1 question to diagnose “meh” job interviews and coffee chats
If you’re in a situation where you’re trying to pitch yourself…
(Like a job interview, a networking coffee chat, a sales call, etc…)
And you’re feeling like it’s going kind of “meh”…
And the other person is not really picking up what you’re putting down…
Here’s the 1 question I want you to ask yourself to diagnose what’s going on here.
Do you have a wrapping paper problem, or an in-the-box problem? 🎁
An in-the-box problem is when you don’t have the skills, experience, or capabilities to do the job.
A wrapping paper problem is when you DO have the skills, experience, or capabilities to do the job…
But the way you’re talking about it isn’t resonating with the person in front of you.
If you have an in-the-box problem…
You should go gain those skills, experiences, or capabilities.
Or you should apply for the kinds of jobs (or seek the kinds of clients or customers) that would be a better fit for your current skills, experiences, and capabilities.
❌ Don’t polish your sales pitch.
✅ Do go get better at what you do, or find a better-fit match.
If you have a wrapping paper problem…
You should figure out where the breakdown in communication is and adjust how you’re talking about things.
❌ Don’t gain more skills or experiences.
❌ Don’t aim for different jobs or customers.
✅ Do stay the path and hone your pitch.
The trap I see high performers falling into when they’re pitching themselves…
Is that they tend to assume every “meh” moment is an in-the-box problem.
But a LOT of the time…
It’s actually a wrapping paper problem.
So you don’t have to worry that you’re not qualified to do what you want to do.
Or reconsider the kinds of jobs you’re going for.
Or build up your skills, or gain more experiences.
You just need to understand why the person you were talking to didn’t get it…
And figure out how to explain yourself a bit differently next time, so they do get it.
This is exactly what I help my clients do :)
We diagnose what’s actually going wrong in your job search 🔬
We keep you out of unproductive rabbit holes and wasted work 🐰
And we simply and clearly solve the real problem at hand 💪🏽
Come get a taste of this problem-solving with a coffee chat ☕️
No strings attached.
It’s just an opportunity for us to discuss whatever’s on your mind, and I’ll be as helpful as I can be with some one-off coaching and brainstorming.
Or book a consult call, and let’s map out a full coaching engagement together.
Let’s not just problem-solve this one moment of your journey…
Let’s problem-solve every moment after this one, until you’ve ended up where you want to be.
What my clients have to say…
“Everything we talked about was actionable.
It never felt like there was something fuzzy where I walked away and had to sort of wonder how this is ever going to impact my life.
At the end of each session, it was very clear what I was going to go away and do differently the next day.”
—Client | Head of Business Development at MedTech Company
I help high performers build their careers around flow.
This requires…
Internally, learning how to access your flow no matter what’s going on around you
Externally, designing a career strategy that angles your flow at a high-priority problem that someone will pay you good money to solve
Tactically, navigating the transition from the role you’re in to the role you want
Today’s article focused on #3.
For more writing on all 3 of these, check out my table of contents.
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