By Daniel Aguiniga
There is only so much you can do to prepare for a job interview.
Over the last few years I have aimed to perfect my application process. I have prepared time and time again to find out there is always more to learn, even if I’ve competed in resume competitions, critiqued over 500 resumes for college freshmen and conducted 300 mock interviews.
Even after days and months and years of preparation to get the perfect interview down, I am still so far away. Now, as an SIS recruiter, I am on the opposite side of the table. What I have found is your experience matters, especially the amount of time you spend at each position. Job stability speaks volumes.
1) Stay at your job for a year.
It is always best to get as close to a full year before you try to move on — it just looks better. While jumping around from job to job may create a well-rounded work experience, you want a prospective company to see commitment, longevity and a no-quit attitude. Employers don’t want you to be able to do 100 things just okay; they want to know you can do one job extremely well.
I fear more the man that practices the same kick 10,000 times than I fear the man that practices 10,000 kicks one time.-Bruce Lee
2) Have a job when applying for the next one.
Many of the reasons stem from the previous point. You will not be hurting to pay rent and bills. Desperation does not bode well when you are eventually in an interview, as begging for a job will not help you get a job. Keeping your current job shows responsibility and carefulness.
3) Give your two weeks notice.
What happens if you leave your current job without a two week notice? Not only do they have to scramble to find a replacement but they will likely retain negative feelings toward you. Don’t burn that bridge.
There are a variety of ways in which your job experiences can affect you, but being responsible with your time and effort is crucial. Be at the job you choose for more than a year, stay in your job while you are applying, and always give a two weeks notice. There is only so much you can do to prepare — this should help you start off on the right foot.
We love this blog post by our Seattle recruiter Daniel about job stability! Comment with your thoughts and feedback. https://t.co/pShxF2W3LZ
— SIS (@sis_us) September 24, 2016