What Are You Looking For?

Submitted by mauzenne on Thu, 09/17/2009 - 19:21.
in

This cast continues the series of the four questions recruiters will ask you with the second question: "what are you looking for?".

We started this series with the first question recruiters will ask: "What's your current situation?" The next question in this series is "what are you looking for?" Really, this is the question which will make or break you in the recruiter's mind, though not for the reasons you may think.

Most people think that the art of answering this question well is to be as vague as possible so that in that huge net they cast, the recruiter's perfect answer will be caught. They are wrong.

50% of people we ask this question to stutter and trip over themselves and have obviously NEVER said the words they are using out loud in this order. This is a big turnoff for recruiters who may have a target of 50 calls in two hours EVERY SINGLE DAY. Taking up their time by not having rehearsed your answer, annoys them. And, as we have pointed out previously, annoyed recruiters are much less inclined to help you. It also gives the impression that you don't know what you want. Why would anyone pay you $100,000 or even $30,000 a year if you don't know what you want?

The art of answering this question well is to come across as a professional, a person who respects other people's needs, who knows what they want (and believes they can get it), who is clear thinking, positive and who communicates their thoughts clearly and precisely.

So, preamble done, how do you do that?

  1. The Importance of Clarity
  2. Be flexible
  3. Cover Industry, Prime Responsibilities, Skills and Environment
  4. What does it sound like?
  5. Be ready for the next question


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Submitted by vonigan on Fri, 08/10/2012 - 21:13.

So you mean this DOES happen, eh?

Ok - so after listening to this podcast, practicing a bit, then figuring 'ah.. this will never happen to me'.. IT HAPPENED.

And you know what the good part was? Even though I had listened to this podcast almost a year ago (and I think I should listen to it again for a refresher), and stopped practicing a year ago, I was calm and the words rolled off my tongue - I was listening to myself answer.

And yes - this doesn't come only from an official 'recruiter' - in my case it came from a mentor that I was reconnecting with after almost two years.

Always leave yourself open to opportunities, right?

Vaughan
DISC: 1377