2) Job Search System
Referral-first strategy
Most jobs are filled through referrals. This is when an employee tells their boss, 'I know a great student you should hire.' Before you apply for a job online, search for people who work there. Ask them for a 15-minute 'Coffee Chat.' Don't ask for a job yet! Just ask how they like working there. If they like you, they will often offer to 'refer' you. This puts your resume at the top of the pile instead of the bottom.
In the U.S., managers don't just ask what you know; they ask how you acted in the past. They use "Behavioral Questions" like, "Tell me about a time you failed."
3.1.1 The STAR Method: This is the only way you should answer these questions.
- Situation: Set the scene (10% of your answer).
- Task: What was the goal? (10% of your answer).
- Action: What exactly did YOU do? Use "I," not "we." (60% of your answer).
- Result: What was the happy ending? Use numbers if you can! (20% of your answer).
3.1.2 Show them you are a problem-solver who works well with others.
Free Resource: How to master the STAR method in interviews
Resources
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