The Power of Perseverance

Last week a candidate, whom I had been speaking with for 6+ months about a job, wrote to me that: “After 145 applications and 5 interviews, I am happy to tell you I just accepted a position with Lockheed Martin.” He is an excellent and well-qualified candidate and thank goodness that he was persistent and didn’t get discouraged and give up. Here are some thoughts to help you stay focused and stay positive on your journey as well: 

Persistence is an investment of time; NOT emotion. 

Many people want to work, but unfortunately, the job search can take longer than expected for many of those who have been pounding the pavement for weeks or months and sometimes, even years. A recent Gallop poll suggests that millions of unemployed job seekers, feel demoralized, unmotivated, and lacked the energy to find a new job.

People eventually find employment, and it is partly based on persevering throughout all the phases of the job search process. This includes making a plan, and working it!

• Resilience is defined as ‘the ability to adapt successfully in the face of stress and adversity’. 
• Perseverance is ‘persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success’. 
• Tenacity is defined as ‘the quality of being very determined; determination’.

Developing these three closely linked essential skills will enhance your self-confidence and create opportunities for you as you become more self-assured in taking risks. Taken together, this means you must have GRIT, and that’s why GRIT must remain a staple in your arsenal.  

Here are 10 things to keep in mind about GRIT and the Job Hunt:

1.  Planning:

When the competition is heavy, your initiative & creativity is what will stand out. Perseverance can help job seekers feel organized and focused. It's wasteful to randomly start a job search with no direction or schedule. That creates chaos and may lead to nowhere, destroying personal hopes of finding new employment. Telling yourself that you are going to make a plan that hopefully leads to getting a job may give you a sense of assuredness about what may come down the line. The job search process might start with simply making a daily and weekly schedule. Simple actions at the beginning can domino into better outcomes.

2.  Tracking:

Create a way to track where you apply, when you applied, to what you have applied, and keep a copy of the job description as well (Excel or OneNote both work well for instance). When a job has a number of applicants, it is often un-posted, and therefore, the actual description may no longer be visible to the applicants, but you might need that information for the interview preparation! For tracking, you can add as much or as little information, but the key is to track what, where, & when you have applied to.

3.  Goals:

When devising a plan, establish Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound (S.M.A.R.T) targets! That way you know what you’re working towards, what is within your skills & abilities, and has personal value, so you’re more likely to adhere to the plan. In this case, it’s finding a job that’s right for you, focusing on quality over quantity is the real key to improving your chances of landing your dream job.

4.  Applying:

Numerous applicants may compete for a single job opening. This shouldn't discourage job seekers from putting in applications. Persevering and submitting your application, cover letter, and resume to numerous positions will improve your chances of landing new employment. However, you need to make certain that you meet or exceed the minimum qualifications that companies list in their posting. Most often, these “Minimum Basic Qualifications” are not flexible nor guidelines and they must be met to move forward in the application process. If you apply to openings where you do not meet these Minimum Qualifications, you will be expending unnecessary time and effort, and just inviting more demoralizing decline letters.  Better to use your limited time on openings where you meet those minimums!

5. Interviewing:

Job interviews (In-Person , Video or by Telephone) are, in part, evaluations or tests of your claims that you are qualified to fill the job opening. Like any test, you don't have all the answers to the potential interview questions, although you can rehearse general sample questions beforehand. Perseverance is what helps applicants get dressed up and courageously sit before a single or group of hiring managers, attempting to convince the company to give them a chance. Persistent applicants follow up after the interview with a thank you letter. Hiring managers have much respect for people who keep trying to find employment, against mounting odds in a competitive labor market.

6. Onetime contact is rarely enough:

Interviewers, employers, recruiters are impressed by the tactful callback, second phone call, Thank-you note, or a follow-up email. The key is timing, although it varies on the medium and the communication, a well-thought-out follow-up is often needed. People are even grateful you asked if follow-up is OK or even necessary. You’ll find many who will say, “Yes. Please follow-up by Thursday so that I won’t forget.”

7. Persistence inspires:

The value of great conversations often results in being remembered. People who see and hear from hundreds of people daily need a gentle reminder or a little persuasion.  People are encouraged by your efforts if you are putting yourself out there, it motivates others too.

8. Persistence vs. Pest:

Too many emails or phone calls can be viewed as desperate, but, too little persistence after a job interview can also be harmful to a job search. Too many people don’t follow up beyond sending one email or letter. They are afraid they will be considered a nuisance when those who follow up in the right ways are actually exhibiting leadership and decision-making qualities. TACTFULLY showing how much you want to work for an employer is an indicator of the dedication and hard work you will bring to the job. Remember you are selling yourself and the best salespeople know the fortune is in the follow-up.

9. Utilizing Positivity:

Positivity is a helpful companion to both your perseverance and resilience. After all, it’s much easier to sell yourself with an optimistic frame of mind than a negative one. If you’re finding it challenging to get into a confident mindset, it can help to focus on your accomplishments. Did you recently deliver a speech you were proud of? Did you achieve all your goals for the week? Celebrate those wins, big or small, and with practice, you can tap into this skill when you need it most – such as when you’re conducting a phone interview or writing a cover letter.

10. Dealing with rejection – asking yourself the right questions:

Rejection can leave us questioning our abilities. It might not be clear at the time, but rejection presents an opportunity to grow.

Asking for feedback is one way to see exactly what you need to improve on, but since feedback isn’t always available, what could you do to combat those negative thoughts and extract a useful outcome for your development?

Try analyzing the outcome from a different point of view. Ask yourself these questions after a set-back to improve your resilience:

1. Is there something I noticed in my performance that I am not satisfied with?
2. Did I apply to the right type or level job? 
3. Did I meet all the basic qualifications?
4. Did I customize and format my resume & cover letter the best for this job?
5. Did I send a Thank You note and follow up appropriately?
6. How could I do it better next time?
7. What steps can I take to avoid repeating the same mistakes?
8. What attributes do I need to improve to be successful in my position?
9. How can I better articulate my skills, abilities, & qualifications in my interview?
10. Is there someone I can reach out to for advice or support?

The answers will help you uncover useful information and allow you to deal with rejection from a different perspective.

Final Thoughts: 

 It is also important to realize that often, with up to 50% of openings, a rejection or decline letter may come to you for no fault of your own. Many positions at companies are posted, and then later either canceled or filled internally, both of which will trigger a rejection letter to all the remaining candidates, even though you are qualified and fit all the criteria perfectly. You must adapt, persevere, and keep trying.

The key:

Stay positive and keep applying. It is a bit of a numbers game, and remain mindful that Persistence is an investment of time; NOT emotion. Always remain positive!

?