Being Assertive vs. Aggressive During a Job Hunt

It’s no secret that when you’re on a job hunt, you have to be aggressive. Sit back and hope that the right opportunity comes to you and you’ll find yourself waiting a while. However, it is possible to go too far the other way and become overly aggressive as you hunt. When you’re hoping to strike the perfect balance between the two, keep these tips in mind:

Know how to network properly

Networking is extremely important when you job hunt, but it’s important to do so with caution. In order to network effectively, you’ll want to maintain regular contact with your connections. Send them information that they may find helpful, including links to articles or information about events that they might like to attend. This way the relationship remains mutually beneficial. Be wary of becoming overly aggressive in your networking, which is when you badger a contact about job openings or only contact them when you need something. This kind of behavior quickly causes a relationship to disintegrate.

Learn to relinquish control when it comes to the interview process

Yes, interviewing for a job is a stressful and often time-consuming process. But it’s important to understand that you must work with the hiring manager’s timeline and not try to maintain control during the process. Yes, it may take longer than you like. You may be left with unanswered questions. But if you try to assert yourself too heavily into the interview process, you’ll end up creating a negative impression that could ultimately cost you the job.

Maintain modesty

Always toe the line between stating your qualifications and boasting when it comes time to do a job interview. Don’t sell yourself short, but by going on and on about your amazing list of accomplishments you’ll come across as arrogant or unpleasant during an interview.

When searching for the perfect opportunity, it’s important to remain focused and productive without overwhelming the hiring managers or industry contacts you’ll need to reach out to about these positions.

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