Inspirational Quotes that Work as Job Interview Tips
Simply Hired Staff
Unless you’re one of those types that enjoy alternating cycles of hopefulness followed by rejection, chances are you don’t exactly hop up and down with joy over the prospect of job searching. While we all know that one and done success story of the college friend who’s never been unemployed a day in their lives, the rest of us are going to have to kiss quite a few frogs before finding that career prince charming.
So what should you do when the job interview process is getting you down? We like to go back to some of the greatest thinkers, tinkers, and doers of our past and present and garner up a little motivation. Below are a few pearls of wisdom to help kickstart your job search and keep you on track to success.
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“It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get up.” Vince Lombardi
We’re all going to be told “no” a few times, or simply not receive a response to our expertly crafted resume or hiring application. The number of times we fail won’t define us, but the actions we take to continue on and achieve eventual success will.
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“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Henry David Thoreau
So many lessons can and should be learned throughout the job interview process. From each individual meeting or phone or email exchange you should be constantly gleaning information. Some of this will serve you well in the current job hunt while other tidbits will be useful in future endeavors. Whatever you do, remember the process is the most essential step to any endeavor.
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“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky
We’ve all been in the position where we’ve come across the job of our dreams, only to read the fine print requirements and see we’re missing a year of experience or don’t have one of the requested advanced certifications. We’re also inherently guilty of talking ourselves out of feeling worthy of taking a shot for that awesome job when we do have all of the requirements met. If you never take the shot, you’ll never score a win, so what are you waiting for?
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“Hard work and dedication and perseverance and being good to people does win. It does matter. Cream does rise to the top.” Gina Rodriguez
Sometimes it’s easy to think of all the time you’re putting into job hunting rather than focusing on the ultimate successful outcome. Know that if you’re a qualified, hardworking, experienced candidate that you will eventually rise to the top of the applicant pile and end up in the winning job offer seat.
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“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Walt Disney
Often times during the job search process we can get bogged down in the planning, preparing, reviewing, and discussing aspects of the job search for countless hours without taking that crucial first step. Don’t get us wrong, we love when you read our regular blog entries for pointers, but at some point, you’ll need to execute instead of just reading. So send out that first interview or make that first networking call. It’s the very first step you’ll take to ultimate success.
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“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius
Especially in competitive or saturated job markets, it can often feel like the process of searching and interviewing is taking much too long. Add in the inevitable delays in individual hiring processes and the stress of being unemployed, or non-ideally employed, and the whole shebang can feel a bit like waiting for water to boil. Realize that as long as you are moving forward it is still a step in the right direction, even if things aren’t quite going as quickly as you’d like.
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“Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.” Thomas Jefferson
Serial procrastinators in the house, this motivation advice is for you. Cringing at the thought of refreshing that resume? Dreading tackling those “thank you” follow up emails? It’s only natural to feel overwhelmed or uninclined to engage in a job hunting task. The trick is to overcome that aversion and take positive steps every day in order to prevent the inevitable backlog that can sabotage your job search efforts.
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“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill saw some of the brightest and darkest times of his era and had first-hand responsibility for a number of successes and defeats. Take it from him, keeping movement and momentum going when faced with both highs and lows will serve you well in your initial career search and throughout.
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“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who’s going to stop me.” Ayn Rand
If you’re the type that’s always waiting for someone to open a door to your success, chances are you’re going to be waiting an awfully long time. Opportunity is out there in the interview room and beyond but you’ll need to actively seek it out and be your own number-one cheerleader.
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“Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.” H. Jackson Brown
Last but not least when it comes to our motivational sayings to motivate your job interview is a little jewel that talks about risk versus reward. Sometimes you may see a job listing in a different career field, new city, or a position you’ve never even considered. Going out on a limb, given that it’s strong and sturdy enough, will allow you to score some pretty juicy career rewards that wouldn’t have been available otherwise.
We hope that we’ve inspired you and your job search with our tried and true motivational quotes. Have a favorite that we’ve missed or that always helps pick you up? Drop us a line in the comments and maybe you’ll be included in our next article or update.
Article Updated from the Original on April 23, 2019
