Photo by Xavier Balderas Cejudo on Unsplash
Are you looking for your next great opportunity?
If so, let me tell you a story about a sea captain and an iceberg...
We are strangers to each other in the beginning. Imagine me, a hiring manager, as a captain of a ship at sea. I first glimpse you through a spyglass, far off in the distance. While you see me as the captain of a ship, imagine I see you as an iceberg, bobbing among the waves. My experience tells me that icebergs can be both beautiful and dangerous. I need to make a decision whether or not to come closer to learn more or if I should steer a wide berth.
“You recognize that, as an iceberg, people can only see a small part of you, the rest hidden beneath the waves.”
Realizing this, it makes it easier to understand the captain’s dilemma. Why would anyone risk learning more? What can you do to help me feel more comfortable to get closer to investigate?
What is above the water when we first make contact is only a small part of who you are...perhaps it’s a resume, a face-to-face at a networking event, or a name referred by a trusted colleague. Successful relationships come from not just making a good impression but creating a sense of trust, transparency, and attention. By investing the time in building these three elements, you reduce the risk that I see...an iceberg that could sink the ship. Examples of how to do this include detailing your resume with the information important to me...job tenure, achievements against goals (e.g. sales quotas), offering background information about yourself to create context and understanding during the interview, and by focusing on me as your audience.
Tell me your story.
The more clearly I can “see” you, the more comfortable I will be with respect to understanding who you are, what you love to do, and whether or not this opportunity is the right fit for you. Help me know whether or not you are going to sink the ship or join the crew and navigate it in the right direction. Believe me, if the fit is good, I want to say, “Welcome aboard!”
PS: Check out these works of art produced by Nature. I love the quote that says “Some pieces just won't fit inside the Guggenheim.”
Written by: Austin Meyermann, Founder and President of Hunter Crown, LLC
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