You are desperate for a job.

You’ve applied to countless positions -— from internships to part times to full times that you aren’t actually interested in — but much to your disappointment, embarrassment, and frustration, you haven’t been hearing back.

You begin to think that if there’s nothing wrong with your resume, then there’s something wrong with you…

Then, after what seemed like a decade, you finally hear back from one of them– and they want you to come in for an interview!

Nervous. Desperate. Thankful. Overjoyed. Willing to take on anything and everything.

Your goal at this point? To impress the hiring manager so that you will be hired… WRONG!

No matter how desperate you are, becoming a ‘yesman’ (being compliant and agreeing to do anything and everything) is NOT the way to go. To avoid a future crisis in which you become significantly dissatisfied with your job (to the point where you dread going to work), you must seriously consider, ponder, and evaluate these 3 things.

1. Know what you DON’T want.

Establish your deal breakers and don’t compromise!

          For example, if you absolutely hate talking on the phone or making cold calls, you probably shouldn’t say ‘yes’ to the customer representative or the sales manager position.

          And if you hate being on a plane, you probably shouldn’t say ‘yes’ to that job that requires you to travel twice a year.

This might seem obvious, but people do make such mistakes (or rather, compromises).

2. Know what you DO want.

Be able to articulate your needs and preferences, as well as your strong points.

          Are you a good writer? Do you have management experience? Are you detail-oriented and meticulous? Do you prefer to work alone or brainstorm in groups?

Knowing your strengths and knowing what kind of environment you thrive in, what type of people you work the best with, and what kind of tasks you excel at is a HUGE advantage, not only for yourself but also for the company and the people you will be working with!

3. Learn to say ‘no’ politely but boldly.

Let’s face it: you can’t please everyone. 

I mean, yes, you can please everyone else, but if you take yourself out of the equation, you’ll end up being miserable.

For instance, the hiring manager might offer you a different position than the one you applied for, or the responsibilities listed on the job posting may not be what the position actually entails (as explained to you by the hiring manager at the interview).

WARNING: While it might be tempting to say yes because 1. you want a job — any job, at this point — and 2. you’re afraid of offending the hiring manager, don’t blindly say yes!

Know that you’re actually doing yourself and the hiring manager (and the company) a favor by being honest — you’re saving yourself from having to drag yourself to work everyday, the hiring manager from wasting time and energy, and the company from hiring someone who is not willing to give it 100%.

Think about it. If you get the job but are dissatisfied, what’s the point? Who’s to benefit? You’ll end up looking for a new job sooner or later, and the whole process will repeat itself. 

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Every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better. — Dr. Steve Maraboli

In conclusion, it’s better to spend some time now and make the right decision now rather than making hasty decisions now and regretting later.

And as challenging and frustrating as the search is, try to enjoy the process and learn from the journey. Don’t chase yourself down or cage yourself in a cell called social expectations. Most importantly, STOP comparing yourself with others because success isn’t relative.

What’s important is NOT the speed but the direction you are moving in.