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Being president of the United States is the toughest job in the world, and running for president is the second toughest. Current and former candidates like Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama spend years gearing up for this ultimate job competition. As a job hunter, you can learn from both their successes and gaffes. Here are five lessons right from the 2008 presidential campaign trail.
Start with Focused Intention
You won’t find more goal-directed, single-minded people than the presidential candidates. Their perseverance and refusal to accept defeat exemplify focused intention and what it takes to win. For example, Clinton has said, “I have an opportunity to come to this campaign with a very strong conviction and feeling that I will be able to withstand whatever the Republicans send our way.” And she held on until the very end of the Democratic primary season, only bowing out when her nomination became impossible.
To win the job, you need to outlast everyone around you and not accept defeat -- it takes a level of determination much like Clinton’s.
Spin Is Everything
The presidential candidates aren’t just politicians. They’re products, packaged deliberately and carefully. Every aspect of their personas, from Clinton’s handshake to Obama’s lapel pin to McCain’s Straight Talk Express, is marketing. This includes how they dress, stand, shake hands, smile, answer and deflect questions, think on their feet, run campaign ads and handle public appearances.
Likewise, see yourself as a product you’re marketing to the hiring manager. Ask family or friends to give you honest feedback on your appearance, posture, verbal and nonverbal communication, resume, cover letters and any other aspect presented to a hiring manager. Make the appropriate changes, including verifying that your resume is effective in spinning your story as a results-oriented problem solver.
Don’t Let Them See You Sweat
For the most part, the presidential candidates have shown impressive self-control and smoothness when asked probing, embarrassing or provocative questions. Watch how the candidates conduct themselves during a debate -- the most stressful of job interviews.
Similarly, at interviews you must think on your feet and respond to negative questions with positive answers that enhance your candidacy for the job, done while maintaining the perception you are confident, relaxed, comfortable and free of stress. Practice is a major component of achieving the poise and presence that prevents your interviewer from seeing you sweat. You need to be able to handle yourself professionally under pressure.
Preparing for both phone and in-person interviews is necessary to win the job. Have your answers ready when asked any of the major interview questions. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and move on. Putting the hiring manager at ease is key to a successful interview.
The One with the Biggest Rolodex Wins
Obama has been able to tap an impressive database of more than 1.3 million donors, compared to Clinton’s smaller donor base. The disparity has been compelling, and Obama is also leading for the Democratic nomination.
On the Republican side, it also helps to have friends in high places. For example, a large network of influential supporters are responsible for propelling McCain's primary victory in New Hampshire earlier this year, according to reporters from the Boston Globe.
You too should use your solid network of friends, acquaintances and contacts to aid in your job search. Don't forget social media sites, which are playing a larger role in today's job search and can open up new opportunities. A good network can also help you keep your morale up since the job search can be an isolating experience, especially if you’re unemployed. Make an extra effort to stay connected with a support system, even if it's online.
Go that Extra Mile -- in Fact, Go That Extra 100 Miles
Candidates will go to great lengths to win the nomination. McCain told reporters in a recent press conference he would work harder to allay any fears voters have about his age. In fact, he admitted he out-campaigned his Republican primary opponents by working 16-, 18- and 20-hour days. In Memphis, Clinton didn’t arrive at her hotel until 5 a.m. after a red-eye flight from California and was on stage in front of TV cameras just six hours later. And Obama experienced a near 20-hour campaign day when he left his hotel at 6 a.m. for TV interviews in Philadelphia and was on the go until his plane landed in Chicago at 1:30 the following morning.
This type of physical stamina and mental discipline are humble reminders of the demands a presidential bid or job search can require. In fact, the actual process of looking for a job may be the hardest job you'll ever have. Treat your job search with the seriousness of a full-time job. Go out of your way to do the research and make the calls. Develop a resume that really sells your achievements and answers the question of what’s in it for an employer, just as the candidates must tell the citizens what is in it for them.
[As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of Job Search Secrets Unlocked, Turner has been interviewed on several radio talk shows. Discover more insider job search secrets by visiting Job Change Secrets.]