The
two jobseekers shared striking visual similarities: They popped out like a pair
of jack-n-the-boxes. Had it not been for the one-week separation, the parallels
might have escaped notice. Both were of the same age, gender, height and
weight—even their eyes and hair color matched.
Both
held postgraduate degrees, and almost identical GPAs. Each had worked a similar
length with their respective employers and had delivered stellar job performances.
Ironically, while their résumés contained dissimilar content and each pursued
different careers, they shared identical job-search fears. Both choired the
same mantra: It’s a tough job market out
there.
Aside
from the one-week separation in preparing their résumés, there was another dissimilarity.
Each would pursue an altered job-search strategy that could dramatically affect
their results.
Candidate
A commenced the job-search by pressing the gas pedal with a damn the torpedoes—full-speed-ahead attitude. Candidate B slammed on the brake pedal
with a let’s-not-be-hasty approach.
Candidate A was on second and third interviews before Candidate B submitted the
first résumé.
Spotting
the degrees of separation visually loomed. Rather than rely solely upon what
jobseekers say or tell me, I focus on what the individual does. This harkens to
the age-old adage: Actions speak louder
than words.
Nothing
bespeaks job-hunting success like taking action. While my armchair observation falls
short of a clinical study, the collective years of observing jobseeker
behaviors come into play. I have observed marginal candidates outperform their
competition by self-determination and putting plans into motion.
Job
changes rarely occur overnight. Some do, but more often, the groundwork was
laid well in advance. How one begins determines the results. It is better to
endure setbacks, than to fail because of inaction.
Fear
of rejection weighs heavy for many jobseekers. Likewise, there exist countless
related apprehensions, such as fear of interviewing, fear of the unknown, fear
of change, fear of being overqualified, and fear of failure to recap the common
ones.
The
best remedy for conquering burdensome fears is to confront them. If you fear
being interrogated during interviews—master interviewing techniques. Naturally,
that has to be part of one’s job-seeking strategy. It cannot be left to linger
in the background hoping such fear will magically dissipate on its own.
In
any job search, priorities need to be set. Aside from preparing one’s résumé,
references need to be contacted, companies need to be researched, responses to
questions refined and rehearsed, wardrobes assembled, and grooming issues
considered. Even eating habits need to be assessed in order to avoid mental fatigue
and lethargic behavior.
None
of these should be placed on the back burner. Hence, postpone nothing. The
results of your efforts depend on what you do and the decisive actions you undertake.