Going the Distance

Landing a job offer can take quite some time in today’s market. Just how long it takes will depend on the level of the position you are seeking, the industry you are trying to enter, your age, and a whole slew of other factors. One of those “other factors” has to do with a job searchers ability to stick to it no matter how long it takes.

I regularly come across job searchers who have taken a break from the search and others who have simply given up. If this describes you, take heart. Here are a few tips to help you climb back in the saddle and stay the course.

Self Care
Always take care of yourself first. Give yourself permission to do this knowing that it is key to your health and happiness not to mention your job search.

Pace Yourself
Many job searchers take an all or nothing approach. They give it their all until they collapse in a heap of despair and exhaustion. If you previously ran yourself ragged attending networking events, volunteering too many hours, taking workshops, and applying for every position that came your way, now is the time to make a job search schedule that makes sense. Devote five hours a day to the job search and use the other time to fill your own bucket.

Change it up
If you have been searching for quite a while, perhaps what you are doing just isn’t working. Even slight changes can produce amazing results. If you cannot fathom what needs changing, ask for input and ideas from trusted colleagues. You may even want to get professional help.

Set Realistic Expectations
It is not hopeless. It is just going to take some time. People are getting hired every single day. But the lazy or unprepared job searcher is unlikely to get lucky. Be realistic about what it takes to get hired. Gone are the days when great jobs just fall into our laps.

Your job search is not a sprint. If you think of it as a marathon perhaps you will be better able to go the distance.

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