By Selipha Kihagi
How long have you been working in your current position? Do you know if there are growth opportunities in your current job? Do you sometimes feel that you need a new job in order to grow in your career? Most people stay in their jobs too long they don’t realize their career is stalling. Others make hasty decisions and leave their positions too early, making it harder to establish and nurture their strengths. I don’t know what your career story is, but I can share with you the career growth story.
If your current job is not giving you a reason to stay, it may be time to start looking for a new job. But even before you embark on this journey, you need to evaluate your growth opportunities. Ask yourself; is there any future for you in the company? Does your current role prepare you for your next job? Are the skills you are learning going to help you advance your career?If you feel your answer is leaning towards no, you need a rethink for your career ambitions.
And to help you establish whether your current job offers any growth opportunities, here are a few things to look out for.
1. Ask your boss what’s next for a person in your role
Regardless of how you see your boss and any hatred or reservations you may have, look back at the conversations you previously had. Does your boss ask you about what’s next for your career? Does he or she tell you what could be your next opportunity at the company?
If your boss believes in your talent, wants to retain you as a permanent employee and is constantly concerned about your next move, then you can exploit this. Take in the conversation and ask your boss what growth opportunities are available for you in the future. If he or she mentions roles you would rather not be part of, know it’s time to restructure your next move.
2. Consider the skills you have learned since you started
Most of us go to work because there is a pay check at the end of every month. You don’t think about what your current job is teaching you about your career or even whether you are learning in the process. Some of you already know they are in a routine job where nothing new is learned and yet you don’t feel the need to leave. You do the same thing day after day, week after week, year after year and yet you still choose to stay.
If this is you, know you are doing your career an injustice. For you to grow and progress into better opportunities in the future, you need to keep learning. Your job needs to be challenging in a way that you are always learning something new. Otherwise you will have a hard time finding a new job when you get back to job hunting. Why? Because you will lack the skills required.
3. How often have your responsibilities, tasks and salary changed?
While you may be enjoying the fact that your job is not as demanding as it used to be when you started, something else is going wrong in your career growth. You have no new responsibilities or added tasks, and according to you, your job feels like the easiest one ever. But what you don’t know is, the reason your role is suddenly easy is because there are no new tasks for someone with your skill level.
Do you know what this means? It means that when your employer decides to start laying off workers in efforts to cut on costs or restructure the organization, you will be among the first to leave. And what’s worse, because you never pushed yourself to get involved in new projects, you will not have the skills needed for a new job. You will become just another frustrated job seeker, but for you, it will entirely be your fault.
1. Accepting CVs! Al-Futtaim, Deloitte, Huawei Technologies, ICRC, KWAL, Plan International
2. Ongoing Recruitment at Girl Child Network (10 Positions)
3. Now Hiring! Safaricom (Entry-Level Jobs 2016)
4. Graduate IT/ICT Jobs at Emomentum Interactive Palladium Group, Synergies Africa, Kenversity Sacco
5. Black Friday Worker Jobs Kilimall (100 Posts)- (Massive Recruitment)
6. Massive Recruitment of Insurance Sales Agents at ICEA Lion (50 Posts)
7. Hiring Now! KCB Bank & Co-operative Bank ( 8 Banking Job Posts)
8. Kenya Airways Internships Opportunities for Graduates 2016 – (5 Openings)
9. Co-operative Bank Sacco: Latest Jobs For Tellers, Accountants, Marketing Officers
10. Hiring Now! Royal Diamond Properties (10 Posts)
Apply For Graduate Internships at Kenya Airways 2016
Thank you for your interest in the Kenya Airways Internship Program. Three (3) Month internships are available in most of our business units which include Finance, Ground Services, Commercial, Technical, Human Resources, Information Systems, Flight Operations, Operations Control Centre and Cargo.
The internship will offer you a great opportunity to gain valuable experience in your chosen field as well as assist you to develop skills that will provide you with an advantage in the job market. In addition, you will gain real business experience and exposure in a leading company that is truly the Pride of Africa
Thank you for your interest in the Kenya Airways Internship Program. Three (3) Month internships are available in most of our business units which include Finance, Ground Services, Commercial, Technical, Human Resources, Information Systems, Flight Operations, Operations Control Centre and Cargo.
The internship will offer you a great opportunity to gain valuable experience in your chosen field as well as assist you to develop skills that will provide you with an advantage in the job market. In addition, you will gain real business experience and exposure in a leading company that is truly the Pride of Africa.
Brief Description
The purpose of the Program is to provide an opportunity for university and college students to become familiar with the operations of Kenya Airways, and to acquire work experience at the professional level through on-the-job training as part of the course requirements, during vacations before resuming studies.
Detailed Description
During the internship, students shall be placed in one of the departments or units of Kenya Airways and, to the extent possible, shall be given assignments relevant to their current studies. Before the end of the program, the interns must submit a brief report about their experience/ learning in Kenya Airways and provide ideas and suggestions that can help improve the Program in future years.
Commercial Stores Intern Job Requirements
- A citizen of Kenya A student pursuing an undergraduate degree/College diploma in an accredited university/college, who will continue his/her graduate studies or graduate right after the period of the internship.
- Have a minimum grade of B (plain) in KCSE or equivalent O’level certification
- Candidates afforded internship in the past by Kenya Airways are not eligible to apply
Conditions of Internship
- Kenya Airways does not provide medical insurance cover for Interns. Those selected for internship will be required to submit proof of medical insurance while at Kenya Airways.
- Since the hiring for the Internship Program is done locally, Kenya Airways does not pay transportation costs whatsoever.
- Because Internship Program is addressed to students who are pursuing their degree programs or diploma programs, participation in the program will not extend beyond three (3) months.
Documentation that will be required should you be selected for internship are:
- Letter from learning institution requesting for internship and confirming that this is part of the course requirement
- Original and copy of KCSE/GCSE Certificate
- Certificate of Good Conduct
- Insurance cover
How to Apply
Access all Graduate Interships Openigs Here
By Susan Gitonga,
You can land a job you applied for last week, today. You can make it to the shortlisted candidates’ page. It can happen sooner than you expect, and even overnight! Get it first hand, from a person who got a job with very little working experience and at an age that would be disqualified by most. The simple trick is to stand out from the rest. It doesn’t matter how young you may be, or how inexperienced you consider yourself. Employers most often are looking for that extra factor in a candidate. You can be extraordinary.
Here are 7 Quick tips that will help you win:
1. Do Shift the Focus from what you need to what you can give
Instead of looking for a job to gain, look for a job with the mind of giving. Ask yourself “What can I give to this company? How can I be an asset to them using my skills and abilities?” Then write it in your cover letter. Tell your employer exactly why they need you and what you can do for them. Support these answers with figures and references. E.g. If you’re applying for a Creative Job like Videography, show them links to videos you have filmed and include how you can
2. Do Overcome Your Fears
The fear of not being called for an interview, the fear that your CV will be rejected or the fear that you’re unqualified is a limiting factor that is stopping your from reaching your maximum potential. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Apply like never before, day in, day out. You want a job therefore go for it!
4. Don’t assume that Your Experience will speak for itself!
Every candidate applying with you has some level of experience also. You have to be unique, which is why a Cover Letter is your best friend. Talk about your extra abilities on your Cover Letter as you take every chance to sell yourself to the employer. Show off your expertise.
4. Don’t pass on something just because it doesn’t fit with an exact picture you had
Opportunities come wrapped in different gift papers. Don’t dismiss an opportunity because it’s a small company or because you feel too ‘classy’ for a certain company that is not ‘posh’ or well known. Whichever opportunity presents itself to you might be just what you need to take you to the next level. Stay humble.
5. Do Choose to stay positive even if the search is taking longer than you’d like.
Applications take even months until they are reviewed. Be patient and stay positive. When you don’t get feedback, that’s not the end of the road, its in fact an opportunity for you to apply for a better opportunity that will present itself.
Most job seekers give up after sending two applications without much avail. Stay positive and keep believing that your job is a round the corner. It shall come.
6. Don’t Just Sit There, do something!
As you do your job search, engage in other activities that build you skills. You can decide to volunteer at a firm as an intern. You can start your own blog if you’re a writer, you can start volunteer as a treasurer in your Church if you’re an accountant. Engage in activities that help you use your skills. You never know where this could land you.
7. Do Network and ask for help!
Attend events, print out your business cards and dish them out to relevant people. Endeavor to learn as much as you can from those who are already established in the career you’re interested in. Let go of that fear and look out for your best interests. Ask for help from your friends and family who have great networks. Simply put yourself out there and be confident about yourself.
In order to land a job in a society like ours, you must be vigorous and determined to have breakthrough! You can do it by working hard on improving your personal brand, letting go of fear and doubt, never giving up, asking for help and selling yourself as you make those applications. You will get noticed, and someone will want to hire you. Stay positive.
By Lilian Waimaitha,
I know what you’re thinking, it’s impossible to make the job search process less stressful. After all, job searching is not a traditionally fun process. Try asking anyone who is job searching right now and they will tell you what a stressful process it is. Even for those who have jobs already but are trying to make a switch to something else, they are also not spread the stress. Things only become worse since most employers don’t respond to rejected candidates, leaving many hopeful candidates confused and frustrated.
With the stress comes negative energy and frustrations and the constant reminder of increased unemployment levels on the bulletin doesn’t makes things even worse. It makes you feel like that job that you have been waiting for, isn’t coming at all.
In this era, job hunt has become more involved than just picking out a job advert on the paper and sending in that application. There is a need to be more proactive with your search while at the same time keeping your nerves as calm as possible. So how do you go about this difficult process without losing it?
Here are a few tips that can make the job hunt suck less.
1. Compile several CVs
Those days of compiling one general CV that you send in on every application you make are over. It is time to come up with CVs that are geared towards the industry in general. The idea is to have more than five different CVs on your computer. Each of them will have a different focus for instance, accounting of business development. With such industry tailored CVs you can confidently apply for any position that is advertised without much stress.
2. Network
When it comes to job hunting, being a loner is not the kind of character trait you want to possess. We all have contacts, be it of friends you were in school with who have jobs already, family members or other professional contacts you may have come across at one point. Let these contacts know that you are interested in a certain position and it might surprise you how many offers you receive for this. At one point, an opening might come up at a friend’s company which you can apply for.
3. Have professional Social Media Accounts
In this era, you can never underestimate the power of social media. You can reduce the job hunt stress by cultivating a strong online presence. You can create accounting on professional sites like LinkedIn which allows you to be in contact with colleagues and hiring personnel. Your online profile should be as professional as possible and ensure that you check it at least once in a day because you never know when a job opportunity can arise.
4. Contact recruitment firms
With the increased need of jobs, a lot of recruiting agencies have come up. These recruitment agencies go a long way in securing that next job. Your stress will drop significally when you partner with a recruiting agency because they perform most of the work for you. Whenever a position comes up that matches your abilities an interview will be set up immediately. Though you are not guaranteed a job, utilizing a recruitment firm remains a strong support for thousands of professional.
5. Consider Temporary or Part Time Work
Everyone of us dreams of getting a permanent job where you have go an assurance of a salary all through, however, sometimes you find that your dream job is advertised as a temporary or part time position. It is up to you to be flexible in your job search. After all that part time job will give you the necessary experience and contacts you need to secure the permanent job you are yearning for. Therefore instead of stressing about how difficult the job search process is, consider taking that temporary job, who knows, it might just lead you in the right direction.
Finding a new job is usually a challenging process, but it can also present opportunities for memorable stories, discovery, personal and professional growth. And the fun is there too if you dig a little deeper.
By Selipha Kihagi
“I have been applying for jobs I qualify for but never get called for an interview, what could be wrong? My CV is okay, I usually apply on time and I always make sure I am qualified for a role before applying. Why can’t I seem to get any success from my applications?” reads one of the emails in my inbox.
Most job seekers going through this kind of frustration normally are never sure what to do next. And if you are a victim, you have probably thought about blaming recruiters and employers for your fruitless job search.
But where does the problem lie? Who is to blame when you are constantly applying for jobs without feedback? While the frustration you feel may lead you to hold recruiters and employers responsible, the real issue stems from you the job seeker. Only you can determine the outcome of your job search based on the effort and work you put into it. So go back to your applications and try to identify what it is you are doing wrong.
Recruiters and Employers Get Up to 200 CVs in Just Two Days
Remember you are not the only candidate applying to that particular position. As a matter of fact, your application could be among hundreds of other equally qualified candidates competing for the same position you are. And if you belong to one of the saturated professions in Kenya, you have to work even harder than everyone else. Why? Because the jobs you apply for always attract large numbers of candidates and recruiters have to be careful in their selection process.
“Some positions like those of Accounting, IT, Finance, Sales & Marketing and Admin attract hundreds of applicants. In only two days you can encounter up to 200 CVs in applications for one single position and we have to commence the short listing process,” says Muthoni Ndegwa, a Client Services Manager at Corporate Staffing Services. “Sometimes that number can be more because candidates continue sending their CVs even after the shortlisting has been finalized, with others doing so days after the deadline.”
If in only two days recruiters are tasked with looking through 200 CVs, you can imagine what number of CVs employers have to deal with when the application period extends to two weeks or even a month. And some top corporations invite applications to periods of up to 3 months and more. So before you go blaming recruiters and employers because you can’t get an interview, do your math and see exactly what your CV is up against.Once you have understood the number of CVs you have to beat in the application process, identify how you can use your CV to convince recruiters you are the best candidate.
Here are critical tips on how to make your CV stand out and beat the competition in that job application:
1. Put emphasis on how you present your CV to recruiters
As we have mentioned before, recruiters and employers do not have time to read through your CV. They only have time to hover on the document and pick out only what they are looking for. If they can’t find the information in less than 10 seconds of glancing at your CV, they proceed to the next candidate.
So in order to make the list of interviewees, ensure your CV is well presented to grab a recruiter’s attention. If the job advert insisted that you have 3 years working experience, let that information be clear on your document.
2. Follow all the instructions given
Every job advert has a section telling candidates how to submit their application. Make sure you read through the details and do as you are asked. If the instructions say you submit a 2 page CV only, don’t go attaching a 5 page CV or including certificates that were not asked. If you do this you will not get shortlisted.
The only pass you will get is when you include a Cover Letter even when it has not been requested. Other than that, make sure you follow all the instructions given.
3. Avoid simple mistakes
Some of you send in applications for a job but forget to attach their CVs. Others send in an attachment that is corrupted or that cannot open on the receiver’s end. For others it is using a CV that is so disorganized a recruiter cannot tell if the candidate is qualified or not. By making such simple mistakes in your application, you are ruining the only chance you have at getting an interview. Remember that your CV is only one in 200 or more CVs received by recruiters. A single mistake would be enough reason for a recruiter or employer to bypass your application.
So what’s it going to be? Will you keep blaming recruiters and employers for your failed job search, or will you do something to change your odds?
By Susan Gitonga
You were having coffee with an old friend over the weekend and as you were catching up, they mentioned how they were having the time of their lives in their job. They work for a good company that pays them so well, they’re always traveling for business, they enjoy car, housing and health allowances and this job seems to be what they have always dreamt of.
As you sit there, you consider looking for a better job, that probably pays better than the one you have, or maybe you hare been thinking of relocating and you find it necessary to look for another job.
Bearing in mind that you are still employed, you wonder when you will have the time to search for a job.Whichever the scenario, here are 7 ways to conduct a job search while you are still employed.
1.Don’t Switch Off at Work
One of the easiest ways to tell you’re over your job? Acting like you’re over your job. Always maintain your work ethic and positive attitude, even though you’re in the midst of creating an exit strategy. Doing so will lessen suspicion that you’re on the way out and help you maintain a good rapport with your colleagues until the end. You never know when you’ll work with them again, after all.
2. Source for Other References
Here’s one of the biggest issues with searching for a job while you’re still employed: Who will you use as a reference? If you don’t want your co-workers to know you’re leaving, you probably don’t want to use them or your current boss as references.
Find other potential references, and request confidentiality from the new companies in line to interview you. It’s always best to share the news of your departure on your own terms.
3. Don’t Air Your Dirty Laundry on Social Media
Refrain from posting comments or status updates bashing your current employer – those things have a way of getting found and could tip off your HR department. What’s more, you don’t want prospective employers to find those comments either – no one wants to hire a negative Nancy.
4. Don’t Use Your Company Email or Phone Number
Always list your personal email address and phone number on your resume and job applications. Do the same for any social media accounts associated with your professional brand, such as your About.me or LinkedIn profile. Consider creating an email address that’s reserved exclusively for your job-search and networking activities to stay organized.
5. Schedule Your Interviews Smartly
You can only fake so many doctor and dentist appointments before your colleagues get suspicious about you leaving every other day after lunch. If you can, schedule a few interviews on the same day, and then take a personal day at your current job.
The same goes for phone interviews, a vital step in the process of acquiring a new job. Most employers won’t be available to chat after work — they’re finished working, too — so try to schedule interviews before work or on your lunch break, so you can enjoy privacy and inconspicuousness.
6. Search for Jobs at Home Only
No matter how hands-off your employer is, he or she could still happen upon your job-search emails, post-it notes or doodles in your planner. You should be working while at work. No matter how badly you want out, you shouldn’t use your work time to look for a new job.
Searching for a new job while you’re at work can also cause you to feel a bit nervous or paranoid that someone is going to see what you’re doing. The anxiety won’t do much to help you in your search, so productivity is another reason to conduct it in the comfort of your own home.
7. Tell the Truth If Someone Asks
Despite following the above steps, you should be honest if someone realizes what you’re up to. Lying about your intentions will only make your exit even harder. Ultimately, your employer will appreciate the honesty and the early heads-up and will probably remember you in a positive light if you tell the truth.
Finding a new job is never easy, and finding one while you’re already working is an even harder task. With careful consideration of each step in the process, you can make it smooth for all parties involved.
All the best!
By Lilian Wamaitha,
As the old adage goes ‘you never get a second chance to make a good first impression’. This is the same case when it comes to job search. And in most cases, your first impression on a hiring manager begins with your CV and cover letter. If you don’t get the cover letter right, you may never get the opportunity to wow them with your new suit, confident eye contact, and compelling interview stories.
It is the first thing the hiring manager sees before he/she even looks at your CV. Therefore make it as compelling as possible, and impress the hiring manager. How then do you cover all of your skills, experience and your personality in a few short paragraphs and in a way that convinces your dream company to potentially hire you?
Here are a 5 few things to consider when writing a cover letter that will get you shortlisted for an interview:
1. Address the Hiring Manager
When coming up with a cover letter a good number of people have no idea who to address it to. When it comes to wowing the hiring manger with your cover letter, it is right to address it to the right person. In this case a cover letter should always be addressed to the hiring manager. However in most cases you find that the contact has not been given in the job advert and it is therefore up to you to do your research and make phone calls to get the name of the person you should address it to. This shows that you are truly interested in working for them.
2. Tailor it to Your Industry
A cover letter is your one chance to show the hiring manager that you are fit for this role before they even look at your CV. You should therefore ensure that your cover letter is tailored to the position you are applying for. For instance a cover letter for an accountant shouldn’t look the same as that of a communication assistant. This applies mostly when you are applying for a job in a specialized position where the details matter most. Think about thi. If you cant use the skills you have to write a good cover letter, why then should the employer consider your application for a job.
3. Show value to the Company
A cover letter is not just an application to get you that next job. In order to stand out you need to convince the hiring manger that you can really add value to the company. You find that most people use the cover letter as an avenue to brag about their skills and expertise, forgetting that the hiring manager is looking for someone specific to fill a certain position. Therefore instead of entirely focusing on yourself, try emphasizing how much value you can bring to the company.
4. Make It Short and Sweet
The best cover letters are concise, friendly and transparent. They don’t have to be long; in fact, the best cover letters get right to the heart of why we are a great fit for them, and why they are a great fit for us. Recruiters are reading hundreds of applications a day, so a well-written and concise letter makes our job a little easier which is definitely appreciated.
5. Be Passionate
This is your time to show off your knowledge of and a passion for the organization and the work. Hiring managers, need to know why you are interested in working for that company. Nobody wants to hire someone who had the qualifications for a job but demonstrated no passion or knowledge of what you do.
A cover letter is a great place to explain you are a good fit for the organisation. Why should they hire you? Therefore take it upon yourself to explain why the organization needs you and not the other candidates.
By Susan Gitonga
Consider the workplace your new home once you join a company. You will meet all sorts of people from different backgrounds who share different values and beliefs and its so crucial that you maintain a good reputation and outlook on life when engaging with them.
That said, here are 6 things that are considered ‘messy’ and destructive that you should quit doing from today:
1.Gossiping
Meddling in other people’s affairs at the workplace and talking about their weaknesses is a bad vice that will have a great effect on you. The problem when we gossip is that we are unable to work efficiently as we are always looking on the negative traits of a person which produces bad bile and causes discord among colleagues.
2.Dressing inappropriately
We work in a time and space where dressing is more liberal and we have the leeway to dress how we want in most circumstances. Avoid wearing clothes your boss does not necessarily approve of. Dress in a similar manner as your colleagues do. Don’t be odd, strive to blend well with the rest of workmates. Dressing reflects more on our personality and it’s always good to post a good show of yourself with your dressing.. Be presentable.
3. Being a loner and not being a team player
Even for introverts, it’s important that you work together with your colleagues when you’re required to. You can’t afford to isolate yourself at the workplace because all functions are interrelated and you can’t have one without the other.
Teamwork is necessary for you and the growth and success of a Company
4. Being dramatic and getting into conflict
People disagree from time to time but you must maintain your calm in situations that prompt you to react. Always respond rather than react.
Perpetually getting into conflict makes people avoid you. No one likes being around people who enjoy conflict.. Avoid being confrontational, be peaceable; it’s more fun and less stressful.
5. Refusing to be a helping hand
Sometimes a colleague might be away and you might be requested to take on some extra roles. Accept to help in such situations. You might need someone to stand in your place one day and it will be of good value if you had previously accepted to take on some extra responsibilities
6. Over sharing
Speaking of rumors, one way to fuel that chatter is by providing too much information about your personal life. Making friends at work is a good thing. However, that doesn’t mean you have to open up about all your darkest secrets or the long list of faults with your spouse. Be friendly, but draw that line in the sand. Your co-workers don’t need (or want!) to know everything.
7. Having a bad attitude
It’s not just complaining about your home life that can make you look unprofessional. Constantly being negative about things at work can be just as bad (or worse). Take things lightly and have a positive outlook on life.
If you have a problem with some aspect of the job, try to find a solution. If it’s just one of those things, put on some headphones and listen to some uplifting music, go for a walk or treat yourself to a snack you’d never normally eat. Control your attitude or it will control you
By Lillian Wamaitha,
How can I get a job without experience? Thousands of fresh graduates find themselves sooner than later asking this age-old question. If all jobs require experience, how can you get that first job when your only experience is your degree or diploma?
Soon you will find yourself in the situation where your dream job just got posted, and you’re super excited. There’s just one problem, you literally have zero relevant work experience. Considering that you are a fresh graduate with no internships under your belt, what can you actually put on your CV that makes you look as qualified as possible?
Worry not. There are a few different things you can include, as well as a couple of formatting tricks, that will help you present yourself in the best light possible.
1. Indicate your relevant skills
Naturally we are used to beginning a CV with relevant work experience or education, whichever formatting suits you best. This becomes a problem when the relevant work experience isn’t your strong suit. It is therefore advisable that when composing a compelling CV, don’t waste your time compiling things that may just end up confusing the hiring manager. Instead start your CV by outlining those skills you think are relevant and transferable to the job, for instance research skills. We all have skills that make us special otherwise you wouldn’t be applying for that job. These are the reasons why you think you are suited for the role you are applying for. And why the hiring manager should consider your CV among the thousands s/he has on the desk.
2. Tackling the Experience Part
For entry-level candidates, the experience section is probably the biggest challenge one comes across when putting together a CV. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you don’t want to have an experience section that is empty or filled with experience that is not relevant to the job you are applying for. The trick as most experts would advice is to again focus on your skills. From there you can then group your experience under these skills. Say for instance, you said you have time management skills. You can outline things like how you managed detailed project plan to coordinate activities among team members for final group presentations. Since you may not have a lot of experience, it is important to include coursework, class projects, volunteer work or extracurricular activities that are related to your target job. While these may not be paid experiences, they are still valid experiences that you can list in your CV.
3. Put together an enthusiastic cover letter
Most will agree that this isn’t technically part of your CV, but I am a firm believer of always coupling a CV with a strong cover letter. This is especially important if you have no relevant experience or a winding career path. find a way to connect your passions and life experiences with the company, then explain how that will translate into you hitting the ground running once you’re hired. You’ll find that link is exactly the kind of experience employers are looking for from fresh graduates.
Making it into a new career is hard work. The trick to overcoming this is to really iron out those details like relevant skills and related side projects. Add on a riveting cover letter and, with a combination of networking and some luck, you’ll be sure to grab a hiring manager’s interest soon.
Job searching is hard. It’s hard for most people—for me, for you, for your friend’s friend’s cousin. I can’t tell you that your experience is better or worse than anyone else’s, and I can’t tell you you’ll immediately end up exactly where you want to be. But I can tell you you’re not alone.
I asked several people, including some Musers, to be open and honest about what it was like for them to go through it. Because we’ve all had those teary, throw-a-plate-at-the-wall, yell-at-your-friends-and-family moments in which we’ve hated the process, the hiring manager, the company, or even ourselves. We’ve all worried that we won’t find a job we like, or one at all. But eventually, hopefully, all that stress and frustration leads to a real life career.
Here’s how to cope with some of the hardest moments in the job search, according to real people who went through it—and came out alive:
When You Feel Like You Lost Your Chance
In 2009, editor and writer Sara McCord found herself in the heat of the recession. Everyone was desperately competing for the same limited amount of jobs, and after leaving her dream job behind in DC to move to rural Pennsylvania with her boyfriend, she believed she’d peaked. At 23, she says, “I thought this is it, I’ve blown my career. My best years are behind me. I wondered if everyone who had given me advice on leaving to be with my boyfriend was right. I thought I’d never get a good job again.”
And understandably—who hasn’t once thought their career was over during a rut? Before I could even ask, McCord told me she had no regrets moving for her boyfriend—now husband: “If you put your relationship first, you put it first. Don’t make yourself the victim. You have to be honest with yourself and say, ‘I’m choosing to put XYZ first.’”
She eventually landed two part-time jobs at $9 an hour. At one point, when her husband lost his job, she took on a full-time gig photographing auto parts, a clear deviation from her original dream.
McCord knew there was one thing that was holding her back—her location: “Sometimes you’re just in the wrong place. I knew that I wasn’t going to find my dream job in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania. I was going to have to wait to leave for that.”
McCord believes it’s important to check in with yourself and try to pinpoint if something is preventing you from getting from A to B: “It could be that you have to move, or it could be that your passion for the industry isn’t showing through in your interview. Then, you have to change whatever that thing is. And, really, you have to be honest with yourself if you’re not putting your job search first. At the time, I didn’t—I put my relationship first.”
This is something I came across a lot when talking with people—the idea of making your job search a full-time job in itself. Not forever, but if you want to find a position you truly love, you’re going to have to prioritize your search.
But with that being said, it’s OK to choose another full-time obligation for a bit—being a stay-at-home parent, caring for a loved one, traveling. Your dream job isn’t going anywhere, and it’ll be there waiting when you’re ready to jump back in.
Once McCord moved, she found a job she loved within a matter of months, and the experience of being under-employed is one of the things that eventually led her to pursue a career that would allow her to work remotely full-time.
When You Keep Trying and Getting Rejected
With a background in communications and PR, Gaby Rocha, an old colleague of one of my co-workers, had a real drive for fashion. But she wasn’t picky—she’d take any opportunity in the industry as a stepping stone toward her dream job. She described her experience in the same way a college student would talk about studying for finals: “I drank tons of coffee and wrote cover letters for every job. I literally tailored every single one of them. I studied for hours every night before an interview, I tried to look the best I possibly could. I probably applied to hundreds of jobs.”
She sounded like someone who’d been this strategic and organized her whole life, and when I asked her if she approached everything in this way, she responded “definitely not.” Basically, the job search turned her into someone who spent hours trying to make the perfect impression in everything she did.
Now, the job search shouldn’t turn you into someone you’re not—in fact, being “fake” or trying too hard can lead you down the wrong path for you. And it shouldn’t consume your life, either—but, it is a full-time commitment to find and land an amazing position. Rocha was willing to put in long hours to go after her ideal career—and when she found it, she could honestly say she truly earned it.
Talking with her reminded me of a former roommate, Kerry Houston, who I’d watched for the better part of a year submit tons of applications without any luck. So of course, I called her up (where she now works at an insurance company) to see if she remembers it as vividly as I do. She did.
“The worst part was not hearing anything, then when you did hear back, it was so many more interviews then you expected,” she told me. “You’d go in to the third round, and then they’d surprise you with a fourth. It’s not even the rejection that stings, it’s the waiting and waiting and then the rejection after waiting for so long.”
She described her feelings to me about it like a state of limbo—you’re always anxious because you don’t want to get your hopes up when you can easily get rejected the next week or month, but how can you not get excited if you’re making it so far? And it became a puzzle of negotiating her time—should I go and apply to 10 more companies when I’m waiting on other leads, and is that wasting my time if I end up getting the job anyways?
The answer? No, it’s not a waste to continue applying, but you have to go about it strategically. Sure, if you’re in the right mindset to submit more applications, then go for it. But when you send out applications rapidly and without a lot of thought and care, that’s when mistakes get made and your application is more likely to just get thrown in the trash (and that’ll be even more frustrating). In this case, you might want to pull back and take a break until you’re ready to start again.
To get over the stress of it, Houston said she’d run about five miles, four times a week at a fast sprint until she couldn’t do it anymore: “I called it my angry workout. When I was rejected, I’d do a longer run. I didn’t think I could do that much, but I had so much energy in me that I needed to get out. You don’t realize how much this stress builds up into adrenaline, even if it’s negative adrenaline.”
When You Get Led On and Let Down
Long before Richard Moy was a writer for The Muse, he was fired from a recruiting role, which then lead to a long year of job searching. During some of the worst times, he was led on to getting a job not once, but three times. When we talked about it, I felt myself getting annoyed on his behalf.
But that’s a typical reaction when you hear these kinds of stories because we’ve all been there. In a few instances, hiring managers told him they were writing up an acceptance letter for him—but then suddenly began sending him cold emails, telling him the company was going in a different direction: “They’d say ‘we didn’t realize you’re more expensive than we can afford,’ or, ‘we’re going to take a pass,’ or, ‘we think you’ll be bored here.’”
It was confusing. Here he was willing to accept just about any opportunity that would pay the bills, and apparently he was either too overqualified for the role, or he was too expensive—and yet, never once did he ask for a set salary. “A flat rejection would’ve been much easier,” he said. “But they kept leading me on. I felt worthless. I kept thinking, I don’t know what else I’m qualified to do, and no one wants to hire me for what I am qualified for. I just had to remind myself to stay on course.”
The thing is, looking back, staying on course was what was holding him back. The roles he’d applied for were in account management, but his real passion was for writing. When I asked him the turning point in his search, he said honestly, “I tried to force my way back into account management, but the world essentially was like, ‘no, go be a writer.’”
There will be times in your job search when you’re trying to make something happen, and someone else (a.k.a., a hiring manager) doesn’t think it’s a good fit. These are the frustrating, horrible moments that are out of your control. But there will also be moments when maybe you’re trying to force something that wasn’t meant to be. Rejection stings, but squeezing yourself into a career that isn’t your size? That’s inevitably more painful.
When You Think You’re Out of Options
Like McCord, Career Coach Melody Wilding started her career during the financial crisis. After graduating from Rutgers, and then getting her masters at Columbia, she was disillusioned by how hard it would be to find a job afterwards: “I kept thinking that this wasn’t what I was told in college. I had all the boxes ticked, why wasn’t this working?”
Going the traditional route failed her—sure, she received some responses and interviews, but none of her options were what she was looking for. “The thing I always advise my clients to do, and something I did as well during my process, was to make a list of your must-haves, your non-negotiables, and your deal-breakers,” she told me. So no matter how hard her search was, she never compromised the importance of having a short, flexible commute: “And this in itself cut down on the time I was wasting on jobs that didn’t work for me.”
But like most, she hit that wall when you start to run out of places to look and things to apply to: “I hit my low point where I became sick of being frustrated with myself and the process. I knew that something drastic needed to change. If nothing about the way I’m going about this isn’t working, what is?”
At the time, she was getting through grad school with internships and part-time jobs, anything she could do to get some valuable experience. She decided that instead of looking outward for a job, she’d turn to what she already had at her disposal. She built on her current jobs and activities and turned them into networking opportunities or freelance consulting gigs. She started attending events hosted by people she knew and put herself in social circles with individuals who could give her the advice and guidance she needed. Now she has a coaching practice on top of a full-time job as the Director of Social Innovation at ConsumerMedical.
“Instead of waiting for someone to choose me, I chose myself,” Wilding said. She believes this is the mindset any struggling job seeker should have: Take charge of every element of your career, even the parts you don’t think you can control. Because you have just as much power to break the cycle as a hiring manager does.
When You Start to Doubt Yourself
I’m a perfectionist. It helps when I’m cleaning my apartment or proofreading articles for typos, but it hurts when it comes to being rejected. So, during the worst parts of my job search—when I was going through three, four rounds of interviews, completing edits on 100-page manuscripts and churning out writing samples, getting led on and let down—I was really hard on myself.
I was angry at all those hiring managers, sure, but I hated my mediocrity more. I wished I was smarter, more experienced, better at interviews, cooler. Similarly, my roommate told me the biggest blow was when she’d have the perfect resume, but get rejected for a culture fit. Really, you start to doubt everything—your major, your life choices, your personality.
But I knew I wasn’t worthless. Even on my worst days, I reminded myself that I was a hard worker and a good person, and because of those traits and my passion, I’d eventually be recognized by (the right) hiring manager.
So, while this mindset didn’t lead to an immediate job, it did shift my perspective. Several of the people I talked with told me that you can’t take the job search personally, and they’re right: “There will always be someone who’s bigger, faster, stronger than you,” Houston told me. “But you have to remember there’s only so much you can do.”
So identify your best qualities and cling to those when the tides get rough. Because no rejection should ever convince you you’re not deserving of a job. You may get some great, useful feedback, and you may get some really harsh criticism, but you can’t let the search define who you are.
The first thing Wilding told me when I spoke to her was, “People always say ‘My story isn’t typical.’ But when it comes to the job search, it becomes the typical story. Because everyone’s been through something like it.”
And she was right—even when you think you had it rough, there’s a likely chance you’re not the first person, or the last.
I can tell you that everyone I talked to said they have never been happier where they are right now. They found their passion, they landed their dream job, and they get to do the things they love, every day.
It takes work, blood, sweat, and tears to get there—but when you do, looking back will never feel so good.
Credit : themuse.com
Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next interview?
While we unfortunately can’t read minds, we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of the 31 most commonly asked interview questions and answers.
While we don’t recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don’t), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what hiring managers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you’re the right man or woman for the job.
Consider this your interview study guide.
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
This question seems simple, so many people fail to prepare for it, but it’s crucial. Here’s the deal: Don’t give your complete employment (or personal) history. Instead give a pitch—one that’s concise and compelling and that shows exactly why you’re the right fit for the job. Start off with the 2-3 specific accomplishments or experiences that you most want the interviewer to know about, then wrap up talking about how that prior experience has positioned you for this specific role.
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2. How did you hear about the position?
Another seemingly innocuous interview question, this is actually a perfect opportunity to stand out and show your passion for and connection to the company. For example, if you found out about the gig through a friend or professional contact, name drop that person, then share why you were so excited about it. If you discovered the company through an event or article, share that. Even if you found the listing through a random job board, share what, specifically, caught your eye about the role.
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3. What do you know about the company?
Any candidate can read and regurgitate the company’s “About” page. So, when interviewers ask this, they aren’t necessarily trying to gauge whether you understand the mission—they want to know whether you care about it. Start with one line that shows you understand the company’s goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.
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4. Why do you want this job?
Again, companies want to hire people who are passionate about the job, so you should have a great answer about why you want the position. (And if you don’t? You probably should apply elsewhere.) First, identify a couple of key factors that make the role a great fit for you (e.g., “I love customer support because I love the constant human interaction and the satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem”), then share why you love the company (e.g., “I’ve always been passionate about education, and I think you guys are doing great things, so I want to be a part of it”).
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5. Why should we hire you?
This interview question seems forward (not to mention intimidating!), but if you’re asked it, you’re in luck: There’s no better setup for you to sell yourself and your skills to the hiring manager. Your job here is to craft an answer that covers three things: that you can not only do the work, you can deliver great results; that you’ll really fit in with the team and culture; and that you’d be a better hire than any of the other candidates.
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6. What are your greatest professional strengths?
When answering this question, interview coach Pamela Skillings recommends being accurate (share your true strengths, not those you think the interviewer wants to hear); relevant (choose your strengths that are most targeted to this particular position); and specific (for example, instead of “people skills,” choose “persuasive communication” or “relationship building”). Then, follow up with an example of how you’ve demonstrated these traits in a professional setting.
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7. What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
What your interviewer is really trying to do with this question—beyond identifying any major red flags—is to gauge your self-awareness and honesty. So, “I can’t meet a deadline to save my life” is not an option—but neither is “Nothing! I’m perfect!” Strike a balance by thinking of something that you struggle with but that you’re working to improve. For example, maybe you’ve never been strong at public speaking, but you’ve recently volunteered to run meetings to help you be more comfortable when addressing a crowd.
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8. What is your greatest professional achievement?
Nothing says “hire me” better than a track record of achieving amazing results in past jobs, so don’t be shy when answering this interview question! A great way to do so is by using the S-T-A-R method: Set up the situation and the task that you were required to complete to provide the interviewer with background context (e.g., “In my last job as a junior analyst, it was my role to manage the invoicing process”), but spend the bulk of your time describing what you actually did (the action) and what you achieved (the result). For example, “In one month, I streamlined the process, which saved my group 10 man-hours each month and reduced errors on invoices by 25%.”
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9. Tell me about a challenge or conflict you’ve faced at work, and how you dealt with it.
In asking this interview question, “your interviewer wants to get a sense of how you will respond to conflict. Anyone can seem nice and pleasant in a job interview, but what will happen if you’re hired and Gladys in Compliance starts getting in your face?” says Skillings. Again, you’ll want to use the S-T-A-R method, being sure to focus on how you handled the situation professionally and productively, and ideally closing with a happy ending, like how you came to a resolution or compromise.
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10. Where do you see yourself in five years?
If asked this question, be honest and specific about your future goals, but consider this: A hiring manager wants to know a) if you’ve set realistic expectations for your career, b) if you have ambition (a.k.a., this interview isn’t the first time you’re considering the question), and c) if the position aligns with your goals and growth. Your best bet is to think realistically about where this position could take you and answer along those lines. And if the position isn’t necessarily a one-way ticket to your aspirations? It’s OK to say that you’re not quite sure what the future holds, but that you see this experience playing an important role in helping you make that decision.
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11. What’s your dream job?
Along similar lines, the interviewer wants to uncover whether this position is really in line with your ultimate career goals. While “an NBA star” might get you a few laughs, a better bet is to talk about your goals and ambitions—and why this job will get you closer to them.
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12. What other companies are you interviewing with?
Companies ask this for a number of reasons, from wanting to see what the competition is for you to sniffing out whether you’re serious about the industry. “Often the best approach is to mention that you are exploring a number of other similar options in the company’s industry,” says job search expert Alison Doyle. “It can be helpful to mention that a common characteristic of all the jobs you are applying to is the opportunity to apply some critical abilities and skills that you possess. For example, you might say ‘I am applying for several positions with IT consulting firms where I can analyze client needs and translate them to development teams in order to find solutions to technology problems.’”
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13. Why are you leaving your current job?
This is a toughie, but one you can be sure you’ll be asked. Definitely keep things positive—you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Instead, frame things in a way that shows that you’re eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you than your current or last position. For example, “I’d really love to be part of product development from beginning to end, and I know I’d have that opportunity here.” And if you were let go? Keep it simple: “Unfortunately, I was let go,” is a totally OK answer.
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14. Why were you fired?
OK, if you get the admittedly much tougher follow-up question as to why you were let go (and the truth isn’t exactly pretty), your best bet is to be honest (the job-seeking world is small, after all). But it doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. Share how you’ve grown and how you approach your job and life now as a result. If you can position the learning experience as an advantage for this next job, even better.
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15. What are you looking for in a new position?
Hint: Ideally the same things that this position has to offer. Be specific.
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16. What type of work environment do you prefer?
Hint: Ideally one that’s similar to the environment of the company you’re applying to. Be specific.
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17. What’s your management style?
The best managers are strong but flexible, and that’s exactly what you want to show off in your answer. (Think something like, “While every situation and every team member requires a bit of a different strategy, I tend to approach my employee relationships as a coach…”) Then, share a couple of your best managerial moments, like when you grew your team from five to 15 or coached an underperforming employee to become the company’s top salesperson.
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18. What’s a time you exercised leadership?
Depending on what’s more important for the the role, you’ll want to choose an example that showcases your project management skills (spearheading a project from end to end, juggling multiple moving parts) or one that shows your ability to confidently and effectively rally a team. And remember: “The best stories include enough detail to be believable and memorable,” says Skillings. “Show how you were a leader in this situation and how it represents your overall leadership experience and potential.”
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19. What’s a time you disagreed with a decision that was made at work?
Everyone disagrees with the boss from time to time, but in asking this interview question, hiring managers want to know that you can do so in a productive, professional way. “You don’t want to tell the story about the time when you disagreed but your boss was being a jerk and you just gave in to keep the peace. And you don’t want to tell the one where you realized you were wrong,” says Peggy McKee of Career Confidential. “Tell the one where your actions made a positive difference on the outcome of the situation, whether it was a work-related outcome or a more effective and productive working relationship.”
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20. How would your boss and co-workers describe you?
First of all, be honest (remember, if you get this job, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and co-workers!). Then, try to pull out strengths and traits you haven’t discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.
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21. Why was there a gap in your employment?
If you were unemployed for a period of time, be direct and to the point about what you’ve been up to (and hopefully, that’s a litany of impressive volunteer and other mind-enriching activities, like blogging or taking classes). Then, steer the conversation toward how you will do the job and contribute to the organization: “I decided to take a break at the time, but today I’m ready to contribute to this organization in the following ways.”
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22. Can you explain why you changed career paths?
Don’t be thrown off by this question—just take a deep breath and explain to the hiring manager why you’ve made the career decisions you have. More importantly, give a few examples of how your past experience is transferrable to the new role. This doesn’t have to be a direct connection; in fact, it’s often more impressive when a candidate can make seemingly irrelevant experience seem very relevant to the role.
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23. How do you deal with pressure or stressful situations?
“Choose an answer that shows that you can meet a stressful situation head-on in a productive, positive manner and let nothing stop you from accomplishing your goals,” says McKee. A great approach is to talk through your go-to stress-reduction tactics (making the world’s greatest to-do list, stopping to take 10 deep breaths), and then share an example of a stressful situation you navigated with ease.
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24. What would your first 30, 60, or 90 days look like in this role?
Start by explaining what you’d need to do to get ramped up. What information would you need? What parts of the company would you need to familiarize yourself with? What other employees would you want to sit down with? Next, choose a couple of areas where you think you can make meaningful contributions right away. (e.g., “I think a great starter project would be diving into your email marketing campaigns and setting up a tracking system for them.”) Sure, if you get the job, you (or your new employer) might decide there’s a better starting place, but having an answer prepared will show the interviewer where you can add immediate impact—and that you’re excited to get started.
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25. What are your salary requirements?
The #1 rule of answering this question is doing your research on what you should be paid by using sites like Payscale and Glassdoor. You’ll likely come up with a range, and we recommend stating the highest number in that range that applies, based on your experience, education, and skills. Then, make sure the hiring manager knows that you’re flexible. You’re communicating that you know your skills are valuable, but that you want the job and are willing to negotiate.
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26. What do you like to do outside of work?
Interviewers ask personal questions in an interview to “see if candidates will fit in with the culture [and] give them the opportunity to open up and display their personality, too,” says longtime hiring manager Mitch Fortner. “In other words, if someone asks about your hobbies outside of work, it’s totally OK to open up and share what really makes you tick. (Do keep it semi-professional, though: Saying you like to have a few beers at the local hot spot on Saturday night is fine. Telling them that Monday is usually a rough day for you because you’re always hungover is not.)”
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27. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
Seemingly random personality-test type questions like these come up in interviews generally because hiring managers want to see how you can think on your feet. There’s no wrong answer here, but you’ll immediately gain bonus points if your answer helps you share your strengths or personality or connect with the hiring manager. Pro tip: Come up with a stalling tactic to buy yourself some thinking time, such as saying, “Now, that is a great question. I think I would have to say… ”
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28. How many tennis balls can you fit into a limousine?
1,000? 10,000? 100,000? Seriously?
Well, seriously, you might get asked brainteaser questions like these, especially in quantitative jobs. But remember that the interviewer doesn’t necessarily want an exact number—he wants to make sure that you understand what’s being asked of you, and that you can set into motion a systematic and logical way to respond. So, just take a deep breath, and start thinking through the math. (Yes, it’s OK to ask for a pen and paper!)
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29. Are you planning on having children?
Questions about your family status, gender (“How would you handle managing a team of all men?”), nationality (“Where were you born?”), religion, or age, are illegal—but they still get asked (and frequently). Of course, not always with ill intent—the interviewer might just be trying to make conversation—but you should definitely tie any questions about your personal life (or anything else you think might be inappropriate) back to the job at hand. For this question, think: “You know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?”
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30. What do you think we could do better or differently?
This is a common one at startups (and one of our personal favorites here at The Muse). Hiring managers want to know that you not only have some background on the company, but that you’re able to think critically about it and come to the table with new ideas. So, come with new ideas! What new features would you love to see? How could the company increase conversions? How could customer service be improved? You don’t need to have the company’s four-year strategy figured out, but do share your thoughts, and more importantly, show how your interests and expertise would lend themselves to the job.
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31. Do you have any questions for us?
You probably already know that an interview isn’t just a chance for a hiring manager to grill you—it’s your opportunity to sniff out whether a job is the right fit for you. What do you want to know about the position? The company? The department? The team?
You’ll cover a lot of this in the actual interview, so have a few less-common questions ready to go. We especially like questions targeted to the interviewer (“What’s your favorite part about working here?”) or the company’s growth (“What can you tell me about your new products or plans for growth?”)
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As a writer and marketer with no future dreams of becoming an engineer, I never really thought learning to code would be relevant for my job.
Then I started working under a marketer with coding chops. Knowing her way around HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and jQuery was clearly invaluable: The developers were far more eager to work with her than anyone else on the marketing team, her boss was always coming to her with technical questions, and, best of all, she could do things like whip up interactive timelines or add animations to blog posts.
Since then, I’ve met dozens of non-engineers—in all sorts of professions—whose programming knowledge has accelerated their careers. Now, I’m convinced. Read on to learn four major reasons you and I both should start looking into coding classes.
1. It Will Make You More Self-Sufficient
Most technical teams have too many projects and not enough time—which means a request that’s high priority to you might be medium or even low priority to them.
But if you know how to code, you don’t have to wait around for help: You might be able to do it yourself.
“I can build landing pages for marketing campaigns without having to rely on a designer or an engineer,” says Tyler Moore, Marketing Director for App Press. “I’ve mostly worked for technical startups and SaaS companies, and being able to iterate quickly has made it a lot easier to ship new campaigns, or to get something started that I can hand off to an actual designer or engineer for polishing.”
Jessica Elle, who runs digital marketing for Forest Giant, uses her coding chops to improve site SEO and make quick design changes. “It’s not necessary to know HTML and CSS, but it’s so helpful,” she says.
Elle is also in the process of learning two more programming languages, Go and Python. “Digital marketing requires a lot of data analysis,” she explains. “Tools exist, but most of them involve manual data crunching. Go and Python are super helpful when you need to parse through loads of data to grab marketing insights from.” Once Elle is fully up to speed, she won’t need external help to compile and analyze data.
Programming skills are beneficial even if you don’t work in a marketing role. Let’s say you’re a sales rep: If a potential customer asks you a technical question, you can answer immediately instead of consulting an engineer. Or if you’re in customer support, you could quickly resolve a ticket without having to ping a co-worker.
Not only will you save time, but you’ll gain valuable credibility.
2. It Will Teach You How to Think
As Steve Jobs once said, “I think everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think. I view computer science as a liberal art.”
In other words, learning to code won’t just give you technical knowledge—it’ll also give you a new way to approach your work.
“Coding forced me to start out with a plan, identify potential trouble areas, and troubleshoot, troubleshoot, troubleshoot,” says Heather Stegner, Senior Director of Communications at American Wood Council. “It’s a logical way of thinking that I’ve been able to apply just as successfully when developing a media strategy as trying to figure out why Internet Explorer isn’t cooperating.”
Learning to program also makes your attention to detail skyrocket. After all, when a single misplaced hyphen or missing period can mess up your entire code, you become quite skilled at checking your work (not to mention, doing things right the first time!).
3. It Will Improve Your Communication and Collaboration Skills
Projects are rarely created in a vacuum. Developing something usually requires multiple people with varied perspectives, ideas, and skills to come together and work in sync—and that often involves working with engineers. By having some knowledge of coding, you’ll have a better sense of what’s realistic in terms of results, quality, and timeline, making you a much better teammate or leader.
“It’s much easier to communicate with engineers, designers, and product managers,” says web producer Katelyn Cowen, now that she’s taken General Assembly’s part-time Front-End Web Development course. “I was able to give well-thought-out feedback regarding feature development, and could do more investigation when it came to bug triage.”
Even if you’re not regularly working on projects with engineers, programming knowledge can make you a better co-worker. At some point, we’ve all been asked for a “small favor” that’s actually a huge request, right? If you know roughly how much time and energy technical projects take, you’ll avoid annoying your development team with unreasonable requests. Plus, as much as programming has a reputation of being solo work, it is more often an incredibly collaborative activity. Many coding courses incorporate “partner programming,” a technique in which two people sit at the same workstation and take turns programming and giving feedback. Even if that’s not a part of your education, you’ll at least have someone reviewing your code on a regular basis. If you can handle sitting next to someone while he or she reviews each line of your work, you’ll kick butt at other types of collaborative projects.
4. It Can Take Your Career to New Heights
Remember my former manager, the marketer who knew how to code? Well, two months after I joined her team, she got a huge promotion. And she told me her technical chops were the tipping factor.
Overall, learning to code can open up a world of new options, whether it’s moving up, taking on exciting new projects, or making a shift in the work you’re doing. Because of her newfound coding knowledge, Stegner was invited to help refresh the company’s website, a great accomplishment to bring to her boss or put on her resume down the road, if you ask us.
Aryana Jackson, a marketing manager, says programming has helped her dramatically expand her role since she started three years ago at Eboxlab, an IT support company. “My position was ‘graphic designer,’ and that’s all I did,” she explains. “After teaching myself how to code, I started tweaking the HTML and CSS of our clients’ websites. Now, coding is a significant portion of my job.” Plus, thanks to Jackson’s skills, Eboxlab doesn’t need to hire another developer—making her even more valuable to the company.
Or, if you’re thinking about launching a company of your own, having technical knowledge will make your startup dreams more feasible—in fact, it might be the factor that gets you to launch. It did for Katie Fang, the founder and CEO of SchooLinks: “Katie majored in finance during college but took a few coding classes on the side,” explains Afton Jones, a marketing associate at SchooLinks. “As a result, she was able to cobble together a working prototype on her own when she came up with the vision for the company: a platform that connects students to schools.”
So what are you waiting for? You can dip your toes into coding right now with General Assembly’s free Dash program, which gives you small HTML, CSS, and Javascript assignments and let’s you see the effects of your code as you’re writing it.
When you’re ready to dive in further, there are so many options available to you, from workshops and day-long bootcamps to part-time courses and online programs you can do after work to full-time immersive courses for the folks who really want to go all in. Which is right for you depends on a lot on how much coding you want to know—but once you get going, you may never want to stop.
Credit : themuse.com
