If you've been looking for a new job or just a job for any length of time and are feeling sluggish about your job search, chances are you've gotten discouraged somewhere along the way. It happens to everyone. Dreamfedjob has put a list of the 10 most common motivation killers that we have observed in job seekers. If any apply to you, start troubleshooting. One thing's for sure: You won't get far in a job search without motivation.
1. Discouraging labor statistics. The last couple of years have been extraordinary in the emergence of numbers-based reporting on the jobs issue. At base, these numbers are most helpful to corporations, governments and other entities that use the information in longer-term planning. In my opinion, job seekers are not as well served by the data since they can't actually use it; but they certainly are impacted psychologically - and rarely in a positive way.
What to do about it -- Stop focusing on statistics, at least until you're re-employed.
2. Generalized career information in occupational directories. As guides that describe a variety of jobs, these are wonderful tools for career changers and others who need information to choose career paths. Unfortunately, some of the guides are misleading, particularly in overstating the need for degrees or specialized certifications. Sadly, job seekers sometimes turn away from promising careers when told authoritatively that the field requires those degrees. This holds particularly true with government jobs.
What to do about it -- Confirm information by talking with people working in the field.
3. Inflated job postings. Perhaps you already knew this, but many postings ask for more skills than are actually needed. Why? One reason is that an inflated posting discourages casual responses. The employer benefits by having fewer people to consider. The practice is not without its casualties, however. Job seekers frequently review postings to determine their own marketability, then stumble away in disbelief at how "unskilled" they are.
What to do about it -- Lean away from job postings and focus on networking, where candidates are judged individually.
4. Unproductive networking. Speaking of networking, it's sad how often job seekers drop the process after a few coffee meetings. Since networking is partly a strategy and partly a lifestyle, it's unrealistic to expect leads to sprout from every encounter. That said, some types of networking are more effective than others; to be involved in the latter can knock the wind out of a job search.
What to do about it -- Troubleshoot your networking and improve it.
5. Feeling that things aren't fair. We know that you know life is not fair. So why are people so discouraged in their job search after discovering that candidates with connections get more breaks?
What to do about it -- Accept the "unfairness" and make it work for you.
6. Anticipating age bias. Mind you, I didn't say "experiencing age bias." When and how often age bias occurs is its own question. Separate from any actual occurrence, however, is the psychic burden carried by candidates who worry that it will happen. And the worry alone is enough to make people say, "No one will hire me. I'm too old" - which can lead to curtailing one's search.
What to do about it -- Face your fear and get out there. Other people your age are getting hired; how are they doing it?
7. Unresponsive employers. It's hard to get fired up about a search when no one calls you back. Worse yet is to be interviewed and then ignored. One tends to avoid rejection when possible, so the natural reaction is to stop reaching out to employers.
What to do about it -- Get a thicker skin and improve your odds by contacting more, not fewer employers.
8. Hanging out with unemployed people. That's ironic, isn't it? On the one hand, you benefit from the support of others in the same boat. But if you spend too much time with people who aren't working, unemployment starts to seem normal. Sometimes unemployed people slow each other down.
What to do about it -- Pay attention to how you feel after a session, then eliminate meetings that bum you out.
9. Scary anecdotes. Why do people tell you terrible stories about whatever situation you're experiencing? Pregnant women routinely hear about complicated childbirths, while job seekers are treated to tales of someone's cousin who's been looking for three years, lost everything and had to sell a kidney.
What to do about it -- Put your fingers in your ears and sing loudly. Ignore. Put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
10. Comparing current options to your last position and concluding there aren't any decent jobs out there. Sometimes we're our own worst enemies. If you've been measuring every opportunity against your last job, you're likely holding yourself back.
What to do about it -- Review opportunities with an open mind. Sometimes "good enough" is all you need, at least for now.
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