Many ISF clients become seriously worried that they don’t have every qualification and experience required in the job description.
Even worse: some have a track record that isn’t perfect – extended time off, a past lay off, short job stints. Maybe, just feeling too old or too young.
Now these issues can lose jobs offers and they can extend the job search. And from personal experience and speaking with many folks perhaps like you, I know this can feel exasperating, at times even producing a sense of helplessness.
Here’s the good news.
Of the thousands of job seekers I’ve worked with, many have successfully overcome these insurmountable obstacles and landed jobs.
How do they do it? Like this.
First, they avoid the ostrich technique. They don’t stick their head in the sand and hope it goes away. Instead they recognize the issue and take ownership.
Now, the reason for this goes back to the old, “Stitch in Time Saves Nine”. When you hide from an issue, it can come roaring back in a very ugly way, a big old rip. When you address it early it is not nearly as big a deal.
Second, they don’t obsess over it. Say you were laid off? Today, something like 20% of American’s are unemployed or underemployed. Whatever your issue, you aren’t alone. Life happens. You need to be responsible for your future, which isn’t solved by feeling trapped by the past.
Look, I won’t sugar coat it. Yes, you may lose a job because one interviewer is distracted by some element of your past. Still, you could lose many more jobs if you are distracted.
Third, these successful job seekers develop a strategy to manage it. Job gaps? Look to a functional resume to highlight strengths instead of dates. Lay off? Explain how it wasn’t personal – they loved your skills. Age issues? Prove the value of the tried and true / the fresh perspective.
I won’t dive into each specific topic here. These and other issues are covered in more detail inside the Interview Success Formula under the Overcome Interviewer Objections section.
Yet, the long story short is to be in tune with Bing Crosby and Johnny Mercer, accentuate the positive and minimize the negative. Highlight why you are great first, and confidently explain how your negatives are just no big deal.
When you can do this the right way, you’ll likely experience a different reaction from your interviewer.
PS. Want some more tips and insight into ISF? Learn more here.
