Boston Career Counselor Blog

What kind of  job are you looking for?

Anything!

“Anything” is about as engaging, passionate and interest-catching as a plate of plain, butterless toast.  It’s dry, flavorless and leaves the listener looking for alternative options.  Even if you ARE looking for just about “anything” available in the job market, it is never a good answer to this question!  And equally bad is answering “nothing” when an interviewer or prospective job contact asks what kinds of things you’re passionate about.  I mean, think about it.  Would YOU want to work with someone who isn’t passionate about or interested in anything?  And furthermore, I very much doubt that you’re as dry as plain toast.  You are most certainly a fascinating person with lots of value to add to any employer.  So make sure you let them know that!

But if you really are looking for just about anything in the job market (either because you need a job ASAP to pay the bills or don’t know what you want to do and have to start somewhere), what can you say without being dishonest?  (Lying to an interviewer is a BAD idea!)

I’d recommend something like this: “I’m looking for a job in business.  I have a wide variety of interests and am happy to consider a range of different areas including marketing and human resources.  I’m specifically interested in THIS job because…”

Obviously you would need to change the italicized words.  And yes, this means you have to have a small idea of what kind of job you’d like to do, but surely you’re not really interested in doing anything anything!

Another important thing is that if you’re talking to someone about a specific job (say in an interview), you must have a reason for wanting that job specifically.  “Just because you found the posting” is not an acceptable reason.  If you can’t think of any reason you’d want the job, the interviewer is not very likely to hire you.  And more importantly, you’re not likely to be happy in that job!

So avoid answering “anything” and focus on all the great fascinating things that make you you and you’ll be on your way to finding a good job!

I went out to buy lunch today and as I wished the cashier a wonderful day for at least the second time with an extreme cheerfulness, I wondered to myself what was going on.  I mean, I am certainly a very optimistic, outgoing, happy, friendly person, but it still seemed like my behavior might have been a little over the top.

Then I remembered that I had gone to a new coffee place which only had one size mocha latte (whereas I usually order a small or solo latte) and there had to be at least two, if not more, shots in it.  I was experiencing an overabundance of caffeination and sugar!

And then I thought to myself, since I’m a career counselor after all, if I were going on a job interview would it be wise for me to have an unusually high dose of coffee?  I did rationally come to the conclusion that no, that would not be spectacular advice.  While I was extremely friendly, it might have been a bit much.  I think it’d be better to stick to my very own non-caffeine induced friendly personality (not to mention the other unfortunate side effect that too much coffee just before a job interview could have…).  So here’s today’s job interviewing tip: Go easy on the coffee the day of the interview!  And that’s my professional opinion!