It's a Job Search Jungle Out There

If you are currently seeking a new role and wondering if it's the wonkiest job market ever, you are not alone. Over the past 6 months, I've heard one coaching client after another state the following:

• I've never actually had to look for a job before
• I don’t even know where to start with my job search
• I feel anxious and all over the place with my job search
• I am wondering if I should make a career pivot?
• I don’t know what I want to do with my life

Being in a forced job search can definitely challenge your emotional state and not to mention, test your resilience (hello to being ghosted, experiencing a crappy candidate experience, receiving a form rejection email, etc..). According to the?Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory,?losing a job is one of the top ten most stressful life events.

In order to help those who are seeking a new role in this current job market jungle, I wanted to share these tips to help you stay “zen.” Instead of sitting at your computer wondering what to do (and frankly not wanting to do?anything), I recommend creating a structured and strategic job search plan that will help you stay calm, focused, and joyful (is that even possible? yes, but it's not always easy!).

Take time to reflect

Before mass applying to anything and everything, sit down and answer the following questions:

-What is my ideal role?

-What are the top priorities for my next role? (e.g., compensation, benefits, good manager, flexibility, culture of the company)

-What are deal breakers for me? (e.g., taking a pay cut, working in the office 5 days/wk, having a bad manager)

-Do I want to make a career pivot? If so, what are some options?

-What type of work is energizing for me?

-What type of work drains the life out of me?

-Where do my strengths lie?

Network, network, network

In this current job market (when jobs aren't always coming directly to you), I cannot emphasize the importance of networking or "building relationships" enough. With that being said, I also know networking can instill dread in many, especially if you identify as an introvert. What I recommend is devising a networking strategy that?suits your personality.?For a strong extroverted sales professional, this may entail reaching out to 100+ people per day (okay, maybe not 100 but you get the idea); and for a more introverted software engineer, this may look like contacting only close connections. Some networking ideas for you to consider:

• Make a list of former managers who were strong advocates for you?—these managers can help refer you for open roles, serve as references for you, or simply be a sounding board for you.
• Review your LinkedIn connections?— if you aren’t a power LinkedIn user, you may forget who you are connected to. Make a list of LinkedIn connections who:?a)?work at companies of interest?b)?are recruiters who may have contacted you about roles in the past?c)?are colleagues you really enjoyed working with.
• Schedule informational chats— if you are interested in making a career pivot, contact people who are in roles of interest. See if they are open to a 15-20 min chat to discuss their role. Over the years I’ve had a number of people contact me via LinkedIn to learn more about working in HR or becoming a coach. Personally, I always enjoy these chats and love learning about people’s career journeys. When you get to a certain point in your career,?I think it’s imperative to give back and help others?(especially considering all the help you likely received over the years).

Interview Prep

Unless you are a natural schmoozer or can easily ace complex coding problems in your sleep, you should take time to thoroughly prepare for interviews. When working with coaching clients, I highly recommend they create a doc or deck that includes the following sections:

• General interview questions?— start compiling a list of questions such as: tell me about yourself; tell me what motivates you; what interests you in working for this company; what is appealing about this role; describe your top 3–5 strengths; tell me about 1–2 areas of growth (i.e. your weaknesses)
• Role-specific interview questions?— read through the job description and consider possible interview questions that may be asked. For example, if the job description emphasizes “strategic thinking” or “cross-functional collaboration,” think about ways you exhibited these skills in past roles. When devising your answers, I recommend using the?STAR?(Situation, Task, Action, Result) format, which helps ensure you are clear and concise versus rambling off the rails wondering, “did I actually answer the question asked?” If the STAR format is too structured for your natural personality, think about the top 3–5 points you want to highlight for every interview question.
• Company-specific interview questions?— during the interview process, a hiring team is determining if you embody the company values and are a culture fit or a culture add (a sign of a more progressive and evolved company)
• Your list of questions?— instead of worrying excessively and wondering, “do they like me?”; you should also be asking yourself, “do I like them?” An interview process is a two-way street and you should be determining if the role, company, and manager are a good match. Having a list of 5–10 questions to ask each interviewer helps you assess whether there is a love match (interviewing can be a lot like dating!).

Finally, as you embark on your job search, which can be quite the adventure you didn't sign up for,?try to infuse fun, self-care, and connection into your days.?When you are applying to one job after another and not hearing?anything, you can start to feel drained, isolated, and demotivated. Try to mix up your days with time outside, exploring new hobbies, connecting with people who lift your spirts, and upskilling in areas of interest.

Today a coaching client said, "While I've never had to look for a job before, I am open to the experience and think it will be good for me." That's the key: stay open! You never know what may come about during this period of exploration.

Colleen Canney is a Career Strategist and Leadership Coach based outside of Boulder, CO. She works 1:1 with individuals to help them transform the way they live, lead, and work. For more information on Colleen's coaching services, please visit her website: www.colleencanney.com