Published in the USA in 1997, The Four Agreements, the bestselling book by Miguel Ruiz, has sold millions of copies worldwide. These four agreements are principles to live by, designed to help us live happier lives. We thought that, during a job search, which can sometimes be a time of considerable self-doubt, putting these principles into practice could do us a world of good. So, read on!
The origins of the Four Agreements
Miguel Ruiz is a Mexican neurosurgeon, born in 1952 into a family of healers. A near-death experience changed his life completely. He then decided to explore the wisdom of his Toltec ancestors (warriors who lived in what is now Mexico between the years 1000 and 1300), becoming a shaman and dedicating himself to sharing this ancient wisdom with as many people as possible. This led to the publication of his famous book: The Four Agreements.
These four agreements are guiding principles to put into practice in order to live more freely, happier and with more love. According to psychiatrist François Thioly, these ideas are nothing new: "They draw on the principles of cognitive therapy, which demonstrate just how easily we can fall into the traps of losing perspective or making sweeping generalisations."
1st agreement: Be impeccable with your word
Speak with integrity. Do not use your words against yourself or others.
This agreement is particularly powerful because your words have the power to create or destroy. You are a magician, and your words are like spells. To put this agreement into practice, remember: speak less, but speak the truth.
During a job interview, speaking badly about your former employer will create a negative impression of you. So, always try to maintain a positive image, don't rush into speaking, and avoid saying too much or too little. To strike the right balance, it is a good idea to prepare your answers in advance to the questions you are likely to be asked.
Another example of how this agreement applies? Picture this rather amusing, yet surprisingly common, scenario: a recruiter goes to the toilets during a careers fair. While there, they overhear candidates badmouthing their company or, even worse, them personally... You never know who you might be talking to (or who might be in the next cubicle), so choose your words carefully.
Beyond your job search, maintain professional conduct throughout your career and nurture good relationships with your professional network. This will come in handy, for example, when you need to ask former colleagues for references.
2nd agreement: Don't take anything personally
What others say and do is simply a projection of their own reality, not yours.
Understanding this agreement simply means accepting that you are not responsible for what other people do or say. There is nothing you can do to control it.
If a recruiter doesn't select you for a position, it isn't necessarily or entirely your fault, because not everything is within your control. Even if you submitted your application on time, the company may have already approved another recruitment decision internally. Another candidate with more experience may have got the job. Or perhaps you were unsuccessful because, despite your skills, your personality wasn't quite the right fit for the existing team.
Tell yourself that the job wasn't right for you, rather than thinking that you weren't good enough for the job, even if it's the fifth opportunity to slip through your fingers! This agreement is closely linked to the fourth one, “Always do your best”, which we'll come back to later.
3rd agreement: Don't make assumptions
When things are unclear, always try to clear up misunderstandings through communication.
Very often, looking for explanations means making assumptions. Rather than making up your own version of the truth, ask questions to clear up any grey areas. This will help you avoid getting stuck in assumptions (which are often a long way from reality). Misunderstandings arise from assumptions based on our own thoughts and perceptions. The key to this Toltec agreement is to understand it and then learn how to apply it in real-life situations.
Why weren't you selected for the position? Why hasn't the recruiter called you back yet? Did you perform badly in the interview? When looking for a job, patience is essential, as recruitment processes can sometimes take a long time. Your mind starts wandering and inventing scenarios, sometimes pessimistic, sometimes overly optimistic. You become attached to assumptions, only to be brought back down to earth when you finally hear the verdict.
To keep a cool head, make a note of the dates on which you submitted your applications, along with the company's phone number, so you can follow up at the right time. At every interview, don't hesitate to ask when you can expect to hear back, when the recruiter hopes to complete the selection process and when the successful candidate is expected to start. This will give you a clearer idea of the recruitment timeline and help you know when to follow up.
Another important point that many candidates overlook: ask recruiters for feedback on your profile. This will help you avoid unnecessary disappointment if your application is unsuccessful. What did they like? What did they like less? Do they have any advice for you? That way, you won't be left with a distorted picture based on assumptions, and you'll also receive constructive feedback. A rejection or a bad interview experience is an opportunity to learn. Look at the glass as half full, not half empty!
4th agreement: Always do your best
To avoid judging yourself, always do your best, whatever your circumstances.
If you have given it your all, you won't have anything to reproach yourself for, whatever the outcome. However, you also need to accept that your idea of doing your best can change and will never be the same from one situation to another. In other words, just because you gave something your absolute best on one occasion doesn't mean you can't learn from your mistakes and do even better next time. Conversely, you also need to accept that "sometimes the best thing to do is stay in bed", as Miguel Ruiz puts it. So, learn to strike a balance between doing too much and not enough.
You may sometimes feel compelled to apply for jobs at all costs. Sending out 50 applications a day is excessive. Remember to take a breather and step back from time to time. Focus on quality rather than quantity. Take the time to look for new sources of job vacancies, check the publication dates of job adverts, shortlist relevant opportunities, prioritise some over others, organise and keep track of your applications, and, above all, follow up. In short, remember to vary your tasks to avoid making mistakes.
Still on the subject of finding the right balance between doing too much and too little, after a few weeks of searching, you'll have a clearer idea of the average number of new job adverts published each day. This will allow you to build an increasingly effective routine, taking into account how much time each application requires. You'll then know where to look and how to tailor your approach when communicating with recruiters.
Getting started may therefore be slow, but taking the time to observe the market will help you spot the right opportunities as soon as they appear. Know what you want and be selective about the jobs you apply for. This will already help you avoid having to choose between a position you're not particularly keen on and a fantastic opportunity for which you haven't heard back yet.
The same applies to interviews: if you've analysed the job advert, made sure the position is right for you and prepared your key arguments, you'll have maximised your chances of being selected. And if you don't get the job, at least you can tell yourself that you didn't turn up empty-handed and that you did your best. You'll come away from the experience having learnt something valuable for the rest of your job search. Nothing is ever wasted.
Look on the bright side and start applying for jobs today with a positive attitude and plenty of optimism on Moovijob.com!