You can do anything you put your mind to.

You can have a career you love.

Do you agree or disagree with these statements? One thing we can agree on is the variety of people in Bozeman, who all have one thing in common…besides their affinity for the mountains. We all (most of us) need to earn a living. Bozeman is a happening city. Many people are seeking jobs and countless employers are on the hunt for the right candidate. If only there was an eHarmony for matching candidates with employers!

Whether you are young or old, still in college, or a seasoned worker, the time comes when you have to meet with a potential employer. Sometimes, those meetings are formal and other times they are casual. Like many things in life, interviews can be more worth your while with some extra
effort.

Ace-ing Any Interview

When I was in college, I attended a seminar about how to write a resume, prepare a portfolio and perform at an interview. The tips I learned there, when implemented, helped me land any job I wanted from then on. It was a fun game. You can do the same, there are plenty of articles online that can help you with this.

However, it can backfire. I was hired for some jobs that weren’t a good fit for me. I learned that working at Victoria’s Secret and as a Chiropractic Assistant didn’t suit me. The common theme at both these positions was the lack of creativity or ability to think on my own. They had protocols to follow. Some people love having a method to their job and feel comfortable in that consistency and predictability. Not me.

I now realize that interviews work both ways. It’s just as important to scrutinize the job, it’s tasks and the employer as it is for them to get to know you. This goes beyond the job title. I’ll help you contemplate what you’re good at and what you’re interested in before your next interview. Read on…

When I do business and career coaching with fitness professionals I use a triangle analogy. I help people match up these three components to find better satisfaction and success in their careers.

Strengths/Talents - What are you naturally good at?

Interests - What do you enjoy, what gets you excited?

Community/Client Needs - What need can you fulfill for the people you serve?

Unless you have your own business, #3 is the responsibility of the employer. #1 and #2 are for you to figure out. Go into your next interview with a better understanding of yourself, so you can decide if you really want the job. Then, win them over with ease.

What are Your Strengths?

We all have a blend of skills that helps us accomplish tasks throughout the day. No two people are exactly the same. Find out what your skills are by rating yourself in the four categories below: give yourself one point for each bullet you agree with under each category and see what you come up with at the end. Be honest!

Strategic Thinking - Full of ideas, likes learning, intellectual, planner, thinks about the past and future a lot, loves information, curious about the cause/reason for things, sees patterns and issues.
Do You…
*Think about the future a lot?
*Have a lot of ideas about possibilities?
*Write down plans for clients ahead of time?
*Enjoy setting long-term goals?

(Give yourself one point for each statement above that you agree with and five points if you agree with all four statements in the same category.)

Influencing - Makes things happen, presenters, conversationalists, strive for growth, confidence in decisions, strong presence and command, like recognition, wins people over easily, competitive with self or others, impatient, wants to do it now.
Do You…
*Have a strong motivating voice?
*Easily get people’s attention?
*Like being in front of groups?
*Get people into action quickly?

Relationship Building - Enjoys helping others, goes with the flow, wants the group to be harmonious, believes there are no coincidences, empathetic, sees peoples unique differences, positive, includes everyone, cultivate the potential in others.
Do You…
*Love being with people?
*Have an easy time listening to others?
*Like to know everything about a client?
*Enjoy working with a team or partner to collaborate?

Executing - Follows through on promises, honest and loyal, productive, likes organizing, focused, prioritizes well, purposeful, busy, productive, achiever, disciplined, problem solver, anticipate obstacles.
Do You…
*Feel responsible in meeting deadlines?
*Find it fun to make and complete “to-do” lists?
*Work well on your own and finish tasks easily?
*Succeed at solving problems for others?

What’s Your Mix?

How many points did you get for each category?  (0-4). Some people score a 3-4 in all four categories above, others score high in three, some a blend of two and the rest are one category to the core. What’s your mix?  In my coaching practice, I find that successful small business owners are often a combination of all four. Relationship builders love customer service, networking and team jobs. Influencers are the stereotypical leader, but have to be cautious not to come off as pushy or arrogant.

If you scored 0-1 in any of the categories above, it explains why certain jobs don’t mesh with you. If you’re not a strategic thinker, being a researcher, planner or visionary would be stressful. If you’re not a relationship builder, then you probably hate networking events or jobs that demand quality interaction with others to be successful.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not good to force a job that you loathe. We all have to do things we don’t like. When you do them repeatedly, it begins to wear on your attitude, health and happiness. In a team setting, job tasks can be mixed and mingled amongst various members according to each persons unique skill set. This creates more joy, job satisfaction and harmony in a company. The best relationship builder on the team should be attending networking events, while the most strategic thinker should be setting long term goals, etc.

Find The Opportunities

Bozeman is indeed a unique place, with many great jobs available. Once you know yourself better, you can scrutinize the possibilities more effectively.

Common places to job search in Bozeman:

Craigslist - the keyword changes the search, unlike google guessing what you want. If you type in “hair stylist”, but the position is posted as “hair technician” it won’t show up on Craigslist.

Bozeman Classifieds Facebook Page

Bozeman Job Service - wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/bozeman/

Networking - Stay involved in your community. It’ll connect you to jobs that you wouldn’t normally hear about. Knowing your interests and staying involved with groups that support those interests is a good start. Volunteer for a cause you believe in.

Look for the signs in town - The best home rentals and jobs have one thing in common. The owners are busy and simply put out a sign because they know people will come flocking.

There are many jobs available in Bozeman. Finding one that suits your natural skills can provide more than financial abundance. It can bring satisfaction to your life and that’s priceless.

Best of Luck to You and Happy Job Hunting!