail, avoiding distractions, and doing what you can to meet deadlines or production standards is a clear way to show that you value your work and hold yourself accountable for your results. Owning the quality of your work also means assuming the responsibility of bring any business-related challenges to the attention of someone who can help remedy them.
Showing up on time, avoiding extended breaks, setting and respecting professional boundaries, and focusing on the quality of the work and results produced is the foundation of managing your own performance. Few leaders want to have to have those difficult performance management conversations with their staff, and chances are the team member on the other side of that conversation would prefer to not have to have them either. Most managers would agree that the best way to avoid those uncomfortable meetings is for team members to embrace the ‘responsibility of freedom’ mentality by being someone who is capable of managing themselves. Self-management is also demonstrating that you respect the roles of other people and that you can effectively stay in your proverbial lane. Avoid criticising other people’s work or spending your time keeping tabs on what other people are doing – unless you have been tasked with that responsibility.
Change is the only constant. This means that no matter how new (or tenured) you are within your industry, role, or organization, if your wish to continue to thrive at work, you need to recognize that there is always more to learn, and what would in the past may no longer be the best (or most efficient) way to do things. Be open to learning from everyone you come into contact with, solicit feedback when appropriate, don’t be afraid to admit that you may need training on something, and seek out resources to continue to grow your skills. By staying humble and swallowing your pride, your will maintain and/or increase your standing as a top-performer.
Mistakes are bound to happen, some big and some small. While some may think that admitting mistakes is a sign of weakness, top-performers recognize that it is a sign of strength and character. Those who demonstrate personal accountability are not going to hide from mistakes or brush them under the rug in hopes that no one notices. They don’t point fingers at others for their errors or shortcomings. Instead, they quickly recognize the issue and take immediate steps to correct it or bring it to the attention of someone who can – all while taking the steps necessary to avoid making the same mistake again. Being able to take ownership of mistakes builds trust within the organization – and with trust comes respect and opportunity.
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Personal accountability isn’t just about owning up to mistakes; it’s also about recognizing that you are in control of your actions, behavior, and attitude – and then taking the next best step to move forward in a productive manner. Recognizing this will serve you well and help you succeed in many areas of life, and your job search is no exception. By holding yourself accountable in your search for work and taking ownership of the factors within your control, you can greatly increase your chances of landing a job that is well-suited to your skills. Plus, it will help increase your confidence by reminding you that you have the power to influence your career and your future. Here are some simple personal accountability tips to keep in mind during your job search:
It’s a great idea to be on the lookout for opportunities to learn new things, hone your skills, or apply transferable skills in a new way that can help you take your career to the next level – stretching yourself helps you grow! Having said that, there is a difference between trying to stretch your skills into a new position and applying to a job for which you are simply not qualified. Part of being personally accountable in your job search is understanding that not every opportunity out there is going to be the right one for you. If a job description states that a highly specialized degree and numerous years of experience are required, but you have neither, applying to that job may not the best use of your time or energy – and could send the message to the employer that you either didn’t read the job description or you don’t understand what you’re applying to. So be sure to take a little time and care when looking for and applying to jobs – your next opportunity is out there, and a focused approach will help you find it even faster.
Hiring managers don’t expect you to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, and while they can be embarrassing to talk about, what separates good candidates from truly great ones is the ability to acknowledge past mistakes and demonstrate that they’re committed to not making them again. You might be tempted to brush your recent termination or period of job-hopping under the rug, but it’s important not to lie or misrepresent yourself in any way. Keep in mind that people respect and enjoy being around those that are accountable for their actions, and are more likely to forgive past wrongs if you take ownership of them and communicate your plan for not repeating the same behaviors in the future. As you communicate this information to a potential employer, try to stick to the facts and avoid excessive storytelling. After all, an interview is a professional setting and should be treated as such.
Preparing for interviews is another important way to hold yourself personally accountable for your job search. This preparation doesn’t have to be scary – in fact, in can be quite empowering to recognize that you are a decision maker in the interview as well. So, as a decision maker, you need to gather data to help you determine if the job is a good fit for you. What does the company do? What does the job entail? What kind of environment will you be working in? Doing a little research beforehand will not only impress your interviewer and help show that you’re taking the process seriously, it will also help you ask good questions so that you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right opportunity for you.
Have you ever heard the expression “you’ll catch more bees with honey than you will with vinegar”? It’s true. Being positive and respectful can go a long way in your job search. Being unemployed or making a transition in your career can be a stressful time filled with anticipation and uncertainty, but as frustrating as it may be at times, be mindful about not taking that frustration out on others. Most companies would rather hire someone who is pleasant and professional, even if they have slightly less experience, than a candidate who meets all the requirements but is rude or disrespectful.
Being personally accountable in the job search also means being consistent with follow-up steps. You must ensure you’re accessible by providing accurate contact information, setting up your voicemail, and checking your email periodically. If a potential employer reaches out to you, follow up in a timely manner, even if it’s only to say that you’re no longer available or interested. Ghosting employers can reflect negatively on you, and following up is a simple but powerful way to demonstrate your respect for a hiring manager’s time and effort – so don’t just fall off the radar.
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Every strong partnership is centered around trust, and trust is centered on integrity and ethics. This includes your employment relationships. When a company brings you into their circle, and provides you access to their resources and private data, you become an extension of their brand. With that comes the responsibility of holding yourself to a high standard of conduct, honesty, personal accountability, and ethics – even when no one is standing over your shoulder watching you.
Here are 4 key ways to demonstrate a commitment to integrity and ethics while on the job.
As a team member of any organization, it is important that employees are mindful that they are an extension of the company’s brand, and what they say or do may (at times), get tied back to the organization – especially in today’s digital society. Many people even have direct public ties to their employer through their email address, the company’s website, resume databases, or even designating the company as their employer on social media pages like LinkedIn and Facebook; making it even more critical that employees are thoughtful with how they are representing the employer.
While most people know that they should not speak on behalf of their employer unless previously asked, and most know that they should not misrepresent their role within an organization, or be dishonest when working with a client or vendor – another angle to consider is getting caught up in seemingly harmless online chatter or conflict, or posting vile or obscene content. Even when you are not directly representing the company, chances are there are enough breadcrumbs out there on the internet for someone to figure it out and potentially use that information to create an issue for both you and your employer. Before hitting send on that comment or controversial thread, or trolling the internet looking for a good argument, or posting that questionable meme – pause and consider if the risk to both your brand and your employer’s is worth it.
Since ethics are founded on moral code, it could be said that they can be relatively subjective and depend on an individual’s personal beliefs and values, which at times can create conflict. What we want to bring attention to are those universal ethics; the ones that are less philosophical and more of a common code of basic conduct. Some universal ethics that translate into business include: avoiding deceptive or dishonest behavior, discrimination, or blatant criminal activity – all of which are behaviors that cannot and should not be tolerated in any organization.
In addition to universal ethics, many companies today have a clearly defined and written code of ethics that they use to help guide all of their business decisions. Employees should all make the time to familiarize themselves with their employer’s unique code of ethics, and use that information to guide their actions.
Working with integrity means being responsible and accountable for how you spend your time while on the clock. At the end of the day, employees are being paid for the time they put into producing work-related results. It should go without saying that employees are responsible for accurately reporting their time, whether arriving late, leaving early, or taking a day off – honesty and attention to detail are important. The occasional tardy arrival can often be forgiven, but when someone is dishonest, it breaks trust and puts their credibility, reliability, and integrity into question.
In addition to accurately reporting time, employees should also be keenly aware of how they are spending their working hours. If team members are mindlessly surfing the web, chatting it up with co-workers about non-work-related issues, or just daydreaming their day away – they are in effect stealing from the organization because the time they are being paid for is not being spent on work-related activities. Don’t get us wrong, there are definitely opportunities to take those mental breaks throughout the day – but if it is disrupting productivity, it is not demonstrating a high level of integrity.
Employees likely have access to information about the company’s internal processes, clients lists, customer information, strategic plans, and a litany of other intellectual property that they have been entrusted to protect. To demonstrate ethics and integrity means to properly safeguard the company’s sensitive information.
Respecting intellectual property doesn’t only mean not sharing proprietary and confidential information with outside sources, it means following all company policies, procedures, and guidelines developed to protect that information. This includes safely filing and storing printed documents, keeping passwords secure, adhering to all physical security protocols, and protecting any systems from being accessed by others. Policies that address security are put in place to protect the company and each employee is responsible for respecting and complying with them.
If you are looking for a reliable partner in your search for your next employment opportunity or your next great employee, feel free to reach out to the team at Manpower.
Applying for work can be stressful, partly because the process varies from company to company, leaving you unsure of what to expect from one job to the next. Will the employer want a resume, or do they have an application you need to complete? Is there a lengthy screening process, or will you be able to start right away if you’re selected for the job? Well, there is one aspect of the job search process that should always be consistent, and while they don’t get talked about often, they are extremely important: ethics.
Practicing sound ethics when applying for work will not only help you build professional trust and respect with potential employers, it will also help you steer your career in a direction that you can feel good about. Here are some important ethical tips to keep in mind when trying to land your next job:
Presenting a potential employer with false information is simply unacceptable. Deception shows a lack of character, and when your lies are discovered (as they so often are), they will damage any professional trust and respect you have built with the employer. After all, if you’ve lied about something as simple as your previous employment, how can they trust you to act with integrity when you’re on the job and managing all of the responsibilities and challenges that come along with it? Don’t forget, it’s not just the one job that you’ve hurt your chances with – most employers take falsification of an application very seriously, so being caught in the act can mean that you’re ineligible for future consideration for any job at that company. And, if the lie is caught after you’re employed, it may very well result in termination.
The negative consequences of lying to a potential employer aren’t limited to getting caught, either. You may also be setting yourself up for failure, and cheating yourself out of jobs that you could truly thrive in. You see, when employers prepare job advertisements, they do so with careful consideration of the skills and experience needed to perform the job well. So if lying is the only way to land the job, then chances are, it may not be a job that you will be successful in anyway. When you start the job, you will be expected to perform at a level consistent with the stated requirements, and the gaps in your skills will be apparent if you can’t deliver. Poor performance will limit your chances of success and growth within the role, and could even lead to termination – leaving an unexpected gap in your work history that you’ll have to explain in your next interview. Long story short, always be truthful – in the grand scheme of things, transparency will open more doors for you (and more of the right ones, at that)!
No matter how justified you feel in your frustration with former peers or supervisors, don’t waste your interview time speaking ill of others. Everyone knows that there are two sides to every story, so no matter how right you may think you are, those words could potentially backfire and give the employer a negative impression of you. After all, the other party isn’t there to give their side of the story, so the interviewer can only guess as to whether they’re getting the full scoop, or if you’re placing blame on others to avoid personal accountability. It’s not necessary to speak poorly about others to demonstrate that you’re a strong, capable candidate. Instead, keep your interviewer’s focus right where it should be – on the skills, experience, and personal attributes that make you the perfect person for the job!
One of the best ways to demonstrate your ethics, integrity, and respect in the job search process is to follow through with any commitments you make. If you have an interview or meeting scheduled, show up, and show up on time. If a potential employer requests additional information that you have agreed to provide, such as references or a transcript, be sure to send them promptly. If something comes up and you can’t keep a commitment you’ve made, or you decide you are no longer interested in the job, simply notify the employer in a timely manner so they can make alternate arrangements. Ghosting an employer reflects poorly on you, and could negatively impact your prospects with the company should you decide to apply again in the future. These steps, while quite simple, are very important and go a long way in showing your reliability, as well as your respect for the employer’s time and efforts. Wouldn’t you want that same courtesy extended to you?
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