It’s time to get help with your job search
There are many reasons why people are stuck in a dead-end job or prolong an unsuccessful job search process. Most people need help to figure out why. If you’ve been unemployed for too long, it’s probably time to evaluate why your circumstances haven’t changed. Blaming external factors won’t change
anything, but changing your approach will. For many people, that’s a tough nut to crack. It’s hard to see beyond your immediate circumstances. If you’re weary from an unproductive job search, it’s time to get outside assistance to move the dial.
It’s hard to see beyond your immediate circumstances.
It’s common for people to talk with just about anybody about their intentions for a new car purchase or favorite restaurants. Using this same approach for a job search might be as dangerous as asking for medical advice from random strangers. Although most people have good intentions, they’re unlikely to know enough about your backstory or particular issues to provide realistic advice. In contrast, friends and family may be too close to you to feel comfortable addressing hard truths about you that have become barriers to your progress. They may be afraid of hurting your feelings or
disrupting a relationship. They may also have a distorted impression of where you fit in the market and which roles you’re most competitive for.
It’s time to get professional assistance.
When you’ve already pursued the “you ought to do (this)” directives from well-meaning friends and acquaintances to no avail, it’s time to get professional assistance. A knowledgeable coach will help you develop a strategy for moving forward. The following questions can help you determine which parts of the job search process you might need help with:
1. Do I know what I want?
2. Do I know how to accomplish it?
3. Do I have enough time to reach my end goal within my financial limitations?
4. Am I looking for a quick fix or a longer-term solution?
5. Am I willing to invest the time to do everything that’s needed?
6. Do I know how to strategically expand my network?
7. Am I unsure how to approach people or pose the right questions?
If you’re unsure of what kind of job you want, then it would be nearly impossible to capture your dream job or convince an employer that you are qualified, excited, and a fit for any position you pursue. It’s also unlikely you’re spending your time efficiently or productively. It’s very easy to succumb to inaction when the steps forward aren’t clear. In contrast, unrealistic goals will cause you to face rejection more often than not. Having unrealistic expectations can prevent you from gaining any traction. It’s hard to see alternatives when your mind is set on something and your financial clock is ticking. Getting help focusing on a reasonable goal that meshes your interests and marketability will change your outcomes. The path could be very different than you imagined, but that’s actually a clue for what’s missing in your job search.
Develop a real-world plan.
Online assessment tools help you determine where your interests lie and strengths are. After that investigation is underway, the real trick is to attach what you want to your current marketability. Assessment tools don’t include current, local market conditions. In a quickly changing job market, this information is a key to achieving your goals. So, there is research to do. Your next step is to develop a real-world plan. This seems simple, but it may not be easy or intuitive. Beyond knowing what you want and could be good at, your experience AND current circumstances must be factored into the equation. A career coach will help you build a strategy for getting where you want to be. Most importantly, they’ll help you see what you currently can’t.
Taking advice from people who don’t know all your facts … can cause a complete derailment.
Instead of spending time using social media to share your unemployment woes with other unemployed people, use the time to read about what’s going on with people who are working. Be curious about what organizations are creating, producing, and focused on vs. just wanting to know whether they’re hiring. Asking for information from people about their work or the companies they work for is necessary and welcomed. Taking advice from people who don’t know all your facts or are unaware of extended market conditions can cause a complete derailment. This aspect will be more productive with guidance. If you’re only hitting dead-ends and are ready to get on the right track with your job search, it’s time for
a change. Cutting three, four, or five months off your job search can put money back in your pocket. What will you lose by enlisting help and trying a new approach?
For more career advice, check out my webinars on Career Assessment and Strategic Networking & Informational Interviewing and follow me on LinkedIn and (X) Twitter.
