Life’s a journey, and the less speed bumps and potholes, the better. How do we avoid those? Well you take the route has less of these kinds of things that would slow you down…

One of the most challenging decisions we make in life is what are we going to do for the rest of our life. Certainly we want to make a lot of money and to feel fulfilled in whatever job we undertake. Always remember that if you do what you enjoy, and are good at, the money WILL come. Secondly, a job is a set of duties and responsibilities that you get paid for. A career can last a lifetime. It is a decision that can affect you for the rest of your own life. Making that decision is important then right?

Finding the kind of job you will truly enjoy is important because you want to feel good about going to work.

Well, take a look at these list of questions…(more like questions of preparation) that you should be able to answer for yourself. In fact I would make it a goal to answer each of these questions when it comes to your career search and the kind of job you are preparing for. Some of these thought-provoking questions pertain to you and your search. Others relate to specific job interview prep:

A. If asked unexpectedly, could you articulate in 30 seconds or less the exact kind of job you are looking for and why you are certain it’s a good fit for you?

B. Do you have at least one career mentor that IS NOT a family member or current manager with whom you meet on a regular basis? (i.e. touch base at least 3-4X/year)

C. Can you state your personal definition of career success in measurable terms?

D. Have you completed self-assessment tools that have confirmed your definition of career success is achievable at this time? i.e. If asked in an interview, could you share specific examples of how your personality, work style, learning preferences and personal strengths will make you successful?

E. Have you identified a skill or area of interest that you want to become a subject-matter expert in within your field and do you have a gameplan for making that happen on your own?

F. Can you describe with confidence at least two of your professional strengths, but then, in the next breath, acknowledge how those strengths create weaknesses and what you do to manage them?

G. Do you know what ‘personal branding’ is and the best way to incorporate it into your job search and career development?

H. Is your resume updated in an easy-to-read, one-page format and saved as a pdf file so it can be sent at any time via e-mail without the formatting being lost?

I. Have you practiced your answers to all the common interview questions so you are ready to respond and are you’re confident that you know how to answer all these questions properly?

J. Do you have a list of questions prepared that you like to ask on interviews to impress potential employers?

K. Do you know how to dress properly for each interview? For example, do you know what to bring or NOT bring on an interview?

L. Do you have up-to-date accounts and are actively using all the relevant social media tools for job search, including LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter AND have you made sure these accounts have appropriate content for hiring manages to see when they search for you on the Internet?

M. Do you know how to research a company in preparation for an interview with them?

Stay ready and like I always say, proper preparation make a productive person! These kind of decisions are tough to make. But the most you have to prepare yourself…in the simplest form, the better off you are.

Your Success is My Success,

Keith Lipke

I’m a careers and college recruiter, coach, public speaker and leader at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college

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