As our coaches work with Jobpounce participants and interact with many aspirants, majority of the people are grappling with a serious ailment.
It would be easy to call it frustration but I think it has a lot more to it. Let’s review it a bit more closely.
Cause and effect
- Most people put in a lot of effort to polish their resume and send it to their friends, or post it online or use job websites to respond to opportunities that have been posted
- And then they wait for a response…maybe an email, maybe a phone call
- Most of the time, there’s no response. And that gets job seekers even more determined to send out resumes and cover letters to a wider audience – the thought process being to spread the net a bit more wider to get a bigger catch
- And when they still don’t hear back, frustration starts to creep in. And it’s not just because of the lack of response from HR or recruiters, it is because of the amount of effort that has already been put in with very little results. It is sunk cost…all that time and effort…we can never get it back
What to do?
Our recommendation is to change the way you look for jobs:
- Define your market and focus on what the employers in that market are looking for. Because it’s about what is in demand and what the requirements are. One good question to research is “why is this employer hiring for this position at this time?”. The answer to this question will give you clues and will help you align with the opportunity
- Connect with your personal and professional network. And remember that that current and past employers of people within your network are also your extended network.
- Celebrate even the smallest of milestones you achieve…it could be a phone call with a counselor, or a new job lead or an introduction to a recruiter.
- Keep your exercise routine up, its amazing how much physical well being can contribute to positive thoughts and inspired action
- Don’t stress, even thought reports say that 10% of the population is unemployed, understand that 90% of the population is still employed
It is just a matter of time before you are back to work.
What would be some other ways to reduce job search frustration?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
How to deal with job search frustration – http://retwt.me/60yg #jobs #job #careers #HR
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Your writing style is quite upbeat. Props.
Thanks Michael!
RT @careertiger: How to deal with job search frustration – http://retwt.me/60yg #jobs #job #careers #HR
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Changing how you LOOK AT looking for jobs will help how you feel (and help you Get a job). Here are a few tips to help change your perspective:
- You are building your professional Roladex (remember those spinning file systems on people's desks? Maybe a more updated term is “Outlook contacts”). Instead of seeing each contact with a potential employer as a success only if you get a job, realize that with each lead and person you meet, you are building your professional network. A client shared with me that he once spent 6 months looking for a job, and the contacts he made in his job hunt are still people he does business with today.
- Be you, not the needy, clingy version of you. If you are your pleasant self, and not hell-bent on getting something, no one gets the ick feeling from you. This means people are more likely to want to help you and stay in touch with you – until an opening comes up.
- Use free time to the max. Remember all of those times you were working and wishing instead you had time to work on your golf game, learn Portuguese, see your parents, go on a road trip? Now's your chance!!! This may be the last stretch of free time you have for a long, long time. Make the most of it, and your jobless state may be the best thing that ever happened to you.
@LaurieGay – great points! I like the one about being yourself…not a 'clingy' version of you. Very nice…
Thanks, man!
Quite prolific comments I had, I am thinking now…
Whatever, sometimes more is more!
job search sometimes makes us so upset because of all our hard works sending resume, going to orientation etc will just come to waste. but that's not the end of the word frustrations are just part of the game of life.
job search sometimes makes us so upset because of all our hard works sending resume, going to orientation etc will just come to waste. but that's not the end of the word frustrations are just part of the game of life.
Might I add taking time to learn some new skills or brush up on old hobbies, take time to enjoy your family,
don't isolate yourself from the world
and
last but not least..have sex, it is a great stress reliever and the funnest type of exercise
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