I am often approached by recent college graduates for advice on getting a job, deciding on a career, or starting a business. Recently, I met with a young woman with a degree in marketing and advertising having trouble connecting in her first post-college interviews.
She was nervous as she explained how she was able to get the interview, but once she was in it, she found herself unfocused and unsure when answering the questions. I asked her if she knew what her dream job looked like. She gave a generic answer like “I want to be in a cool culture where I fit in.” I “Can you be more specific? Is the industry important? Does the job need to be around marketing?” The more questions I asked, the more apparent it became that she was not above and clear on the situation.
She had fallen into a trap that we all face at some point: she was so desperate to find a job fast that she was jumping on any glimmer of hope and going for it. She kept running into walls because she didn’t have the clarity to hunt for a job that was specific to her needs and talents.
We approached it from a different angle and I asked her the question I always ask anyone in her shoes: “What is the one thing you do better than anyone else, the one thing you do world class?” Her response: “I am incredibly persistent once I start on a project.” With that answer, I knew she had not yet realized her hunter’s potential.
There are several keys to being a True Hunter and she needed to focus on two of my favorite tips:
1) Don’t be trigger-happy: True Hunters don’t shoot before they hunt.
2) Get your target in scope: Allow your Desired Outcome to drive everything you do.
By the end of the meeting, we had her locked in on either a career in sales with a long cycle; or project management, both positions requiring persistence and precision. Just yesterday, she called me and said once she focused in, retooled her resume and promoted her strengths, she received three offers in two weeks. She is now preparing for her first day, having negotiated a base salary and incentive program far above her initial expectations.
Once she started hunting with focus and precision, her true potential was released. So sit down, figure out what sets you apart, and what defines makes you the best in the world…and go hunt down the career that will bring you the success and fulfillment you’ve been seeking. Opportunity is everywhere when you embrace your True Hunter!
