Assuming you have the luxury of a bit of time and space in your job search, it's a smart idea to give each application some serious thought. Roughly one-third of your life is spent at work, and as you probably can attest, looking for the right job is an exhausting, time-consuming pursuit on its own.

1. 7 Questions You Must
Ask Before Your Next
Job Application

2. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Title
Text
Introduction
7 Questions You Must Ask Before
Your Next Job Application
When applying for a new job, applicants (especially younger
job seekers) often fall into the trap of going out of their way
to prove that they are right for the job.
But do you ever stop to ask yourself if the job is right for
you?

3. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Assuming you have the luxury of a bit of time and space in
your job search, it's a smart idea to give each application
some serious thought. Roughly one-third of your life is spent
at work, and as you probably can attest, looking for the right
job is an exhausting, time-consuming pursuit on its own. So
it’s important to do everything you can to determine if a job
or company is going to be a good fit before you take the
job.
Asking yourself a few questions as you’re filling out
applications can help save you from a poor decision — and
another job search down the line.

4. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Is this really the right job for
me?
A broad question, to be sure, but an important one. Ask yourself:
• Why you’re applying for that particular job?
• Do you admire the company?
• Is it your dream job?
• Do you like the sound of the work?
Any reason is valid as long as you're aware of it and okay with it. But it's
valuable to be conscious of your reasons during the application process.

5. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Do my values align with the
job and the company?
Examples of a values clash can range from minor to extreme. Of course, you
don't want to be working for a meat packing plant if you're an avowed
vegan, but there are subtler reasons your values might not align with a
company as well.
For example, studies show that younger workers tend to value flexibility
and work-life balance much more highly than their Baby Boomer
counterparts; if a company doesn't offer flex time or remote work
opportunities, those who appreciate flexibility might not be happy there in
the long run. Or, perhaps family is a key value, but the company demands
long hours and lots of weekends at work. That too would be a values
clash.

6. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What is my
work personality?
Your work personality might include things like preferring to work alone or
on a team? Are you a leader or a follower? Do you like to cooperate with
others or compete? Are you a creative person who needs flexibility, or a
logical thinker who thrives on structure and routine?
There’s no right or wrong answer in general, but it’s helpful to know what
you prefer so that you can determine if your work personality will fit into
the culture of the company you’re applying to. A creative, cooperative
person who loves to collaborate with others probably won’t thrive in a
highly competitive sales job where employees are pitted against one
another to meet rigid quotas.

7. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
What are my most valuable
skills?
Businesses often talk about their “unique selling proposition,” or
the thing that sets them apart from their competitors.
As a job applicant, you have a unique selling proposition, too. You
have skills, experience, talents, or personality traits that set you
apart from the pool of other candidates.
When you're thinking about this, don't stop at superficial or
common descriptions like "detail-oriented" or "punctual." Dig deep
and really think about the unique qualities you bring to your work
that the company will appreciate.

8. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Will that job take me a step
closer to where I want to
be?
If you're leaving a current job because of a lack of growth opportunities, or
because it's not on the career path you really want to be on, it's essential to
ensure that any new position will fix that problem.
A lateral move isn't likely to make you happy in the long run if what you
really want is growth. Promotions aren't the only way you can grow in your
career. It's worth finding out if a company offers ongoing training or
mentorship that can help you get to where you want to go. And if you don't
know exactly where you want to be heading, now is the time to do some
serious self-reflection and figure it out.

9. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
You probably know why you want to leave your current job, but have you
thought about what you would change to make it better?
Sometimes we leave a job for personal reasons, like a nasty co-worker or
uninvolved boss. Other times we decide to leave because the work isn’t
challenging, there aren’t any growth opportunities, or even that the
commute is too long. Don’t forget or gloss over the reasons you’re
unhappy in your current or previous job, and ask yourself, what can you do
to ensure that you won’t have these problems in your new job?
What would I want to
change in my
current job?

10. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
This may sound like an odd question, but it's a great way to help determine
what's truly important to you.
If a great opportunity came along but didn't include… X, would you still
take the job?
Your X-factor might be just about anything: flex time, stock options, free
coffee in the break room, health benefits, retirement plans, vacation time,
the salary you want. Asking yourself which things you could live without,
and which are non-negotiables can help you narrow down your choices and
make difficult decisions if it comes down to choosing between two different
opportunities.
What am I willing
to give up?

11. © 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Once you've spent some time thinking about these
questions, you can confidently assess whether you feel each
application is a good fit for you. It may seem counterintuitive
to ask that a job meets your specifications (instead of the
other way around) but in the long run, you and your
employer will both get more out of the relationship when
you go in confident that you'll be happy and fulfilled.

12. © 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website
© 2017 Bernard Marr , Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
© 2018 Bernard Marr, Bernard Marr & Co. All rights reserved
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a
strategic business & technology advisor to governments and companies. He helps
organisations improve their business performance, use data more intelligently, and
understand the implications of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
blockchains, and the Internet of Things.
LinkedIn has ranked Bernard as one of the world’s top 5 business influencers. He is a frequent
contributor to the World Economic Forum and writes a regular column for Forbes. Every day
Bernard actively engages his 1.5 million social media followers and shares content that
reaches millions of readers.
Visit The
Website

13. BernardMarr
hello@bernardmarr.com
www.bernardmarr.com