Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional
1% Makes All the Difference..
1% Makes All the Difference…
For even the most well-qualified job seekers, the search for a new job can be time-consuming and exhausting. After all, there are numerous qualified candidates that you must compete against in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. More than that, it can be emotionally exhausting, and you likely will face many closed doors and missed opportunities before you finally find a job in your field.
Many job seekers feel frustrated and let down when they do not see a positive result from their efforts, and others may simply settle with the fact that they put forth some effort to find a job today. When it comes to looking for a job in a competitive industry such as this, a different approach is needed
Those who follow the one-percent rule and put forth a little extra effort may ultimately enjoy better results from their efforts.
How the One-Percent Rule Relates to Your Job Search
The one-percent rule generally states that you can give that extra little bit of effort, or you can settle for less than you could possibly be doing. Many job seekers will settle for one-percent less when searching for a job. For example, they may not customize their resume and cover letter so that they are tailored specifically for the job they are applying for. They may state that they put in a full day’s work looking for new job openings, so they may not continue to look for a job in the evening. Perhaps they will skip an important networking event or job fair because they are tired from looking at job listings all day. However, this extra bit of effort that you exert may be the effort that makes all the difference in helping you to land a job days, weeks or even months sooner than you otherwise would.
Applying the Rule to Your Job Interviews
Likewise, the one-percent rule can be applied to your job interviews, and this applies to whether you are applying for a construction foreman position, a structural engineering desk job or any other position. Will you review interview questions and ask a friend to help you with a mock interview scenario? During the interview, will you act positive and excited about the job, or will you act like you have already been on a dozen interviews and are disillusioned with the job seeking process? After the interview is over, will you wait for the phone to ring, or will you send an email to the interviewer to thank him or her for their time and to express your sincere interest in the job after learning more about it at the interview? There are many small things that you can do that can go a long way toward helping you to differentiate yourself from other job seekers who you are competing with, and it is this extra little effort on your part that ultimately may help you to land the job in you want in your field.
Job seeking can certainly be frustrating, and this may even more true when you are looking for a position in a competitive industry like engineering, construction or other related industries. It is easy to lose motivation and to get discouraged. You will likely face many closed doors before you find that one door that is open and ready for you to walk through it. Each day of your job search, ask yourself what you can do to make that extra one-percent of difference, and you may find that this effort will make all the difference.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his Blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com