Removing the Barriers to Effective Job Search

The truth is that psychological barriers routinely get in the way of productive job searches for college students, even in the best of times. As a result, it is important to identify a few of those barriers that may apply to you and to address fixes going forward. Some of the most common include:

Barrier #1: Baggage

Many of us carry around our own preconceived definitions and ideas of success or the expectations, perceived or in fact, of our loved ones or those from whom we seek approval or respect. However, when those definitions or expectations fail to align with what we know in our hearts is best for us, it becomes ”baggage”, weighing us down and distancing us further from our authentic self and long-term workplace satisfaction. If we make decisions based on baggage, we weigh too heavily the need to “make money”, or have a ”prestigious” or “safe” job, or feed our ego before we do what we know makes us happiest or feels most right.

Barrier #2: Noise

Advice is everywhere in 2020 (this article is no exception!). Whether through Google searches, YouTube videos, “experts” in their field, everyone wants to give advice. But this advice is coming in a vacuum, from people who do not know your goals, values, skills, or financial obligations. External opinions on success, “good” jobs, financial security, work/life balance and prestige frequently have little to do with your own gut and internal compass about what makes you satisfied and engaged. These opinions, while potentially valuable in the generic, can become ”noise” when applied to you, preventing you from accessing your own gut to find what makes you happy and satisfied.

Barrier #3: Confidence Problems

Employers want confident decision-makers. Most do not want cocky, overconfident employees, unwilling to listen, adapt, or incorporate diverse perspectives. Similarly, employers are not seeking people who lack confidence, unwilling to make a decision, take a risk, fail, or project to clients or customers the strength to accomplish a goal or task. In an interview setting, lack of confidence or overconfidence can be a killer. In a job search, lack of confidence can lead to paralysis or highly ineffective networking efforts, causing students to say things about networking overtures like: “I don’t want to inconvenience them”; “They’re not interested in speaking to me” or “I don’t know what to say when I speak to someone”. Overconfidence can manifest in students grossly underestimating the effort they should put into networking, not applying to enough, or diverse enough, prospective employers, or a failure to recognize the right tone for informational or formal interviews, or finally, using an overly aggressive, cocky or dismissive style.

These three common psychological barriers can interfere with our ability to find the right job to match our own authentic goals, skill set and personality. And they are highly interrelated. Often our willingness to accept noise or baggage is directly related to our confidence (or lack thereof). If we are under-confident, we are more likely to accept blindly others’ opinions with regard to success or what might be the “right” thing to do. Overconfident job seekers will frequently ignore general advice that still is tried and true and may have been valuable for tweaking or refining an authentic search. 

This is a good time for soul-searching. Are you letting the advice of others or your perception of what others expect from you derail or detour you from finding your best path? Take this time to try to set aside the noise and the baggage, understand your own worth and value, and then think carefully about what really matters to you. Do YOU need to make a lot of money? Do YOU really want the 24/7 Wall Street job? Do YOU want a career that is lucrative but doesn’t allow you to interact with people as much? Do YOU get satisfaction out of helping people or being creative?

For those who lack confidence, this is a good time to begin building it. How? Start by learning the vocabulary of your chosen industry. Read related trade journals or newspaper articles. Follow current events that will likely arise in informational interviews or actual interviews. Practice communicating with authority while also conveying openness and likeability; do this by finding people who hire as part of their jobs and do mock interviews. Many overconfident job seekers don’t realize how their overconfidence affects communication style or willingness to accept valuable feedback. If you feel like you may come across as under- or overconfident, ask others you trust or admire how they perceive you. Let them help you to recalibrate to a space that is healthy for you and productive in your search.

The reality is that everyone is different and has his or her own set of barriers that may impede an effective job search. Now is a perfect time for honest reflection as to which barriers are getting in the way and how to set them aside. Find a path—find your path, even if still imperfect-- that makes the most sense for you and for now.