Time to Get Physical

Job seeking demands certain physical acuity

Successful job seekers need to stay mentally sharp. Focused. They have to keep their minds attuned to their surroundings. That’s absolutely true.

So are there physical skills that are important as you seek a new position? Overall everyone tries (at various degrees) to remain fit. We try to keep our minds sharp by getting sufficient rest. Afterall, no one wants to doze off in the middle of a job interview.

Hear me now

There is, however, another physical skill that, not coincidentally, is just as critical during your job search, during job interviews as well as once you get a job as it is when you’re looking. That skill, of course, is listening.

While we all try to extol our accomplishments, experience and expertise, the key to landing that job, to impressing that interviewer may just be your ability to listen to what the interviewer and everyone around you is saying.

When you meet someone at a networking event, listen to what they’re telling you – where the jobs are, and maybe where they’re not and how you fit in. Listen to other people to whom you should be speaking, who might be open for an informational interview. And, informational interviews are prime examples where listening is the key to success.

Listen when the interviewer is speaking about the job and about the company. What they’re telling you may very well be the source of some insightful, responsive questions. Of course, just as important, it’s critical to hear what they are not saying.

Many job search gurus have written extensively about “active” listening, about “effective” listening, and more. There is an ocean of information out there on the subject.

The unfortunate things about listening are first, you have to want to do it; and second, it can be hard work, but it does pay huge dividends.

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