I started winning in my career when I started thinking like a hiring manager.
Almost a decade ago, when I started my job search journey, I approached it like most people do.
- I prepared a perfect resume.
- Built a strong network.
- Started applying for jobs.
And for a while, that worked, but it didn't land me my dream role and a lucrative package.
As I climbed my career ladder in companies like Amazon and SLB I got a role for hiring, and it changed everything.
As a hiring manager I didn't just hire the most qualified person anymore. I hired the person who made my decision to hire them a no-brainer.
And once I started thinking like a hiring manager, I positioned myself differently:
→ I stopped focusing on skills and started showcasing impact.
- Hiring managers are least concerned about what you have done - they want to see the results you bring.
- I made sure my resume, interviews, and conversations clearly showed the business impact of my work.
→ I removed doubt before it even surfaced.
- A hiring manager’s biggest fear is making the wrong hire. I made sure my experience was presented in a way that connected the dots and assured them that I would be adding value to the role from day 1.
→ I positioned myself as a long-term investment.
- HMs don’t hire for today, they hire for the future.
- I didn’t just talk about what I would bring to the role now but also the vision of how this role would evolve in the future.
→ I worked with mentors who had been in the hiring seat.
- The fastest way to start thinking like a hiring manager is learning from one.
- Having a mentor helped me refine my positioning, communicate my values clearly, and step into higher-paying roles faster.
Once I started thinking this way, I became the obvious choice for the roles I applied for.
And that’s when my career took off.
Are you still thinking like a job seeker?
Or like the leader a hiring manager needs on their team?
