Job Search Fatigue
I was recently featured in a CareerBuilder.com article written by Rachel Farrell discussing job search fatigue. The reality is that job searching is a full-time endeavor and can be frustrating and mentally exhausting, especially when it drags on for an extended period of time.
As Rachel indicated in her piece, the economy is rebounding but that does not mean automatic work for job seekers and managing expectations is very important. I encourage those questing for work to be cautiously optimistic and not let it get the emotional best of you.
Jenny Foss, of Ladder Recruiting Group was also featured in the article and shared that there are many emotions that go along with long term unemployment including inadequacy, anger, terror, and shame but they key is to manage these emotions and tap into your resiliency skills.
With the reality of the hidden job market it’s impossible to conduct an effective job search just by applying to posted positions. Jenny Foss and I offered up these tips in the article to get you jumpstarted.
- Consider your job search a full-time job.
- Catch your breath. Calm down before you scramble to find a new plan.
- Know what your strengths are. Develop your special sauce story so you can illustrate why you are a value-add to an organization.
- Focus on your competencies not just job titles.
- Polish your interview and storytelling abilities. A great interview is a fluid conversation — not stock answers.
- Explore social media techniques for job search like Facebook, Twitter, a personal blog and LinkedIn.
- Craft a formal game plan. Don’t flail your way through every day. Have a plan and a schedule for each day.
- Stop playing the blame game. At the end of the day figure out what is not working and then craft a strategy around it. If you can’t find your way in through the front door, find the side door. It’s all about being creative and strategic in order to be successful.
