I hate inventory. From a retail standpoint, nothing is more dreaded (except maybe Black Friday) than Inventory Week. I used to work for a fairly large clothing retailer, and while our particular store was modestly sized at best, inventory week was still a major inconvenience. It involved long hours counting every single piece of clothing, accessory or whatever else we were selling at the time, and generally kicking ourselves in the shins for deciding to work retail. Unfortunately for retailers, inventory is a necessary part of the job. It helps to know what you've got, what's been lost, and what you can do without in the coming quarter for your sales initiatives.

However, no matter how much I hated it, inventory was a necessary evil. Similarly, it's important for job seekers to take inventory on themselves. Your job search is much like a retail business - what skills, qualifications and quirks are you trying to sell that are going to help you stand out from the rest of the pack? To help you prepare for your interview (a loose approximation of the dreaded Black Friday), The Employment Guide® has come up with some questions to ask yourself, to take inventory, in three parts.

First, take into account your current position. There's an old saying that goes, "It's hard to know where you're going without knowing where you've been." What job responsibility have you enjoyed the most? Why? For example: I love being able to write for you guys every week. It helps keep me up to date on what's going on in my industry, and through your comments and feedback we're better able to serve the job seeker here at The Employment Guide. By comparison, which job responsibility have you least enjoyed? If you're changing jobs, what has brought you to that decision? Are you looking to change fields? What will be the heaviest factor in selecting your next job? (Money? Location? Hours? etc...)

Second, take a personal inventory. Knowing what you're expecting or wanting from your new job will help you to avoid taking a position that doesn't really fit your personality. Ask yourself questions like: Is full-time work important for you? Are you naturally outgoing? Do you enjoy working on a team, or do you prefer to work alone? Do you enjoy teaching others? Are you hands on, or more technologically-oriented? Are you able to focus on details? How do you deal with conflict situations?

The third and final step for our inventory is to think about what you'd like to accomplish in your new position, and in the future. Job satisfaction can come from knowing we've picked a position that's going to help us achieve our goals, instead of causing us to stagnate. So, what are your career goals? Is a college or graduate degree important to your overall goal? If so, do you know the courses you might need to take? Have you taken courses, or acquired on-the-job experience that might help you get closer to achieving your goals? Do you aspire to be in a management position? What does "manager" mean to you? How will you meet your goals?

Just like most retail stores will do inventory before the start of every quarter, you should conduct your own inventory before each interview. It'll help you narrow your job search, refine your resume and help you sell yourself better as the most qualified candidate during your interview.

Be sure to review the positions you've chosen after taking your inventory. Have you discovered any new positions that might suit you?

What did you discover about your job search through your inventory? Let us know by leaving a comment!