You, as a deaf or hard of hearing job seeker, may have been on the job market for a while and quickly depleting your savings. Though times may be hard, you should never let your future employer see you being overly anxious for a job. There is a big difference between being enthusiastic and downright desperate for a job. Below are the three most common desperate behaviors that deaf and hard of hearing job seekers must avoid:
1. Applying for every job opening at the organization
You will not be viewed as a viable candidate when you apply to every single job vacancy at the same organization even if the positions are very different. If the positions have overlapping duties and are similar in nature, it's understandable that you may be interested in both. But to apply to all or nearly all job vacancies make you look desperate. You must be strategic in your application submissions. Make sure it is something you are interested in and have the right skills and experience for that particular job.
2. Not asking questions during interviews
Another form of desperation is when you do not ask questions during the interview about the job position itself, the organization, or the hiring process. Just accepting everything with no clarifying questions or follow-up questions may show indifference and can easily translate to, you guessed it, desperation.
3. Contacting the employer too many times after the interviews
It is good to follow up with employers after interviews within reason. Calling or e-mailing the employers multiple times makes you a nuisance. An e-mail here and there is enough. An occasional video or phone calls are acceptable forms of following up but be sure to give the employers sufficient time to respond about the status of your job application before you repeat the follow-up cycle.
Final advice
Do not give out desperate signals or behaviors to the employers. Be confident in your skills and if you know that you are the right fit, and the job is the right fit for you, you may get the call from the employer for another round of interview or get a job offer. If you are not hired, do NOT start an argument with the employer about their decision or keep asking why you are not hired. This behavior makes you look desperate. Simply thank the employer for interviewing you and move on. If you believe that your interview skills are lacking, you should seek help from a job coach or from a professional who specializes in employment assistance services. It is likely to be worth the investment of your time and money to get additional help to enhance your interview skills and soft skills in order to improve your chances of securing a job that you are qualified for.
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