Neuroscience research has proven that human brains produce oxytocin when they feel heard, seen, and valued. However, the production of oxytocin when we receive a job offer can lead to “acceptance remorse” and lower your negotiation skills.
We can safely assume that job seekers do not enjoy going through the interviewing process again within a few short months of starting a new job. Yet not counting layoffs or any other types of involuntary termination, data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics show that four million employees have left their job voluntarily every month since January 2022. Something has to change.
While a guarantee that you will never look for a job again is impossible, Behavioral Talent Consulting hopes to empower you to take control and actively interview companies with our top 10 tips:
- Take time for reflection: Rushing yourself to find another job will increase the chance that you will end up working in a similar work environment. Investing enough time to explore why you would like to quit is the first step of any job change. Get honest about what you need in a work environment to thrive.
- Define your deal breakers: Prioritize what is non-negotiable for you. If you want to find a career you can feel good about, you need to intentionally look out for yourself. For example, if self-care is important to you, take the time to define that further. Determining and defining your dealbreakers will help you ask the right questions to a prospective employer.
- Ask questions with a purpose: We cannot stress this enough – approach your questions with the intention of discovery. Your questions should be concise and to the point without prompting the interviewer with what you want to hear. Ask for examples and listen for generality and stock answers. Choose the questions that are appropriate for each stage of the interview process. We recommend focusing on questions that are directly related to your deal breakers.
- Analyze what is being said and asked: Focus your attention and energy on what the interviewer is saying and asking. Listen for vagueness and overselling and pay attention to the level of questions being asked of you. Look for signs that they are interested in your skills, personality, and dealbreakers. Notice if they are on a mission for warm bodies making the qualifications: breathing and showing up for the interview.
- Confirm your understanding: Misinterpretation of meaning can lead to disappointment. It is better to ask clarifying questions or repeat and confirm that what you heard was accurate. Not only will you have better information, but you will show your interviewer that you are mindfully considering the opportunity and that you are a good communicator.
- Be transparent about deal breakers: Hopefully, you will be asked to share what you need from a company, supervisor, and your peers to be successful. Think of your transparency during the interview as “a gift to your future self”.
- Take notes: Take detailed notes and take the time to deliberate after each interview. Are there follow-up questions? Are there inconsistencies? Was most of what you wrote down fluff? Do you have enough information to make a long-term commitment?
- Quiet your ego: It is crucial that your ego does not latch onto praise but truly knows you can either learn or deliver the job being offered. Be wary of the offer that overpromises a promotion before anyone has seen your skills in action.
- Get an accountability partner: Looking for a job is emotionally and mentally exhausting. You will be tempted to accept a position to avoid your current situation or more interviews. An accountability partner will remind you of your deal breakers, help you critically consider different offers, and offer an outsider’s perspective.
- Get excited: Get excited about the new opportunity. Change is complex and can cause a mix of emotions. Trust that you made the best decision for yourself and allow yourself to celebrate the vulnerability and strength it took to find a place that offers what you need from an employer.
Take these steps to find and build a healthy work life. Remember to be patient with yourself during the job-seeking process and find the environment that will teach you to love your job again!
If you need help finding your footing, consider hiring a Behavioral Talent Interview Coach who specializes in helping job seekers in the field of applied behavior analysis.