Authored by: Ron Cottick, CPC, CHRM
There are rules to follow in all aspects of life that help enhance the outcome in achieving objectives. Whatever your objective, without rules or a plan, you will likely have a harder time achieving your objective or have a less than an optimum outcome.
Your JOB SEARCH is comprised of various parts, two of the most important being your RESUME and the INTERVIEW. Your RESUME is your written first impression and the INTERVIEW is your visual and verbal first impression. And, everyone knows you want to make a great first impression. Although the Ten Commandments you see here can be looked at as rules to more than just the JOB SEARCH, they are very appropriate and fitting for the JOB SEARCH.
To illustrate what I am talking about here, let me explain. Most people accept the fact that a tone or attitude can be detected in the way something is written, hence the tie to the RESUME. Nobody disputes that a tone or attitude can be detected in a person visually and how they verbalize, hence the tie to the INTERVIEW. This is how the Ten Commandments tie into your JOB SEARCH, through the RESUME and the INTERVIEW.
The Ten Commandments to follow here are indisputable. Some are less important or critical than the others, however, they all are still an important part of your JOB SEARCH. Let’s get into them, discuss their importance and illustrate how they fit.
The Ten Commandments
1. Have a great ATTITUDE
This should be self explanatory, however, sometimes a less than great attitude comes through in the
written word of the RESUME and can more easily be detected in the visual and verbal at the
INTERVIEW. There is little question that job searches many times are stressful and frustrating. Those
feelings can easily come through in actions so you should be very aware and conscience of your actions
and not let them come through to negatively affect your attitude.
2. Show some ENTHUISIAM
Enthusiasm is a cousin to attitude and is as contagious as attitude can be. If you don’t have any
enthusiasm, go get some. Usually looking at past successes, achievements, triumphs and good times, you
know those happy places will likely be the place to find some. Others you connect with in your job search
will pick up any lack of enthusiasm and if there isn’t any, you will likely look lethargic. To create interest in
you will be difficult if your head is not in the right place. Short story; I attended the US Air Force
Recruiting School to be an Air Force Recruiter. The first thing we had to do before starting each class
session was stand and shout: “Boy, am I enthusiastic”! At first we all thought this was mindless and what
purpose could this possibly have, much less, the result it would achieve. As it turned out we could see the
shout get stronger and more resilient as time went on. It almost became a competition as to who could
shout out the loudest and be heard the most. The point became clear and the proof was in the result. The
shouting achieved the desired result and the enthusiasm displayed through the shouting became
contagious.
3. Practice Lombardi TIME
If you don’t know, Vince Lombardi was the Head Coach for the Green Bay Packers during one of their
most successful eras. He had a philosophy that was introduced to me when I attended the US Air Force
Recruiting School. That philosophy was you should always be 15 minutes early to every appointment you
have. It was called “Lombardi Time”. That was considered on time. It’s a good philosophy to have, to
never be late and to always be early. Whether it is a network meeting, Job Fair, interview or any kind of
function, practice “Lombardi Time” and never be late. Being late could cost you in a way you do not
want.
4. Carefully listen to and follow INSTRUCTIONS
This is particularly important when completing documents, doing online applications or following
someone’s lead. Listen and follow. Think about documents or online applications for a moment. If you
don’t pay attention to the instructions and not dot your i’s or cross your t’s, your application could be
overlooked, missed or even ignored. The way it is completed may also be a testament to your attention to
detail and an interviewer could use that as a measure to your qualification for a position. So, if the
application instructions are to fill out every block, not leave any blanks, fill out every block. I suggest that
even if that is not clear in the instructions to do it anyway. If an NA in a block makes it clear whether that
part of the application is applicable to you or not, put one in the block. It is easy enough and could pay
you dividends. Look, listen and follow instructions.
5. Give it your best because of who you are, don’t make it about the PAY
When you make a commitment to something you should be committed to doing the best you can in
whatever it is. It should not all be about the pay. Although pay is an important part of attracting and
keeping talent, when you commit to doing a job for whatever pay that was offered do the best you can on
the job. You will be far better off and will get your rewards more readily by doing the best you can than
doing what you think should be the best to give for what you are being paid. I don’t know anyone who
gets what they think they are worth but I know people who have gotten bonuses, promotions or pay
raises because of a job well done. I don’t recall knowing or knowing of anyone who was rewarded for
poor performance.
6. Talk less and LISTEN
The rule of talk less and listen more applies almost everywhere in the work place. When you listen more
you learn more, are more amenable to suggestion, will be more of a team player and would be a better
leader. Talking too much is distracting and the conversation tends to wander off the subject. It takes more
time and becomes counter productive. I have struggled with this commandment myself and believe now I
have it in check, although I still have to work at it. Keeping it in check for me has allowed me to learn
more, actually come off more knowledgeable with credibility, and be able to stay on topic and not
wander or go off on tangents. Be cautious on this and when someone asks you for the time or how to set
a watch, don’t tell them how to build one. Like what I heard when I was in basic training in the US Air
Force, LISTEN up! So, LISTEN up.
7. Avoid GOSSIP
This can apply to the workplace environment, what you hear in an interview that is not credible or on
most any other front. Gossip lacks credibility and anyone who gets involved with it comes across as less
credible. Ever work with someone who seemed less credible than the rest of the team? Was information
distorted with inputs of nonfactual information, something input by gossip? Gossip can be dangerous. It
can ruin a project by infusing bad information, relationships because of false information or even
workplace harmony. Gossip has no place anywhere, anytime. It is usually composed of false or
nonfactual information. It is like a virus that spreads and inflicts great damage in its path. Don’t get
involved with it and avoid it. You will be much better off if you do. You will also be in a better position to
avoid being the subject of gossip if you are not a carrier of the disease, gossip.
8. Don’t bash the BOSS
This dovetails with gossip but can be more malicious when targeted. Whether in the workplace or the
interview to get into the workplace, talk good of others and they will likely talk good of you. When
interviewing, the interviewer is not interested in hearing how bad someone is, particularly a past boss.
When you bash a boss you are taking away your credibility and discrediting yourself as an authority on
your own background. You are less believable and your capability will come in question. Not the
impression you want to leave with your interviewer. And, more times than not, you haven’t accomplished
anything and nobody really cares. In the workplace, the same thing applies. The consequences in an
interview are you lose out on a job. The consequences in the workplace are you alienate everyone or end
up getting fired. This usually follows an individual who has a tendency to talk bad about someone, as it
can become a small world in an industry where people do move on from one company to another. Do
yourself a favor and talk nice about the BOSS.
9. Drive your discipline with DILIGENCE
Discipline goes a long way in helping you get the job done. It helps you stay focused and on task. It does
take effort and diligence. Without being diligent in your discipline your efforts to accomplish will suffer.
Don’t forsake a quality result on whatever you do by lacking the discipline to do it and do it right. You
will be rewarded for the DILIGENCE given to discipline.
10. Git r DONE
A famous comedian who is part of the Blue Collar Comedy Team coined “GIT r DONE”. Can’t
remember exactly how this came about but it has made him more famous than he already was. The point
is to finish what you start. In the workplace, this is probably happening but is it really? Delays in
completion are sometimes unavoidable but in many cases they are. When they happen, is this really
getting the job done? Are the circumstances surrounding the delay or lack of delivery just? Is there any
diligence present that is driving discipline? The variety of reasons that a job is not getting done becomes a
mute point if you are the person responsible for getting it done. The bottom line here is to “GIT r DONE”.
These Ten Commandments are appropriate in every facet of life, not just the workplace. You can chose to have a “set of rules” if you will to live by or wander aimlessly through your life and career. You could very well be successful in both aspects, however, a better prepared person with Commandments or a set of rules that guide them is many times more likely to be more successful than someone that wanders.
However and whatever you set you compass on for life or career, have some commandments to help guide you. You will be much better off and more successful if you do.
It is hoped you found value in this informative article on the Ten Commandments as related to the RESUME, INTERVIEW and career in general. Be aware of and address them as part of your JOB SEARCH. You will certainly set yourself apart from others and enhance your objective if you do.
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And, by all means: NEVER give UP, give IN or quit TRYING! Now go out there and SEIZE the DAY!
