I am a living example of this! The reason for my change of career is that I experienced the pain of scientific research during my graduate studies and realized that my character is not suitable for scientific research, so I decided not to work in my field after my first year of study.
Scientific research during graduate school - video screenshot
The year I graduated, I interviewed for a marketing position at a bank, a position as an account manager, a position at an auditing company, a marketing position at a medical device company, a position as a talent introduction at an institution, and finally got five offers. I'm not sure if I've ever had a good time or a bad time. I'm not sure if I've ever been in a position to do that.
Here, I'm sharing my experience in changing careers, hoping to help those in need.
The content is divided into two parts, the art and the way.
1. Art: Setting up a correct view of interviewing.
Before the interview, you must know these truths:
1.1 The core of the interview: person-job matching
In the whole interview before the middle and after the stage, to always remind yourself, you answered every question points to a direction, that is " The person job match", every answer to show HR, "I am customized for you, choose me!"
No matter how colorful your past academic achievements, research experiences, or internships are, make sure you pick the experiences that can prove you are qualified for the position. Don't say you don't have it, even if it's shaking milk tea in a milk tea store, you can say that you have experience in sales in the catering industry, proficiency in communication skills with users, and 80% of daily sales.
1.2 Interviews must be able to strategy
The so-called strategy is to prepare and plan in advance, advance preparation includes understanding yourself, understanding the company, understanding the position, learning from the experience of others, and rehearsal in advance, and so on.
Many newbies are confused when they first start interviewing, and they simply don't know what HR really wants to know, and what they are saying, and they finish the interview in a blur, and they feel like they are finished. There are also people who don't pay attention to interviews because of their past academic performance, or who are too paranoid to interview because of their poor academic performance.
In fact, the past learning experience is one thing, can show to HR, choose which part to show to HR is another thing.
No, it's not about getting a good offer if you have a high GPA and a lot of papers; it's not about getting a good offer if you don't have a high GPA and a lot of papers.
This is where the key lies, whether you've done enough preparation in advance or not.
1.3 Interview is a show
Show your best side, don't be embarrassed, don't be shy, no matter what your character is, just hard to pretend, pretend to be lively and cheerful and generous, it's not hypocrisy, it's the law of survival of the social people. Believe me, no one doesn't like sunny applicants.
1.4 The interview is a mutual selection
Don't have a feeling of inferiority, the company is choosing you, you are also choosing the company, HR is also a worker, do not be nervous like a lost soul, want to ask salary, work intensity can be generous to ask, do not be shy!
2. Road: prepare in advance?
2.1 Understanding your position
In the process of our application, we must always remind ourselves of the "human post match".
So the first step in the interview is to understand what the position we are applying for is doing and what kind of employee it needs.
What kind of person they want, you go to play such a person, remember I said the interview is a performance?
For example, I'm applying for a marketing position at a bio company.
We know through common sense that this position requires someone who is outgoing, knowledgeable about biology, and a strong communicator.
So during the interview process, I would first make myself appear outgoing, smile, initiate greetings, show evidence that I am good at biology, and tell examples of how I am good at communicating with people.
Know your enemy and know yourself, and make sure you know your preferred position in advance.
2.2 Increase your identity capital
It's best if you know what you want to do at a point like junior, senior, or first year of study, brush up on your classes and internships early to save up experience. Including professional skills training, internships in companies, but also their own business, professional books.
Now a lot of schools in and out of not free, you can choose to do self media, online internships and so on. As much as possible, you can use the resources that can be accessed recently to build up your identity capital. Especially if you want to change careers after studying a major you don't like in college, this is the best time to do it.
Like I realized after grad school that I was not suitable for research, I was more interested in publicity and marketing, but I had no time to do an internship during my grad school years, so I used my free time every day to make a b-site account, and then I told about it as an internship, and HR was very interested in it, and I gained more attention than others.
If you want to change industries but don't have an internship, you can refer to the 2.5 principle when answering questions.
2.3 Know thyself
List every single thing you've done in school that you think is great or that no one else has done. For example: club experience, GPA, hobbies, entrepreneurial experience, first in a single subject, etc.
Look for traits in these experiences that match the position to support your ability to do the job.
Outgoing --- I memorized everyone's name within the first month of college. And spoke to every single one of them. Examples can be slightly exaggerated, but don't make things up.
Biology is good---" I was two points shy of a perfect score in biology on my high school exams; I had a 92 average in college; I was first in my department for a major course.
These examples, not necessarily all can be used, but need to be prepared in advance, say fluent. You can use them in your self-introduction or in response to HR's questions.
2.4 Highlight what makes you tick
Maybe you didn't decide to change careers until you graduated, or maybe you didn't have a standout internship while you were in school, or maybe your grades were mediocre.
It doesn't matter, you must have something that makes you shine.
Writing is good, you love to read, you play basketball, you dance, you like to surf the web, and you're a blogger.
You must have at least one thing that you do better than the people around you.
But don't just talk about your hobbies in a dry manner. It's much better to talk about your specialties in conjunction with the job you're applying for.
As: I like to play basketball, from junior high school contact with basketball, the university is the president of the basketball club, played a few games, won xx award. Playing basketball is not only a sport for me, but also exercises my teamwork ability. It is not enough to rely only on individual ability to play a good game, good teamwork can even make up for the technical shortcomings (my specialty). I'm applying for the XX position, which also emphasizes teamwork (a requirement of the position), so I think I'm qualified for the position in this regard.
Flashpoints can enhance your personal charisma in the interview, so that you stand out from the multitude of interviewees.
2.5 Always remind HR that you are the right person for the job
Because the job I was looking for wasn't exactly the right one, HR would usually have doubts about my ability to do the job, so I answered the question by emphasizing that my past learning experiences would be beneficial to me in this job.
The answer is based on the principle of "what have I done - how can I be of use to you - and therefore, I think I can do the job".
Say I (a biology major) am applying for a marketing position at a cosmetics company.
Q: What did you do for your graduation project, can you briefly summarize it?
A: We mainly studied the effect of light signaling on plant leaf rolls, blah blah blah, from xx to xx such a signaling pathway (what did I do), this process is very similar to the process of cosmetic products that work on our skin, I think that compared to other applicants, my learning experience in my major allows me to have an advantage in understanding the mechanism of the action of different skincare products, if I'm familiar with the differences between each product, that can also help consumers If I am familiar with the differences between each product, then I can also help consumers choose the best product for them (what's in it for you). Therefore, I think I am qualified for this position.
When answering the question, emphasize to HR that you are not only answering the question, you are also considering the position you are applying for, you have the ability to work, and your intention is sufficient!
2.6 Mock Interviews to Straighten Out the Logic
The mock here is not for you to find someone to simulate as HR. Instead, they are in their heads, imagine the interview scene, imagine what questions HR will ask you, answer yourself again, the answer must be logical, follow, what I did - what is the use of you - therefore, I think I can be qualified for the principle of this position.
Telling your story in advance will make you comfortable and confident in the interview.
2.7 Forget about gains and losses, a sense of relief will let you win big
At the interview, be sure not to be nervous, we all took a picture, right, a serious shot is far from a good look. In the interview is the same reason, the same performance, must be the performance of the most relaxed and least nervous candidates, give people the strength of a stronger anti-pressure stronger feeling.
This is something that I felt very strongly when I interviewed for the Audit Committee. At that time, I was a professional not completely counterparts of the fresh small master, and my opponent has two years of counterpart work experience in Zhejiang University, graduate sister, 985 masters, of which there are also similar age of the fresh PhD, they are really better than me too much too much. When I learned this information outside the interview site really want to go home, but I took a whole hour to get to the car hey! It would have been too much of a loss to go back that way, so I might as well be a free interview simulation and get a free boxed lunch to go with it.
So, before the interview, I adjusted my mindset, "I'm here to play the game." HR asked questions I didn't know, and my competitors spoke eloquently, but I wasn't nervous at all, and I was here to play the game anyway! After listening to my rival's organized conversation with HR, the pressure came to my side, I thought that so many people are sitting in the dry is also quite embarrassing, why not lead him to his own familiar topics, at least to say something. Because I am familiar with the field, HR sister is very beautiful and gentle, I did not realize that I was chatting high, the whole interview process I conveyed to HR is "Although I do not know your things, but I am a strong learner, I know my own field of things, you can consider me." Such a message.
Finally, I saw my name on the list of those who were poorly qualified for the physical examination! Although I didn't get passed on in the end, this experience made me realize that the interview examines not only professional ability, but also the proportion of mentality and on-the-spot performance should definitely not be underestimated.
My experience was during the spring of 2020-2021, when the job search environment, though already bad, seemed to be better than now. It's so hard to see my younger siblings looking for jobs now! But! Difficulties will eventually pass, do your best and never give up! It will surely turn out to be a blessing! Lastly, for those of you reading this note and wasting precious minutes of your life, good luck with your interviews! I wish you all the best in your interviews and get the best offers!