“Interview LIKE an entrepreneur?” I said after reading an article posted by Forbes.
“I want to BE an entrepreneur.”
Before I started working at Iconic Solutions, a sales and marketing company, finding a JOB at 22-years-old that covered all my bills and expenses was on my mind more than finding a CAREER.
My problem was that I had no end-goal in mind. My short-term and long-term goal was to find a job. But what good would a job do me in five years from now? What did I want to do with my life? Better yet, what was I currently doing with my life?
I had no idea if sales and marketing was right for me, but I thought I’d try out the interview because I was looking for a job outside the journalism industry.
Thinking of how to impress the woman interviewing me was my first mistake.
To be, act and interview like an entrepreneur, we must always make it our decision whether we want to work for a company or not.
Here are 10 tips that Forbes urges entrepreneurs to implement to increase their odds of landing the perfect job:
1. Give off positive energy.
Sounding enthusiastic about the job at hand lets the hiring manager know you are interested and ready to contribute to the efforts of the team.
2. Set firm goals.
Many people often say, when asked by the hiring manager, that their goal is to find a job. Isn’t that most people’s goal? Prior to the interview, write down where you want to be in one year, three years and even five years.
3. Remember it’s what you can do for the employer.
Take the time to think about what benefits and skills you bring to the table. Read over the job description and envision the concerns and needs of that employer.
4. Be approachable and likable.
When interviewing, the hiring manager is going to look for intangibles that he or she cannot pull off of your resume such as your people skills. They want to know if you’ll be able to thrive in their work environment.
5. Focus.
The best conversations occur when both parties are fully engaged and this happens when everyone is focused on only the interview and nothing else.
6. Strong mentality.
Remember to always approach the interview with fearlessness, optimism and confidence. Don’t be afraid of failure. Rather be honest and authentic.
7. Never get discouraged during tough interviews.
The best interviewers are going to ask tough questions. when we begin to take difficult interviewing questions as due diligence as opposed to a personal knock, we are more apt to be successful.
8. Be determined to get the job.
You should expect to win. When we are focused, driven and expecting success, it comes.
9. Ask the right questions in the right manner.
When you ask questions, don’t come across as skeptical or prying, rather ask the questions because you want the information. Prior to interviewing, formulate some interviewing questions that you are comfortable with and deliver those inquiries in a non-assuming, intelligent manner.
10. Focus on the positive aspects of the position.
It’s your choice what you focus your attention on and it’s a lot more productive to hone in on the things you enjoy about the job rather than letting the downsides cloud your judgement and outlook.
After successfully completing my interview with the hiring manager at Iconic Solutions, I secured not a job but a career.
Iconic Solutions has brought me even more than a career, though.
It has taught how to be an entrepreneur. It has taught me that the best boss to work for is yourself.