Okay, let’s face it! Job searches are some of the tougher things to do in life. Knowing the realities of the employment process though, can help you better cope with the challenges when they arise. Here are the top five hard truths about job searches.
1. Searching for a Job Can Be a Full-Time Job In and Of Itself.-Unless you are extremely fortunate to find a job that is a good fit for you right off the bat, then a significant and consistent daily effort will be needed to find the right employment opportunity. Truly effective job searches require a disciplined and laser-focused approach on a regular basis. Where many people run into trouble with their search is by doing it in a scattered, here and there fashion rather than working at it as if they are “on the clock”.
2. You May Hear a Lot of No’s Before You Hear A Yes.-Though it may be hard to take at times, hearing no is just a regular part of the job search process. No’s can come for many reasons. The job may already be filled, the company may have an inside candidate in mind, the hiring process may have stalled out due to budget cuts, etc… The best way to proceed is to look at it as each no getting you closer to a yes.
3. You Will Be Forced Outside Your Comfort Zone. The very nature of seeking new employment leads to uncertainty and unfamiliar situations. Most people would not actively seek out a situation where they will be asked to sit in a room with a group of people they have never met before while those people fire all sorts of questions at them. Or be asked to jump in front of a computer and take a 50 question skills test with a 30 minute time limit. Or be forced to make sure that they still looking presentable after having to sprint through a driving rain storm to make it to the job interview on time.
4. Self-Doubt Will Creep in From Time to Time. -Even the most confident folks may get shaken up at some point during the job search. If things do not happen how envisioned, it can throw the most rock solid people for a loop. Hearing those no’s can get to you if you let them. Entering a job search after a downsizing or other unforeseen circumstance can be especially difficult. You may be dealing with grieving the loss of what you had, while at the same time having to push forward in finding something new. This self-doubt is entirely normal. The trick is not to allow yourself to slide from self-doubt as a temporary state to a permanent one.
5. The Job Search May Take Weeks or Months, Even If You are Doing Everything Right. I am sorry to say it, but this is the job search reality of our modern world. All sorts of conditions can affect the length of your search, some within your control and some not. The current state of economy, how specialized your career field is, the size of the city that you live in, the job turnover in your area and many more factors may affect your search.
If you are currently employed, this may mean staying in a job you would like to leave longer than you had intended to. If you are unemployed, this may mean cobbling together whatever temporary work you can find to stay afloat until a suitable permanent opening arises. The key is to look at these obstacles during the process as hurdles you must scale on the road to getting to where you want to be and not let them paralyze you.
By knowing the hard realities of job searching along with the positive opportunities that may arise from the process, you will be much better able to deal with what comes your way.
Other Information on Job Searches That You May Be Interested in Includes:
I found this great post from Frugal Friday Link Up Party. Every one of these truths are spot on. Job hunting is so hard. 🙁 Thanks for sharing.
Really appreciate you stopping over from Frugal Friday and thanks so much for the affirmation.