5 Things School Didn’t Teach Us About Interviewing and Career Advancement

Career
Written By Amanda Zhou

Soft Skills: The Key to Career Success 

In academic settings, we are often encouraged to focus on technical skills and in-depth knowledge of our field. While hard skills are certainly important, it's the soft skills that often set successful individuals apart from the rest. As the barrel principle illustrates, the shortest board in a wooden barrel determines the amount of water it can hold. Similarly, it's the soft skills that determine how far one can go in their career. Hard skills can be honed and knowledge can be acquired, but without soft skills, career growth can be limited. 

I have witnessed many candidates excel in hard skills and role-fit interviews, but fail in soft skills or cultural-fit interviews. Communication skills are one of the most common areas of concern. Some candidates may talk too much, provide unclear answers, or struggle to articulate complex information, while others excel at clear, concise communication. 

Another example is time management and prioritization. When asked about workload strategies in a fast-paced environment like “Have you ever had to prioritize competing tasks or deadlines? How did you determine which tasks to focus on first?”, some candidates prioritize urgent tasks over important ones, while others understand business needs and develop systematic approaches to handle challenging workloads and deadlines, improving efficiency for themselves and others. 

Dealing with ambiguity is a also critical skill that companies of all types, whether startups or established organizations, seek in their employees. The rapidly changing market demands agility, and companies must constantly review their operations to increase efficiency. To succeed in such an environment, we need to be adaptable, resourceful, and open-minded. During interviews, employers evaluate candidates' ability to work effectively and progress in situations that lack clear direction or certainty. They may ask questions such as "Can you describe a time when you had to work on a project without clear guidance?" or "Tell me about a time when you had to work on a project with limited resources or support. How did you manage that situation?”

It’s interesting to notice from recruiting perspective that possessing strong soft skills is a necessary yet insufficient condition for landing a job. While having robust soft skills won't guarantee that you'll get the position, the absence of these skills will likely prevent you from being selected. If you have excellent soft skills, the company may contact you again later because they believe that hard skills can be trained over time. They may also reach out to you when there are other suitable roles available that match your background. Your recruiter could be your internal advocate in these cases. However, suppose there are red flags around your soft skills, especially if the interviewer observes behavior that is not aligned with the company culture. In that case, the chances of the company reaching out to you again are slim.

I remember in the early days, Uber used a hiring model called "PURE," which emphasized "Role Fit" and soft skills such as "Problem-Solving," "Uberness," and "Entrepreneurship." Each category had a set of sub-skills that were evaluated during the hiring process. It's important to recognize the value of soft skills and actively cultivate them. By developing strong communication, problem-solving, leadership and other soft skills, we can set ourselves apart and achieve greater success in our careers.

The Power of Humble Confidence

After years of recruiting experience, I have noticed that seniority and expertise are often accompanied by humility. I recall a time when my manager assigned me the task of hiring a department head, and I was intimidated by their experience and knowledge. However, my manager assured me that experienced candidates are often easier to talk to. As my career progressed, I realized how true this was. Senior candidates were typically humble yet confident in their field, and I learned a great deal from them. 

On the other hand, I have encountered candidates who appear overly confident or exaggerate their achievements, resulting in them not being selected for the job. The Chinese proverb, "A full bucket of water makes no noise, but a half-full bucket makes a sound when shaken," is a perfect example of this concept. 

While confidence is undoubtedly essential, it is equally crucial to show humility and eagerness, particularly when potential is a priority for many companies. The concept of humble confidence is a delicate balance, and it requires self-awareness, an open mind, and respect for others. Therefore, those who can master this skill are more likely to succeed in their careers.

Focusing on Collaboration Skills Over Meaningless Competition

In our society, we are often encouraged to compete with one another. From academic rankings to corporate promotions, we are constantly compared against our peers. However, this mentality can lead to a toxic work environment where employees prioritize personal gains over company growth. Rather than fostering collaboration, people may hoard resources and avoid connections with colleagues to get ahead. 

It's essential to remember that the competition we focus on now may not matter in the long run. In three years, we may not even remember the things we were once so invested in. Instead, we should focus on self-improvement and strive to be better than we were yesterday. 

Collaboration skills are crucial in the workplace. When interviewing for jobs, candidates may be asked about their ability to collaborate with others. Questions like "Tell me about a time you worked with different teams to achieve a common goal." or "How do you handle conflicting perspectives within a team?" require strong collaboration skills. If we don't learn how to work with others, be empathetic, and understand different perspectives, we will struggle to answer these questions. 

Instead of constantly striving to outdo one another in meaningless competitions, let us shift our focus towards cultivating collaboration skills. By fostering a collaborative culture, we can create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed together. 

Leveraging Your Network for Job Opportunities 

Truth be told, recruiters respond faster to referrals. Building and maintaining a strong professional network is crucial when it comes to changing jobs. Referrals from within your network can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview or even getting hired. 

Many companies offer referral bonuses, so don't hesitate to reach out to your contacts if there's a particular company you're interested in. I once worked with a candidate who hadn't applied for a job in 15 years - all his previous job opportunities were referred to him by his friends and acquaintances. This demonstrates the power of a strong network. Whether you're just starting out in your career or you're a seasoned professional, attending networking events and building connections in your industry are essential. You never know when your next opportunity might come knocking.

Embrace Lifelong Learning to Future-Proof Your Career

According to the McKinsey Global Institute report "Skill Shift: Automation and the Future of the Workforce" by 2030, more than one billion jobs, which is almost one-third of the global workforce, will be transformed by technology. This means that automation and artificial intelligence will change the nature of work for a significant portion of the workforce in the coming years.

In today's fast-paced world, the only constant is change. This is especially true in the job market, where new technologies and industries are emerging at a rapid pace. In order to stay relevant and advance in your career, it's important to embrace continuous learning. 

Gone are the days when your college major solely determined your career trajectory. Nowadays, it's more crucial to possess the ability to adapt and acquire new skills as required. Employers highly regard candidates who are curious, versatile, and continuously striving to enhance themselves. How much of the knowledge we acquired in school do we still remember? How much of it is still relevant to our current profession? Rather than just acquiring knowledge, it's more crucial to cultivate our learning ability and focus on how we acquire new knowledge.

During job interviews, recruiters are typically more interested in your career achievements and learning experiences rather than your educational qualifications, especially for experienced hires. They may ask questions like "Can you describe a time when you had to quickly learn a new skill or process? How did you approach the learning process?" or "Tell me about a time when you had to take initiative to learn something new or to improve a process. What motivated you to take action, and what was the outcome of your efforts?" Continuously enhancing your skills and knowledge will make you a more competitive candidate and open up more opportunities for yourself. 

Embrace the journey of our career and prioritize learning and growth along the way. Success is not a destination, but a continuous process of improvement. By adopting a growth mindset and remaining open to new knowledge and experiences, we'll position ourselves for long-term success and fulfillment in our career.

Amanda Zhou
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