Are You Battling Job Search Fatigue?

If you’ve been on the job market for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the quote, “Looking for a job is a job.” That quote couldn’t be truer today. What does that mean to you and your job search? It’s not uncommon for me to talk to job seekers, at all levels, who’ve been searching for work for more than 6 months. In many cases, they’ve been searching for work for a year or more. They’re using techniques they think will get them a job but nothing is happening.

So, why are they not getting work? Here’s what I see is working against them in their job search.

They believe the hype- The media spins statistics to grab attention. Often the picture that is painted is less than accurate or doesn’t tell the whole story. The job market is tough. There’s no doubt about it. Don’t give up your search because you read there are no jobs. There are still millions of jobs available and employers are hiring. You have to look critically at the statistics to find the reality and approach your job search accordingly.

They focus on “perfect” rather than “good enough”- Having a good resume is important in the job search. Crafting a resume that highlights your accomplishments and consistent high performance is a good foundation for interviewing. However, I see too many job seekers spending way too much time moving around periods and adjusting fonts in the hopes that those changes will get their resume noticed. At some point, you have to go with good enough, not perfect, and send out your resume. If no one sees it, you definitely won’t get any interviews.

They’re holding out hope of finding the perfect job- I’m an optimist and believe that you can get the job you want. I talked about that in a previous article, 4 Ways to Pursue Your Passion.  However, the perfect job may not appear when and where you want it. You may even have to create your own opportunity. In this job market, flexibility and timing are key. Consider broadening your scope of the “perfect” job.  Start applying for jobs to get some momentum in your search. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

Their fear of networking is holding them back- Personal contacts make a huge difference in the job search. Job seekers underestimate the power of networking and building solid relationships with other professionals, and, therefore brush off the idea as non-essential. That’s a big mistake. A significant amount of time in your job search should be meeting new people and connecting with existing contacts. You can do that in person by attending events and volunteering, for example, and by engaging online by blogging, and using Twitter and Facebook. Networking is a valuable job search and career advancement tool, if used correctly and consistently.

They’re looking in the wrong places- Job boards are an easy place to look for jobs. Submitting resumes through online job boards, even directly through a company’s online job board, is the least effective job search technique. The sheer volume of resumes submitted makes it like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s an overwhelming task for recruiters and many resort to informally sourcing candidates through their network. A much more effective approach is to engage people and let them know what type of opportunity you’re looking for. Be as specific as you can from the industry, company names, positions, and locations. Avoid the mistake of being “open to anything.”

They don’t understand the hidden job market- This is the where most jobs are found. In the hidden job market, recruiters and hiring managers use informal means to find qualified candidates to fill their positions, often before they are advertised.  For this reason, networking effectively and leveraging your contacts is so essential to your job search. If you’re not meeting people, following up, and keeping in touch, you’re missing out on opportunities.

In today’s job market, you have to try new techniques to get the job you want. Gone are the days when you could just submit your resume and feel assured that your phone would start ringing with interview offers. That doesn’t happen much, if at all, anymore. The job market is competitive and there are tons of new tools you can use in your job search.

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Markell Steele is a career counselor, owner of Futures in Motion, Inc. and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love. She helps frustrated job seekers find career direction so they can get the job they want in less time with less stress. Follow her on twitter to get daily job search and career transition tips- http://twitter.com/futuresinmotion

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