The “You” They Hired
It always amazes me how quickly some people become disenchanted with their jobs. They are unhappy and thoroughly nonproductive. They have forgotten WHO THEY SAID THEY WERE and WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO — for the salary offered — WHEN APPLYING FOR THE JOB.
The “You” the organization thinks it hired is the “You” it wants.
So you did your best on the application. You checked and double-checked. You were thrilled to interview. You planned every detail of what you would wear. You arranged transportation and made sure nothing got in the way of arriving early. You smiled and were enthusiastic about the opportunity. Oh yes, the salary being offered was just fine. Yes, you said it even if it was not true; convincing yourself it was a “foot in the door.” You represented yourself as an eager, positive team player.
You got the job! Congratulations! Good for you!
One, two, three months go by. Perhaps it is the end of the probationary period. You’re in and the mask comes off. You begin to suspect others make more money than you. The manager you schmoozed during the interview now gets on your nerves. Shoot! You are not going to work that hard when others are making more money. You arrive a few minutes late most days. What the heck! Just get there when you get there. And another thing, they don’t pay you enough to dress professionally every day. You only dress up when you go on job interviews.
STOP!!!!!
Where is the person who was so excited to get the job? Are you some imposter who faked them out? The answer is critical to your ultimate success in the organization.
THE LESSON:
Success AFTER being hired is in great measure based on how closely daily behaviors and performance match the who you said you were, and the what you said you would do, BEFORE you got the job.
The same things it took to get the job are the things required to keep the job AND get new opportunities.
The “You” they hired is the “You” they want!
This does not mean settle for your current job or current salary. To the contrary. Know your worth. Seek new opportunities and better pay. But, as you seek new opportunities, you must deliver on the who and the what that initially made you attractive to the organization.
THE BRAND “YOU” SHOULD NEVER BE MISREPRESENTED OR UNDERSOLD. Forget the organization, you owe it to yourself to be who you say you are and do what you say you will do. You owe it to yourself to set high standards for yourself that are not tied to paychecks or approval from others. You owe it to yourself to be the real deal!