In last week’s blog, I shared the process for how to look for and find a job quickly. A big part of that process is doing your due diligence and making a scorecard where you identify what you are and are not looking for in your next job or career move. That scorecard not only plays a big role in how you pick your next position as well as the company offering the position, because each time you interview for a position, you can utilize your scorecard to pick the right company (and job) for you.
After you are done with an interview, write down everything you know about the companies and people with whom you’ve interviewed. Note that this could involve some research using the company’s website and LinkedIn. Be thorough in your research and documentation, keeping in mind what you are and are not looking for in a new position.
Once you have done the above step, documenting all you have learned, it is time to bring in your scorecard and do a reverse interview. This means you will take your scorecard and do a comparison against what you know about each company to see how each of them stacks up against what you are and are not looking for. Look for those that have the most of what you are looking for, also looking for any gaps/those that lack what you are looking for. If a company has any of what you documented as a non-negotiable on your “do not want” list, take them out of the running. By taking the time to utilize your scorecard to do this comparison exercise, you will narrow down your choices to find the right company for you.
Once you have narrowed down your choices, your next due diligence step should be to reach out to both a current and a past employee of the company to verify what it’s like to work there. Again, LinkedIn is a great resource to find connections with whom to talk if you do not already know someone. It could be you know someone who knows someone who works or has worked there. And it’s important to get both perspectives here—past and current. Once you connect, make sure to write down what they tell you, as this is an important perspective to get as part of your overall analysis and decision-making about a company.
As before, once you have documented what they tell you, do a comparison or reverse interview with your scorecard. How do the companies stack up against your scorecard? Who are the clear winners? Who no longer needs be considered?
In my experience, one of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is not taking the time to do this in-depth due diligence. With that said, once your due diligence is done, you should also take into consideration your gut instinct. I talk with people all the time who tell me they have this “amazing opportunity” who are hesitant to take it, yet don’t trust their instincts, take the position, and end up regretting it.
When you avoid acting out of fear and combine your due diligence with what your instincts are telling you, you can land the job you really want.
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