By J. Mason
Online Career Tips Staff
Looking for a job can be as fun or torturous as a shopping trip; that depends on much you enjoy shopping. You look for the right outfit, sometimes you find it, sometimes you don’t. The time invested may not equate to the mileage you’ll get for the outfit. This can be the same for a job hunt. Spending countless hours searching to find only mediocre positions can leave you frustrated and disheartened. The worst thing to do here is to let it get to you. Change your attitude and outlook before you put yourself in front a potential employer.
Step 1: Create realistic expectations
Give yourself some credit. Write down your marketable qualities, and soft skills. Next, create a diagram with three separate categories: desired, possibility, and workable. Put down which positions are highly desired to you, then your next tier of work possibilities, then all the way down to a job that may not be exactly what you want, but will contribute in the end to your overall career profile. This sets up your realistic expectations and gives you a checklist of sorts to work from. Now you won’t be blindly searching for jobs, you’ll be looking for a position that compliments your career focus.
Step 2: Set up application goals
When you’re desperate for a new position, or you’ve been out of work for a while, it’s common to send out dozens of resumes and applications daily. Instead of applying to everything you see, first double check that it hits your chart of expectations, and then apply to those that are relevant. Set a ceiling for applications, and stop for the day when you hit that. If your daily quota is 12, then try hard to accomplish that with quality leads. Use the extra time networking on social media, or looking for in-person events within your industry.
Step 3: Put yourself in the position
If you have a good lead on an open position, visualize yourself there. Come up with a few ideas to enhance it, and think of how you’ll lighten the employer’s work burden in that area. This can be fun. It’s like when you played make believe as a child, or maybe you played with dolls or army tanks. You thought of a scenario that was favorable to you, and carried it out. Do some light research on the company, you can start with their website, and create a short list of suggestions. If you do get into the interview the employer will be impressed by your initiative, and it could get you started on a project if you’re offered the position.
While this time can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be. Commit as much effort into a job search as you would an actual job. Your hard work and dedication will pay off eventually. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and down about it, take a break. You can also look for networking events in your area to get some perspective on what’s going on in your career realm, and you could get a few good leads along the way.
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