Everything I Needed to Know About Job Hunting I Learned from The Godfather

There are so many resources out there for job hunting and career advice that sometimes I don’t know where one ends and another begins. Lately I’ve been able to look around and realize that there are actually career lessons in everything, from songs to movies to interactions with other people. So I thought I’d go a bit outside the box on this one and present some job-search tips gleaned from one of the best movies ever made, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather.

“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.”

In the context of career searching, this means that you need to be open to different opportunities. Whether you’re employed and searching or unemployed and desperately looking, it’s important to make sure that you explore a wide variety of employment paths to make sure you find the right job. Is there a company you always considered beneath you, or not your style? Take a second look and see what they’re about. You might be pleasantly surprised to find opportunities that you’d have missed by being more narrowly focused. This tip also applies to your willingness to commute or even relocate. Don’t rule anything out just because you always have. The wider your net, the more you catch.

“Leave the gun, take the cannoli.”

No, you won’t actually be carting weapons into a job interview. This is all about focusing on the essentials, from your resume to your skill set to what you want to do with your life. What’s on your resume? Is it jammed with details like the 3rd-place awards you got in a college honors society? If so, it’s time to trim the fat and focus on who you are and what you’ve done. Similarly, although you’ll be able to talk about yourself in the interview, a strong candidate is able to present a tightly focused version of themselves to potential employers. Show them what they need and keep it centered on how you can benefit them.

“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”

It’s also important to maintain a balance between your personal and professional lives, both in the context of career searching and in the office. Even a great career is just a support system for your life, and it’s important not to let one swallow the other.

“It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.”

This is a big one to remember. While it’s perfectly understandable to get your hopes up if you interview for a job, a lot of applicants can take it as a personal affront if they don’t get hired. But it’s important to remember that hiring managers are making business decisions, not personal ones. Yes, your personality does play a role in the interview process, but even a winning personality can be outmatched by professional experience and skill. That’s just the way it happens sometime. If you find yourself up for a job and don’t get it, don’t be discouraged. Realize that the match wasn’t meant to be, and get back to searching.

“Make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Ah, the classic. When you’re looking for a job, your goal is to get hired, and a great way to boost your odds is to make yourself appear indispensable. Simply put, your presentation of yourself needs to wow your potential employer and make them feel crazy for turning you away. Use the other tips on this list — stay open to new things, showcase your essential qualities, don’t de-value your personal life, and don’t take rejection personally — and funnel them into this one. Your goal should be to turn yourself into the ideal candidate. Converse openly and realistically about your strengths and weaknesses. Talk about where you’ve been and where you see yourself in five or ten years. In short: sell yourself, and sell hard.

I’m sure there are more lessons to pull from the film, but those are my top five. Focus on those, and you’ll be better prepared as you continue your career search. Who says movies can’t teach you anything?

Online degree programs can speed up the the job hunt by making you a better candidate for any job.

Katheryn Rivas writes on the topics of online universities. You can connect with Katheryn at katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

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