Take Control of Your Job Search

Why Many Job Seekers are Frustrated

Everyone who has experienced a lengthy job search can attest to the high levels of anxiety and frustration that accompany the process. We busy ourselves finding job postings, networking, writing endless iterations of our resume, applying, interviewing, sending thank-you notes, following up, and listening to the phone not ringing. Then there are various versions of rejection. Not a fit, overqualified, underqualified, out of the salary range, out of the geographic area, not a cultural fit, the position is on hold, the position was filled internally, and worse yet – no feedback at all.

Why does this happen? The job market is inefficient, especially for experienced job seekers. Even though 80% of CEOs say they do not have the right leaders necessary to reach strategic goals, highly qualified leaders often sit on the sidelines for weeks, months, or longer before landing a role. Why the disconnect? Here a few reasons: too much focus on finding the perfect candidate; poorly written job descriptions; poorly designed interview processes; hiring manager bias; indecisive hiring managers; unrealistic compensation ranges; and the perception of an endless supply of job applicants. And that’s just on the hiring side.

Some job seekers unwittingly contribute to the inefficiency. How? Poorly written resumes; poor interview skills; one-sided networking conversations; lack of follow-up; unrealistic role and salary expectations; negative attitudes; lack of confidence; lack of enthusiasm; poor preparation; attitudes of entitlement; poor communication skills; over-reliance on headhunters and job postings; lack of responsive references, and many more.????

Reasons for Hope??

No wonder job seekers feel anger, depression, and despair. However, here are two reasons for hope.

1.?????EVERYONE FINDS A JOB! If job seekers only knew when and where, their frustration and anxiety would likely disappear.

2.?????Job seekers can reduce the time to find their next job by focusing on the most fruitful job search activities. The key is to figure out which activities will have the most impact.

While there is no formula of activities that works for everyone or every time, tracking and examining the results of activities can help job seekers target those that will make the biggest impact. In most cases, the job seeker will find areas to focus on and areas that are already on cruise control. I encourage job seekers to spend more time on the former and less time on the latter.

Help is Available

Job seekers can get help evaluating these phases through peer-networking groups, jobseeker groups, outplacement professionals, executive search professionals, mentors, and career coaches. Seek counsel from those who can and will provide helpful advice. Struggling job seekers should discount advice that sounds like “you’re doing all the right things” when results indicate otherwise.

Not all job seekers need a career coach to be successful in a job search, and not all career coaches are right for every job seeker. While there is a tremendous amount of self-help information available to job seekers, I still see mistakes in all phases of the job search process. For struggling job seekers, hiring a career coach may be a wise investment.

No matter the approach job seekers select, taking control and focusing search activities will lead to better results and, hopefully, less frustration.

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Randy Samsel is CEO of Esearch Talent Solutions and believes that Better Livelihoods lead to Better Lives.

To view frequent career advice updates, follow his LinkedIn page -?https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/esearch-talent-solutions/

To learn about Esearch Talent Solutions Career Coaching, visit his website -?Career Coaching – eSearch (esearchjobs.com)