Landing a job is no easy feat.
"Sometimes it feels as if you need superhuman qualities to even get your resume past the spam folder of a hiring manager's inbox, let alone get ahead once your foot's in the door," says Alisha Grauso, editor-in-chief of Moviepilot.com.
Luckily, she says, there is a group of people to whom you can look for advice: The Avengers.
"No, really. There are lessons to be found in any comic book story that can be applied to real life, and Avengers are no different," Grauso explains. "You think you've faced some tough career situations? Try facing down an army of invading Chitauri while Manhattan is being destroyed."
In honor of the upcoming release of Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron," Grauso shares 10 lessons you can learn from the Avengers characters that may help you land your next job:
1. Never lie about your work history.
It can be tempting to lie on your resume about your education or work history, but resist, she advises.
"Sooner or later, the truth will come out, especially if you have some shadier spots in your work history," Grauso says. "As Black Widow learns the hard way, lying about your past can come back to bite you in the spandex. Some of the other characters have had a hard time trusting her because she's lied so much in the past — so she's had to work hard to regain the trust of some of the Avengers, namely Captain America."
So just be open and honest about yourself, and disclose anything about your situation or history that might become an issue later, Grauso suggests. "You never know when some power-crazed, manipulative coworker will come along and try to use it against you for his or her own gain."
2. Always show you're a team player.
"No man or woman is an island, even if he or she has superpowers and can physically throw a car across a busy street," she says. "At some point in a job, you're going to have to work with others to complete a project or tackle a particularly challenging problem. Being independent and able to self-direct is a great skill to have, but remember that there are always others around you who bring a different set of skills to the table — skills you'll need."
Maybe it's a strong business sense; maybe it's an eye for design; or maybe it's the ability to rapid fire half a dozen exploding arrows while kick-flipping off a skyscraper, she jokes. "The point is, showing a potential employer that you play well with others is not only helpful, but necessary."
3. Communication is key.
Your coworkers will always have different ideas, motivations, and communication styles than you do — so it's imperative that you take the time to actively listen to the other members of your team when they speak up with their ideas or objections, she explains. "Don't just steamroll them. The Avengers showed us what happens when everyone refuses to compromise and no one listens: everyone starts arguing, nothing gets done, and then Bruce Banner flips out and destroys the Helicarrier. And you don't want to pay for a new Helicarrier — trust me."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
