If you think all bank employees must be tellers counting cash and all hotel employees must stand behind a desk checking in guests, then you may be closing the door on a wide range of amazing job opportunities. By thinking of retail, service, or financial companies with such a narrow mindset, you’d have no idea that these same companies often need to fill challenging and important positions in HR, IT, Marketing, Finance, and other departments. They need people with the skills and desire to do things like analyze data, create reports, manage projects, design business processes, engage in customer support, and perform quality assurance testing to name just a few. So, before you scroll past those job listings or narrow your job search filters, consider these reasons why broadening your job search mindset can be to your advantage.

Expand Your Horizons and Opportunities Will Follow

In Hawaii’s competitive and dynamic job market, you will only hurt your own chances if you limit your search to certain job titles or certain companies or industries. Your dream job may be in an industry you never considered, or in a position you never expected to try. Banks need software developers, retail stores need web designers, and law firms need accounting pros. By expanding your horizons beyond the industries and positions you’re familiar with, you can gain access to a lot more opportunities you would otherwise have missed.

Go to an Interview – You May Be Surprised

Always make a point of going to interviews whenever you can, whether in person, over the phone, or in a virtual setting. Even if the job description doesn’t match your dream job perfectly, it’s often during the interview that you’ll learn what the position truly entails. You’ll definitely learn more about the company, and you may even hear about other openings that haven’t been publicized yet. Go to these interviews with an open mind and be prepared with questions to help you explore the details of these positions.

Don’t Hold Out for a “Sexy” Job Title – Especially When Great Benefits are More Important

It’s human nature to focus on the title in a job description. But don’t get caught up if the title doesn’t describe you exactly, or if it isn’t “sexy” enough. The job duties, skills, and tools you’ll be using are far more important than the title of the position. And don’t forget that benefits such as health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off are a crucial piece of the overall compensation, and should outweigh any hesitancy over a  job title that is not as slick or impressive as you’d like.

Jobs that Sound Boring May Actually Be Amazing

As part of expanding your mindset, consider looking more closely at job openings that may seem “boring” on the surface.  While you might typically ignore such openings, these jobs could turn out to be amazing opportunities. A job opening for an automation engineer may give you access to cutting-edge robotic software and a chance to try your hand at process automation tools. Or a position for an operations manager might give you the opportunity to travel widely and meet lots of people as you design and implement business-critical procedures. Often, you’ll learn more about these aspects during the job interview. And a good recruiter who knows the job market is another great resource who can share these insights.

Break out of your old job search routine by connecting with our team of experienced recruiters who can help you find hidden, exciting opportunities. Our pro career tips will help you leap ahead of other job seekers competing for open positions, and our team will work with you to develop a comprehensive job search strategy that best fits your needs. Contact us today to learn more.