“The Psychological Advantage” How to Do It – Part 2 of 4

In part 1 of this series, I told you that the psychological advantage (PA) in job means that employers want you to fit the job as much as you do. So, how do you make yourself a good fit?

You don’t. Either you are a good fit or you aren’t. Faking it rarely works for long. Neither you or your new manager wants to learn weeks or months into your employment that you two don’t get along. The way YOU learn what you bring to the job is to give it lots of thought before you start applying. Think about the skills you have that match the job posting. Think about the work environment, the compensation, the hours and all other elements of the day-to-day.

After you’ve thought about these things, write them on a list. For example, if you enjoy working with people, list it. If you must make 15 dollars an hour, put it on the list. If you can only tolerate a 30-minute commute, put it on the list. Continue this until all your job preferences and requirements are listed.

Then, next to each item, note how important each are to you; which you’ll compromise on and which you won’t. You can write out your comments, use check boxes, rank order importance, etc.

When you start searching, check you list against the terms of the job. If they match, apply. If they don’t, move on. If you’re not sure, make a note and apply, but be ready to ask about each item on the phone screen or interview. Your goal is to know what you want before you begin applying for jobs.

​Read Part 3 for how you can KEEP PA when talking to employers.