What should a seasoned professional do when they encounter a setback during the job hunting season?

Every year in March and April, it’s the prime season for job hunting and recruitment, and many people take this opportunity to switch to a more suitable job. This year, however, it’s a bit different—those who want to resign are hesitant, becoming more cautious. My best friend Mia is different. During the pandemic, she actually applied for resignation. In fact, Mia was doing well at her company, as a copywriter, she was highly valued by her boss. Her reason for quitting was nothing major—just boredom, not used to hearing her boss talk every day, and during the pandemic, there are plenty of talents out there. Like others, I advised her that it’s a tough time to find a new job; the priority in 2020 was simply to survive.

But Mia didn’t listen. She believed that a crisis is also an opportunity, and maybe it’s a good time to change jobs. So she hurriedly submitted her resignation, officially started the handover process, and began her job search. Mia hadn’t looked for a market job in five years, and claiming she was unadapted is false. Even as a seasoned professional, she still fell into some common job-hunting pitfalls.

Today, let’s analyze Mia’s three job stories to identify those pitfalls and solutions, hoping that her experiences can serve as a reference for others seeking jobs during this period.

Job Story 1: Same Position, Different Industry

The so-called cross-industry same position means applying for a role similar to her previous one but in a completely different industry. Mia’s first interview was with a wallpaper manufacturing company, recruiting a product copywriter. Her previous company was a local advertising firm mainly writing brand exposure plans for clients, rarely focused on sales conversion.

One is manufacturing, the other is service industry—quite a gap. Initially, Mia was confident, thinking her copywriting skills, which had impressed thousands of clients, could easily handle a wallpaper industry role. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. She had no prior experience or knowledge about this industry, so when asked about relevant information, she was almost clueless. If this was just a small mistake, then she made a bigger one: when asked to provide her previous work samples, she submitted a personal essay to demonstrate her writing skills. The result was predictable—she was rejected, unexpectedly but also expectedly.

1. What pitfalls did Mia fall into?

Pitfall 1: Overemphasizing the value of her previous role

Mia overvalued her past job and overlooked the differences caused by industry change. Past value refers to the overall product of her role at her previous company, based on platform and colleagues’ work—perhaps recognized by clients or gaining brand exposure. Under this halo, she exaggerated her role’s value. When she received the interview call, she believed her role’s value could match any industry, ignoring industry-specific insights. What are the key features of copywriting in the wallpaper industry? What are the main selling points? She didn’t research these.

If we compare her role to a screw, the industry is the machine. A screw fits well in its original machine, but if the machine changes, whether the screw fits depends on the model. Many people overly focus on the quality of the screw but ignore whether it matches the machine, leading to mismatch.

This is the mistake of overemphasizing the role and neglecting industry differences!

Pitfall 2: Providing mismatched work samples

The interviewer asked Mia to submit her work samples. She should have provided cases that promote product conversion, not just text drafts. Turning words into selling points is what a copywriter should do.

2. How to avoid the pitfalls of cross-industry same position interviews?

What strategies can we adopt to prevent these mistakes?

Use flexible thinking to find similarities from different angles

Flexible thinking, reportedly proposed by Roger Von I in California’s Monrovia, is a way to approach problems without disciplinary boundaries. Domestic experts say flexible thinking (critical thinking) refers to skills and attitudes that are not discipline-specific; any topic involving intelligence or imagination can be examined from a critical perspective. Finding core similarities in the same role across different industries is key to avoiding pitfalls. We generally follow three steps:

• Analysis: Break down the industry features, job responsibilities, and the essence of copywriting, then compare with your own experience. Draw circles representing each aspect; the intersections are your core selling points for the interview.

• Evaluation: Assess and justify your core points. For example, Mia could analyze a sales article about wallpaper, think from the perspective of how she would write it, and evaluate its effectiveness.

• Self-calibration: Based on analysis and evaluation, adjust your understanding of your copywriting level. If it doesn’t match industry needs, what remedial measures are needed?

Using flexible thinking helps find the fit between the job requirements and your abilities—this is what you should emphasize during the interview.

Job Story 2: Reverse Identity

What is reverse identity? It means switching from client side (company) to agency side, or vice versa—a role reversal. Mia’s second interview was with a client company. During the interview, the interviewer asked two questions:

• Do you prefer working on the client side or agency side? (The interviewer wants to know her preference for working on the client side)

• What do you think is the biggest difference between the two? (To see if she can adapt to the client-side work)

Her answer to the first was straightforward—since she was interviewing for a client company, she naturally preferred the client side. For the second, it was an open question, and she hesitated. She hadn’t really considered the differences between the two roles, so she simply said that the client side is less professional, while the agency side is more professional—an unsatisfactory answer.

The interviewer explained that the biggest difference is that the client side is more specialized, focusing on a specific industry, while the agency side covers a broader range of industries, requiring higher versatility.

1. What mistakes did Mia make in this interview?

Mistake 1: Overconfidence and assumptions

From her answers, we see she was overly casual and lacked research. For a seasoned professional, this can leave a bad impression. If she wants to switch from agency to client side but doesn’t understand the differences, it shows a lack of sincerity.

Mistake 2: Vague self-positioning

I asked Mia if she truly wanted to switch to the client side. She said not really, just happened to apply for a client company, and didn’t think much about whether she preferred client or agency work—just wanted a job with similar pay. This shows her self-positioning is unclear. Lacking a clear direction is a mistake for a seasoned professional, perhaps due to long-term absence from the job market, leading to a loss of sensitivity.

2. How to avoid these pitfalls?

First, prepare thoroughly

• Research the company: Is it a client or agency? How does it differ from her previous roles? This info is available online.

• Research industry keywords: What are the company’s strategic focuses and development history? What do they value?

• Prepare viewpoints: What is her stance on switching roles? Why does she want to switch?

• List her value propositions: What unique value can she bring to this role?

Second, clarify your positioning

Use the 6W method for quick self-positioning:

• Where: What kind of role does she want—client or agency? Entrepreneurship or partnership?

• When: What are her career stages? What should she do now?

• What: Main goals now? What does she want to change?

• Who: How to communicate with different people—HR, bosses? How to gain recognition?

• Why: Why should the company hire her? List her value.

• How: How to make the interview flow naturally? How to clearly express her intentions?

Thorough preparation and clear positioning help her take the initiative in interviews.

Job Story 3: Network Circle

Most people look for jobs within their industry and similar roles, which gives a clear advantage but also risks being limited to a circle of acquaintances. Mia’s third interview was personally arranged by an industry boss. Initially, she didn’t know about the boss’s complicated relationship with her previous employer. On the day of the interview, she learned they were former colleagues. Although the boss appreciated her abilities, she declined the offer, feeling it would be too awkward.

When discussing salary, the boss offered less than her previous company, making Mia think that if her former boss found out, she might be proud. But then she realized that this might lead to a lower salary, which she found unacceptable. She thought it wasn’t worth the trouble.

1. Pitfalls in network-based interviews

What mistakes did Mia make in this third interview?

Mistake 1: Poor mindset adjustment

Mia liked the company but, because of her relationship with her former boss, she gave up. She didn’t realize that being in this circle means inevitable connections.

Mistake 2: Horizontal comparison over vertical

She compared salary and benefits (horizontal comparison), ignoring potential career development opportunities (vertical comparison). She overlooked the importance of long-term growth.

2. How to avoid pitfalls in network-based job hunting?

First, maintain a good attitude—view it as expanding your network. This is also a form of self-promotion, showcasing your talents and sincerity, demonstrating your ability to do the job, and realizing your life value.

Second, prioritize vertical comparison over horizontal:

• Horizontal comparison: salary, holidays, benefits.

• Vertical comparison: career prospects, company training programs.

Focusing more on vertical comparison provides greater flexibility in choosing jobs.

Summary

Although Mia is experienced, she still fell into common job-hunting pitfalls. Her three stories offer different solutions, but the core is the same: preparation. No matter how talented someone is, without preparation, they won’t get opportunities.

⊙ Source: Internet