How jury duty is like a job search
I walked to the mailbox, opened it up, and there it was….a jury duty summons! The morning of my report date I packed some snacks and a book to help pass the time, and then headed to the courthouse. After waiting for over three hours in the potential juror room, I was selected for a case. That was the beginning of my two-week term of jury duty service. I soon came to realize that jury duty and a job search have quite a bit in common. You never know who you will meet, how you will interpret the evidence, or how long the journey will take.
How will you connect with people, and how will they impact your life? Another participant in a jury duty case may inspire, convince, confuse, or even frighten you. You will be exposed to judges, attorneys, defendants, witnesses, court officials, and other jurors. How will you interact, and what will you learn from them? What they say and how they say it can determine how you rule in the case. In the deliberation room, how can you present your thoughts and opinions in order to convince other jurors to see your perspective and agree on a ruling? In a job search, you will meet network contacts, potential employers, company employees, and maybe even other candidates. The connections you make and the interactions you have with these people will affect your job search when exploring opportunities and participating in interviews. How can you find a job opportunity that’s a fit given your skills and interests, and then convince that company to hire you as opposed to your competition? Every connection counts. That’s why professional networking is so powerful and leads to job discovery and yes, employment. To make it work for you, take a chance. Put yourself out there. Talk to people, and connect in person and online through resources such as LinkedIn. And don’t forget to listen and learn! You never know who will lead you to a great opportunity, or hire you for your dream job.
In some cases, evidence that seems to be insignificant can become the basis of a decision. In a court case, the burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. That can be very, very difficult. In my trial, reasonable doubt played a significant role and affected our jury’s ruling. When you are involved in a job search, there are so many factors that can affect your ability to secure employment. You may seem like the perfect candidate on paper, but if you make a mistake during an interview, it can lead to a rejection. You need to show a potential employer, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you are the best person for the job. How do you do that? You create and maintain a consistent personal brand that integrates your skills, experience, knowledge, and goals. You must present a professional resume and related application materials, social media profile, appearance, communication skills, and understanding about the company, position, and field of work. You should definitely practice interviewing and telling your story in a way that illustrates your skills and how you can be an asset to that company. Pay attention to the details, because something that may seem insignificant to you can either land or cost you the job.
You don’t know how long the process will take or what the outcome will be until you reach the conclusion. When I arrived at the courthouse on the first day I thought that even if I get selected for a case, I’ll be there one or two days, tops. That assumption turned out to be very wrong! The first few days were fun and entertaining. Then it got to be a bit tedious, and then downright discouraging, as our jury couldn’t agree during deliberations. Frustrations were running high heading towards the end of week two, when fortunately our jury came together to make a final decision. Your job search may take a day, a week, a month, a year, or even more! You’ll go through different stages and emotions, which may feel like a roller coaster. It will be critical for you to stay positive and focused. Take the time to network and do your research when it comes to potential job opportunities and employers. Make sure you have created professional application materials such as a resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile. Learn from others, seek professional development opportunities, and don’t limit yourself to just a few sources of information. Your next great job may not even be on your radar. You’ll find it by making good, smart choices and connecting with people as you go through the job search process. If you get frustrated and discouraged, reach out for help in order to get back on the right track. A job search might be longer and more challenging than anticipated, so it’s important to keep moving, learning, and connecting in order to achieve success.
Do you see the connections between just duty and a job search? Are there others? How can you apply these lessons and observations as you develop your career?
