FINDING A JOB WITH EXISTING KNOWLEDGE

Audio: Finding a job with existing knowledge

Finding a job with existing knowledge and skills is all about communication and perspective. The preparation work, in this case, is extremely important. I will explain the framework I used to find a job in a Fortune 500 company without knowing the native language of the country I was applying to.

Please keep in mind that this approach worked for me and my character, and it does not mean it will necessarily work for you. We all have different mindsets, life stories, skills, and ideas in general about life. I am constantly having in my mind that good things are not coming for free. They require time, commitment, energy, and work in order to happen. I always say to myself that you have to give in order to receive, and what I am about to describe to you came with lots of hours of preparation.

Introduction

In today’s job market, companies are competing with each other to attract the best talents out there. You can often see on their websites explaining why you should choose them, what is the culture in the company and what the benefits are. Some companies are more honest than others, but nonetheless, they are all trying to “sell” themself as the best option out there.

On the other hand, you, as an applicant, should do the same. Through your cover letter and CV (and hopefully through your mechanical design portfolio), you should also present yourself as “the best option out there.” You should find a way how to stand out from dozens of other applications that hiring personnel receive.

But how do you exactly do that? Well, you could try to put all the info in your CV, send it, and hope for the best. This usually works (at least to get the interview) if you have a lot of experience and your skills reflect the skills listed in the job posting. But usually, it is not the case that you have every skill polished to the level required in the job posting, especially if you are starting your career. In that case, more preparation is needed to stand out from other applicants.

In this article, I will share with you the framework I used to find a job as a mechanical design engineer in a Fortune 500 company without knowing the native language of the country I was applying to.

Step one of finding a job: job-analysis

The first step is to analyze the job posting and what is expected from the candidate to get that job. Just write down all the requirements and have them visible in one place. Back then, I did my analysis on a piece of paper, and later on, in the article, I will show you how you can utilize a simple spreadsheet to analyze the job posting. Below, you can see the made-up job posting that I will use as an example of the analysis.

Step two of finding a job: self-analysis

The second step is to analyze yourself compared to what is expected in a job posting. Be honest with yourself; that is the most important part! This is anyway only for your eyes. Understand very well where you are, what your strengths are, and what your weaknesses are. Use the simple 1-10 points scale.

Step three of finding a job: synthesis

The third step is to take the list of your weak points and see how to develop those to the next point. For example, if you do not know anything about the topic, see if you can get at least a basic understanding of it. If you have basic knowledge, try to go a step further. Any improvement that you can make will count. This step should be done as long as you have time until your interview.

Step four of finding a job: CV preparation

The fourth step is to tailor your CV to emphasize your strengths that are related to the job posting. Write more about things that you are good at that fit the job posting profile. For the skills that are required but you are not proficient in, honestly, write something in lines “basic understanding” or similar. For the skills that you do not possess, leave them out.

In case you are applying to a field that requires a certain level of creativity, prepare your portfolio. I was applying as a mechanical design engineer, and I sent my project portfolio as evidence of my ability to connect creativity with technical work.

Step five of finding a job: applying

The fifth step is to send the application. In case you are applying via e-mail, or you need a cover letter, write a short introduction about why you think you are a good fit with the company emphasizing previously identified strengths.

For example, you start with a small paragraph about their company and how you resonated with their slogan, and how that is something that you are also passionate about (do not write it if you are not). And then proceed shortly to write how your skills (strengths) fit for their company. End it in a way that you are expressing excitement to hear back from them and that you are looking forward to meeting them in person.

Always write politely and respectfully. Start with “Dear Mrs./Mr.” Finish with “Thank you for taking the time to read my application! I wish you a nice day! Kind regards, etc. You know, just a normal human thing.

Step six of finding a job: interview preparation

The sixth step is to prepare yourself for an interview. You already have a list of job requirements, so you can assume what they will ask you about it. Furthermore, you can research on the internet what is the most common question that you could expect during the interview (lots of hiring managers are looking for the same just from the other side of the desk).

Also, there are some keywords that all managers like to hear (commitment to the company, hard work, learning, improving, teamwork, etc.), and you have to figure out how to use those without being too obvious.

The challenges are following:

How to get your story straight so that you do not come out as a liar or inconsistent. You have to spend time understanding yourself and getting your thoughts clear. You cannot come to the interview and give completely different answers to two similar questions. If you are “preaching” hard work and, in one case, you stand firmly behind it, and in other cases, you are backing down just because you think that is what they want to hear; you are in for a bad time. Usually, a smart hiring manager will test you to see if you are saying things just to say them.

How to turn your weaknesses into opportunities. It is normal that you have weaknesses in certain fields, especially if you are a young person. But how you communicate your weaknesses can make all the difference in your interview.

I was working on designing steel structures (I spent some time leading a small team of engineers), then I moved on to designing industrial burners before I had my interview for the job that was handling “fine” mechanical parts that are not weighing in a few tons of steel. I was asked, what experience can I take from my previous job to this one?

I could have said something along the lines that there is no connection between this job and the previous one because we are talking about two different worlds of mechanical engineering. But, what I actually said was (this is from my memory, but you will get the point): From a technical perspective, I used the software you are using. But, I had an opportunity to learn something more valuable. I had a chance to lead a small engineering team and learn about teamwork (remember the keywords?) from a completely different perspective.

And then I went on to talk about how teamwork is actually more than just people working together; it is also how you communicate and how you motivate people to do what needs to be done and how to resolve conflicts. Finally, I finished something along the lines of “I saw how it is to be on the other side of the desk and that this experience for me as a young person is invaluable to learn at this age.” The follow-up question was if I see myself again in that position, and I said I think that I am “too green” for the magnitude of this job, but if that is something that the company would require me to do, I would think about it.

From the example above, you can see how I turned my weakness of not having the right experience into the opportunity for me to emphasize the other skills that are my strengths.

In case you are asked a question that you really do not have the skills to answer, tell something along the lines of: “If given the opportunity, I would definitely invest extra hours in learning this skill. I am young, and I believe that I can get through any challenge with the right mentorship and leadership.”

I spent hours and hours every day leading up to my interview, thinking about all the questions I could encounter during the interview. I was not planning to have this opportunity presented and go there unprepared.

Also, investigate what questions you could ask them to show interest in the company. Ensure you have one general question and one industry-specific question (more in the next step).

Step seven of finding a job: interview

The seventh step is interview day. You will definitely be nervous about the interview, but if you did the previous step right, you will feel prepared. I hyped myself the whole morning with positive energy and thoughts, and then during my car drive there, I calmed myself down. When I arrived, I was in this state of energized calmness. From the moment you set foot on the company’s ground, smile and greet anyone you see. Treat anyone with respect like they are your hiring manager because you never know who is what there.

The first contact is the most important, smile, shake hands and introduce yourself. Ask them how they are. Compliment the company: Some building you got here; I like it! Be relaxed and confident. Being creepy is a no-no.

During the interview, listen carefully to the questions you are asked and ensure that you stay on point when answering. Make eye contact (again, do not be creepy), have positive body language, and even try to mirror their body language (again, do not be creepy).

At the end of my interview, I was asked if I had any questions for them (continuing from the previous point).

My first question was: Based on what you told me about your job and your experience, you could be working for any other company. So why do you work for exactly this one? (This is a compliment disguised in a question).

And the second question was industry-specific, regarding the future of the industry and the company’s positioning to the future trends. Of course, I researched this before the interview.

After you finish the interview, thank them for their time and tell them that you look forward to hearing back from them.

Bonus tips:

Get recommendation letters from your previous jobs. This can be used as evidence of your character or expertise and definitely could give you some bonus points during the CV screening process.
After the interview, write down all the questions they asked you that you can remember. Then, try to write down the answers you gave to them. If you have a few interview circles, you want to ensure that your answers align with those in previous circles.

Closing words

Finding a job can be challenging, especially if you have limited experience. Good preparation work is crucial to stand out from the rest of the applicants. I would encourage you to try and apply to the jobs that you think are above your current level. Sometimes you will not get the job, but at least you will leave a good impression, and the opportunity could come later when you expect it the least. In case you get a job that is “higher” than your level, it will stretch you, and your skills will grow exponentially.

Following this framework, with good preparation and diligence, finding a job should be an easier and less terrifying process. Of course, the more time you prepare for interviews like this, the easier it will get. As for everything, you need to give yourself enough time to master it.

This was my opinion and experience on finding the job. What do you think? Did I miss anything? Any bonus tips? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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