Dear Friends and Colleagues,

In last month’s issue of the newsletter I discussed the Five Stages of Transition in a Job Search along with tips for traveling that winding road.  In staying with that theme, I would like to point out the classic pitfalls most commonly encountered by even the most ardent and enthusiastic job seeker while journeying the often rocky and difficult terrain that is a job search.  It is my hope that by knowing where the hazards lie, job seekers will not meet them unprepared.  Rather, like road signs signaling for a detour, they will know what to be looking for and plan accordingly so that they do not lose momentum along the way. 

Classic Pitfalls to Avoid in the Job Search

1. Failing to fully prepare for the journey!

Most job seekers believe that they already know everything they need to know about looking for work. They believe it would be a total waste of time to delay their job search by going through all that “self-assessment business”, attend workshops about the “hidden job market”, or fool around with improving their interview skills.  As the script goes, “Just print me a resume, tell me where the jobs are, and I’m good to go! I just need a job, Man!” 

Well, that is one approach. And for those for whom it really is about just getting a job, any job, I would agree that all that preparation stuff really could be a waste of time!  It is, however, very rarely true, that it is only about getting a job!  Most of us care about where we work, who we work for, what we are being paid to do, and how much we are being paid to do it.  For those who are not willing to simply settle for anything, but want to have some say about their surroundings, their employer, their employment conditions, and the way they are spending their time and talents, preparation will not only be a waste of time, it will be one of the most valuable and worthwhile phases of a successful job search! 

I am not sure why everyone assumes that they already know everything about how to look for work, since it is not taught in most schools and universities, it is not something we have to get a license for, like driving, and it is not innate, like learning to walk, skip, or run.  Why is it considered a “no brainer” when, in fact, most of us who have been teaching job search skills for decades, know that when it comes to our job search, we need a refresher course in order to put our own best foot forward?  None of us are experts at every aspect of the job search, but the great thing is that we don’t have to be!  There are lots of people and agencies that are available in every community to offer support and guidance to job seekers.  The kinds of support we should be looking for in preparation for the job search include:

• Thorough self-assessment of one’s needs, interests, values, preferences, skills, abilities and assets;
   

• Researching local area for resources, opportunities, and potential employers;
   

• Organizing one’s tools such as resumes, cover letters, portfolios, CV’s, employment proposals, etc.;
   

• Learning state-of-the-art job search skills;
   

• Interview preparation and negotiation skills; and 
   

• Mapping out and planning a well-balanced, sustainable job search.

2. Having no clear goal or destination in mind.   

In the same way that MapQuest requires a very specific starting place and destination in order to accurately plot your route, it helps to know where you are and where you want to go in order to have a sense of direction with regard to becoming employed.  Some people think that the more “open” they are to where they work and what they do for a living, the greater their chances of landing a job.   But it seems the opposite is true.  The more vague we are about what we want to do and where we want to do it, the more clueless we are about how to get there, especially since we do not really know what “there” looks like!  Interestingly, as our aim takes on more specificity in terms of what we want to do and where we want to do it, so does our plan or strategy to reach it!  In other words, there is a critical connection between having a clear destination and being able to find the best route to get there.  Consider the difference in one’s sense of direction as reflected in the following stated goals: 

“I’d like to find a job working with high school-aged kids” vs.

“I’d like to offer one-on-one tutoring or coaching through a center, a project or an agency that caters to inner-city kids who are at risk of dropping out of high school.”

3. Limiting one’s thinking about employment options!  

Sometimes we get stuck in our thinking about what we can do, what we want to do, and under what conditions we are willing to do it, refusing to change lanes in our thinking or behaving even when the lane we are in has come to abrupt stop.  You may think that this is a direct contradiction to the last point about having a clear destination, but it’s not.  There is an important difference between having clarity about what where one wants to go, and getting stuck on a single way of getting there! It is the difference between the job seeker who claims that they have to become “the VP of Sales and Marketing at XYZ, Inc. on the corner of First and Front Street” and the one who is open to “a middle management position within a Sales and Marketing Department for a small to medium sized computer firm.”  Being clear about what we want is crucial, but it should not hinder our willingness to entertain multiple ways of attaining it.  By all means, we can go after the proverbial “VP position at XYZ”, but that shouldn’t stop us from changing lanes to see what other possibilities lay ahead! 
 

4. Not recognizing when you’re going in circles.

Have you ever been on a trip when the signs you are looking for aren’t jiving with what you are seeing?  You start getting that sinking feeling that you might be going the wrong way, but you continue on the same road because you have already put in so many miles!  Resisting the hassle of pulling over, turning around, or having to backtrack, it actually feels better to just keep “doing what you’re doing” with the hopes that you will somehow get you where you want to go.  Similarly, while there are numerous creative ways to engage in a job search, most of us adopt only the methods that we feel comfortable and at home with.  Even if they aren’t particularly effective.  Even when they fail to get us where we want to go.  Even if we are going in circles.     

When the way we are going about a job search fails to show us the signs we are looking for (i.e., initiating new contacts, returned calls from employers, getting interviews, etc.), it’s probably time to change it up.  Imagine the voice on the navigational system saying, “Recalculating route.  Please take U-turn at the next possible intersection.”  Try something different and experiment with something new.  Step out of your comfort zone and mix it up by using a variety of methods.  
   

5. Avoiding job search methods that bring you face to face with real people!

In considering the variety of job search methods, it is important to remember that not all methods are created equal.  Sending off resumes, applying on-line, or posting on the Web is a very attractive method for most job seekers for obvious reasons – it feels safe and comfortable and does not entail having to pick up the phone, knock on doors, take the bus, find directions, sit in someone’s office, introduce yourself, or partake in the nitty gritty particulars that come with having to market oneself to perfect strangers!  Rather, you come up with a summary of your qualifications on a piece of paper, print them at your leisure, attach a cover letter, and either drop it in the mail, forward it on email, or post it on the Web.  You don’t have to leave the comfort of your home, or worry about ironing you shirt – in fact, you don’t even have to get out of your pajamas!  What’s not to like about that?  

Well, how about the fact that research reflects that only 10% of all job seekers actually find employment as a result of sending resumes to people with whom they have had no other prior contact.  In other words “Resumes sent” does not mean “Resumes opened, read, and considered”.  The same is true of using the Internet. While the Web has made it possible for employers and job seekers to connect in a way that was rarely possible even a decade ago, with sharing leads on-line, sending and receiving resumes via email, and holding interviews by phone or Skype, the rate of effectiveness for job seekers using the Internet as their primary job search method is estimated at an even lower 4%.    (The success rate is reported at a grand 10% for those seeking work in a technical or computer-related job, and IT job, or a job in engineering, finance or healthcare.) That still leaves 90-96% of Internet users still unemployed at the end of the day. In other words, “Message Sent” does necessarily mean “Message Communicated”! 

There is no sure-fire way to becoming employed for any given person within any certain timeframe.  I think each person’s job search is like a puzzle, except that we don’t get to see a picture of it before putting it together.  There are certain predictable pieces like preparation, persistence, a certain amount of pluck in putting oneself out there – but like it or not, in the end, it is pretty much a mystery what is going to be “the final piece” that results in a successful job search.  Some call it luck, or meeting the right person in the right place at the right time …  but I am of the belief that we can make our own luck by increasing our chances of meeting the right person in the right place at the right time simply by meeting more people, in more places, at a variety of times! 

This means refocusing your energies and your efforts in ways that will get you “face to face” with real people!  It means taking the time to hand deliver your resume and requesting to meet the manager in person rather than putting it in the mail or sending it on-line.  It means using every opportunity to introduce yourself and connect with people in any and every arena of your life in order to gain exposure and expand your network.  It means getting up and dressed and out the door to attend job fairs, or special events or functions related to your field.  It means taking the initiative to knock on doors of businesses that interest you, whether or not they have a vacancy.  It means calling and requesting an informational interview with people who can offer you good advice, and showing interest and enthusiasm with people you meet wherever you are!

Think about it – who would you be more apt to hire: someone who you have never met but whose resume you have read, or someone whose face you’ve seen, whose hand you’ve shaken, whose voice you’ve heard, and whose presence has given shape, character and context to the person behind the resume?   

6. Allowing an “ideal” prospect to bring the job search to a screeching halt!

It’s a familiar story:  We get wind of an opportunity that sounds ideal, and with our hopes high, we convince ourselves that we are the ideal candidate.  All of our time and energy is devoted to presenting ourselves in the most perfect way, convinced, of course, that is THE opportunity we have been waiting for!  With all of our enthusiasm and energy invested in landing this whale of an opportunity, it feels impossible to even think about other prospects, being small fish by comparison.  Thus, the rest of our job search comes to a screeching halt as we await word from the ideal employer. 

The problem is, there are probably twenty other people who have also decided that this is THE job for them, and, being that there is only one position to be filled, nineteen of us are wrong! For those of us who are not hired, not only do we have to deal with the disappointment of not getting the job, we also have to deal with the hassle of revving up the job search again.  As we know from the Law of Momentum, it is far easier to keep a job search in motion than to muster the energy to get it going again once it has stopped.  Know that it is possible to get totally pumped about a particular prospect while still maintaining the job search by entertaining other possibilities. 

7. Feeding the fires of fear and cynicism rather than hope and optimism.

We are living in cynical times, and with regard to the current economy, the “general speak” is downright negative.  It’s not difficult to feed the fires of skepticism about finding work when we listen to the naysayers and political pundits who enjoy painting the bleakest picture possible in order to get air time.  If we are looking for evidence of hard times, we don’t have to venture far to meet the person who has recently been laid off or the local business that is suffering a slow down in business.  However, if we seek evidence to make a case for hope, we don’t need to venture any further to meet the person who’s recently been hired or the business that has expanded its customer base.  We can pay attention to the national unemployment rates or we can focus on new employment opportunities that have come into being in the local economy.  Our personal radar screens can register the loss of jobs in various industries or the growth of jobs in other industries. 

Here’s the honest truth – the loss and/or growth of jobs on a national scale need not influence the outcome of our job search on an individual scale.  In both the worst and best of economies, employers scramble to fill vacancies due to the natural attrition of people leaving, moving, quitting, getting fired, or getting promoted.  Even in the worst of economies, new business opportunities arise every day, fresh partnerships are formed, new enterprises blossom, pristine business licenses are opened in the mail.  Life does not stop during a recession, and communities of people continue to need the goods and services that it demands during prosperous times.  When in the throes of a job search, we need to be vigilant in our efforts to filter the negative, and turn up the volume on that which will serve to encourage and inspire us. 

8. Taking everything personally.

One of the most difficult and painful parts of a job search is the inevitable rejection that we face along the way. Even though we know we are not going to get a positive response from hear from every employer we approach, get a call back or an interview for every job we to apply to, or get hired for every job we interview for, why does it feel so devastating when we don’t receive the response we want? 

If you think about it, the hiring game is all but predictable, it can be political, petty, or preferential, but it is very rarely personal!  For every job that is filled, you never know how many people applied, how many will be interviewed, nor the variety of people, politics or circumstances that enter into the mix and ultimately influence who will get the job!  You also never know what particular mix of qualities and attributes an employer or team is looking for, and you may be screened out for reasons for which you should be very proud! Perhaps they are looking for someone who will be a pushover, but you were perceived as confident and assertive.  Maybe they want someone who will be willing to work through the weekends without question, but you communicated how much you value family time. 

Perhaps if we could see and know everything that happens behind the scenes, we might have the grounds for taking things personally, but as it is, we would have to make some huge and rash assumptions in order to make it about “us”!  The question is, how do we face the disappointments that are sure to meet in the course of a job search without letting them affect our own sense of worth, confidence and optimism? We can start by taking time at the start and/or end of each day by asking questions like the following:

• What’s going right for me in my life and what do I have to be thankful for?
   

• What do I have to offer that will make my contribution to an employer or to the workplace both unique and valuable?
   

• What steps can I take (or did I take) today with regard to my job search that I can feel good about?
   

• What person, cause or project can I or (did I) contribute to today that brings a sense of purpose to my life even while in the midst of a job search?  
   

• How do I take advantage of and use my time wisely now, knowing that once I am working again, my time will limited?

9. Driving on empty: failing to take care of oneself along the way.

It’s interesting that while we would never expect a flashlight to run without batteries or a car to run an empty tank, when it comes to ourselves, we are willing to run ourselves into the ground without a care for our physical, mental or emotional state.  We work on the cover letter in the middle of the night, run out the door for the interview without having eaten breakfast, and drop into the job fair in between a thousand other errands. Little wonder that we appear frazzled, feel fatigued, and fail to dazzle potential employers.  It is not possible to drive in the fast lane while running on empty.  

If there were any single factor that really makes the difference in an effective, well-balanced, and successful job search, I believe it is STAMINA.  And by that I mean physical, mental and emotional stamina.  The kind that gives us staying power, endurance, resilience, and fortitude - the dogged determination to not give up and to stay the course when the going gets tough.  Typically, we can muster this kind of energy in the beginning stages of the job search when our hopes are high and the world appears full of possibility, awaiting our potential!  But it is only with great discipline, patience and vigilant attention that we are able to maintain and sustain this sensibility once the job search is underway.  And it does make all the difference!   

Think about other situations in our lives that require stamina: completing a course or a degree, preparing to participate in a marathon, a play, or a concert, or working on a political campaign or for a fund-raising event.  What they have in common is that, with an end in mind, there is the expectation of and willingness to pace oneself for the long run.  You can’t learn all the lines of the play in a day, you won’t be able to go from running one mile to thirty in a week, nor will you succeed in reaching every voter within a month.  But that’s okay, because taking into account both the potential and the limits of your time and energy, you plan accordingly in order to get the most bang for your buck.  Athletes take great care with what they eat, how much they sleep, and  how they expend their energy outside of training.  With the marathon of a job search in front of them, job seekers need to do no less. 

Here are some questions to keep in mind with the goal of strengthening and maintaining one’s physical, mental and emotional stamina for a sustainable job search:

• How much sleep do I require in order to feel at my best?  Am I over-sleeping or under-sleeping?
   

• What regimen of diet and exercise gives me energy and what depletes it?
   

• What kinds of activities make me feel good and happy about life?  How do I include more of those in my daily regimen?
   

• How do I have more contact with people who encourage and inspire me and less contact with those who make me feel worse about myself and my life? 
   

• What books, movies, or music serve to encourage and inspire me?
   

• Who can I ask for support and encouragement during my job search?
   

• When have I demonstrated the ability to maintain stamina in order to reach my goals?  What did I do then that I need to put into practice now?
   

• What boundaries do I need to set for myself and with other people in order to make the best use of my time and energy?

10. Giving up too soon!

Many job seekers who are carrying out perfectly effective job search campaigns, simply give up too soon!  (I recently read that while a typical job search lasts around 15 - 19 weeks, depending on the economy, one-third to one-half of all job-hunters simply give up by the second month of their job search.)  Maybe we don’t need to do things differently, we just need to do them long enough for them to work!  It’s like the story of the person who came upon a woodcutter just as he raised his ax and with one strong blow, felled a tree.  Amazed, he approached the woodcutter saying, “I have never seen such strength in a person!  My goodness, with one great blow you brought down an entire tree!”  The woodcutter smiled and replied, “Oh, it was not a single blow that brought the tree down! That was the hundredth blow!  It was the other 99 attempts that made the final blow possible!”

When you begin to feel discouraged that you are not getting the results you want, keep the faith that if you continue putting yourself out there, your opportunity will come.  Look for support from others in your field or community who are also looking for work.  Research shows that people are engaged in a job search club or an employment network keep each other going and maintain more momentum in the job search.  There are also lots of resources online for people to connect with others who are looking for work.  Remember the story of the hundredth blow, and don’t give up too soon!

~ Denise 

Putting it into Practice

1. Which of the Ten Classic Pitfalls do you recognize from your own past experiences as a job seeker? 
    

2. What can you do to help people prepare for and avoid these pitfalls?
    

3. Consider sharing this article with your job seekers and have them assess where they think their strengths and weaknesses lie along these ten dimensions. 
    

4. Ask them what they can do to support one another in avoiding these pitfalls.
    

5. Have them brainstorm additional pitfalls that I have failed to mention!