Why Curiosity Is Your Job Search Secret Weapon

Why Curiosity Is Your Job Search Secret WeaponWhy Curiosity Is Your Job Search Secret Weapon6You might discover hidden opportunities.Ever wonder what your neighbor does for a living? Take the time to ask, and you just might find a great new addition to your network. Think that bedrngnisable exec you admire would never be open to an informational interview? Theres no harm in extending a heartfelt invitation and seeing what happens. Curious people act on their inquisitive nature and open themselves to the possibilities that may follow.Youll come across as interested, not needy.Job seekers often make others uncomfortable. Neediness scares people off because they fear not being able to help, and nobody likes to disappoint. Curiosity sets a different tone.Im a huge advocate of curiosity or, in my language, research, being the very basis of discovering a position . . . or even have one discover you says Darrell Gurney, founder of CareerGuy.comand author ofNever Apply for a Job Again Break the Rules, Cut the Line, Beat the Rest.Through research, you connect with someone in a field of your passion and get known by them based on your curiosity. If you look needy, they wont be as apt to meet with you because nobody wants to be in a position to say no. Yet, if you simply show up as genuinely interested in something, and they are as tickled aboutthe thing youre interested in as you are (aka, an expert in it), then you meet with them on the playing field of passion. People always, in the end, want to work with people they know and like. Through the curiosity/research method, you get known by people and stay top of mind if and when opportunities arise.Youll shine in interviews.Genuine enthusiasm gets a hiring managers attention. Curious candidates learn all they can about a company because they truly want to know about this potential employer. Their homework pays off by being able to hold their own in meaningful conversation. They also gain the foundation to generate thought ful questions that help them stand out from other applicants.Youll diversify efforts.Lastly, curious job seekers open their minds to alternate routes to employment. Theyre more apt to check out a career fair for the heck of it or take up a friends offer to provide an introduction at a networking event. They might try different social media platforms, sign up for a service such as , or make use of a career coachs free introductory evaluation because new possibilities excite them. While the ultimate goal is a new job, they can turn the often lengthy and mundane process of hunting into a morale-boosting adventure of discoveryReaders, do you find curiosity is your job search secret weapon? How does it work for you?