Of the Most Importance

It is hard to decipher what was the most important thing I learned over the course of this term. I came into class with no knowledge of what HR teams and recruiters engage in outside of my applicant experience. I would say the most important thing I learned though, is how to be a better applicant. When looking at how you go through the process as an applicant, it can be daunting. Each applicant must maneuver through each company’s hiring process and come to terms with each step. For instance, some organizations may require specific tests to move forward in their hiring process, such as cognitive or personality tests. But understanding how the test relates to the job or not is something I can now specifically attest to. This in turn relates to the better understanding I have of my rights as an applicant and knowing when to answer a question or pass on it and the inquiring company. Having even a remedial understanding of these rights would help a lot of people better work through the application process. Another aspect is that of negotiation. I remember in a previous class, that there was a discussion about the gender pay gap and that some of it could possibly be attributed to women simply not asking for more money up front. After the segment on negotiation, I feel I have better confidence to look at how I operate in the working environment and fight for what I am worth, the same point being made in the course I took previously. I have better knowledge of what I bring to the table and that can and should be translated into better perks as I move forward in my career. Perhaps the most important thing I learned from this class is to emphasize my strengths and use them to my advantage as I move forward with my career. I believe many of us have always been taught to focus on fixing our weaknesses so we can become a complete package as an employee. Unfortunately, that does not work for everyone, and I believe I may fall into that category. Using the tools I have mentioned above plus finding a vehicle for my strengths will allow me to develop a long and successful career. I know we were supposed to pick the most important thing we got from this class, but for me, it was about gaining a better understanding and perspective of the entire process and I am grateful for it.