Applying Kindergarten Lessons to the Job Search
When it comes to the job search, one of the best pieces of advice we’ve heard came from a Careerealism.com article that came out in 2014 titled “5 Job Search Lessons You Learned in Kindergarten”. You remember kindergarten, right? Total breeze.
Lots of folks liken the job search (among other things) to Kindergarten’s fundamental lessons. Here’s how to take 3 of those lessons learned all those years ago and apply it to your life right now:
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. You learned it from Aretha and you learned it in Kindergarten. Treating everyone you encounter in your job search with kindness and regard goes a long way. We all have abilities and qualities that are admirable so remember to treat the secretary and janitor with the same respect as a CEO. When a hiring manager thinks back to the candidates who’ve applied, chances are the one who remained polite is the one who gets called back.
Take a Break. Everyone has fond memories of Kindergarten nap time. It was soothing, re-charging and exactly what you needed (even when you thought you didn’t). Spending hours job searching is exhausting. You may think that every minute not spent searching is a minute wasted. Stop. Take a break. Take a nap. Do anything to get your head into a different space for a little bit and come back to the search when you’re feeling refreshed.
Don’t give up. When the going gets tough the tough get going, right? When you were 5, someone was always there to encourage you and finally you were able to color in the lines, tie your shoe and do the damn thing. You won’t have a teacher holding your hand through your job search so remember to fall back and your friends and family who can remind you to keep chugging along when you feel like quitting