A huge challenge that I have witnessed and fought against for many years is overcoming the ego of a strong candidate.
Ego comes in many forms:
I went to Harvard so...
I was making $200,000 base in my last position so...
I got 6 weeks of PTO in my last role so...
Let me chime in, so what!
If you are looking to make a career change, or perhaps are already out of work, check your ego at the door!
Exceptional degrees, past comp packages, strong benefits, are all great, but certainly do not entitle you to expect special treatment. Candidates make the mistake, quite often, of putting themselves on a pedestal. It's noticeable and can be a hindrance to the hiring process.
I always ask candidates, "what is your bottom line?" Meaning what base/bonus/benefits do you need to consider taking a specific job. Naturally the goal is to exceed that number, but it gives me a baseline and frequently causes an intelligent discussion.
Sometimes it's necessary to take a small step backward in the interest of getting on the path to a giant stride forward.
Be open-minded and realistic, and the odds of finding the next great job will increase significantly.
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