What are your job search expectations? In a job search, it’s important that you rid yourself of negative thinking or negative expectations and stay positive. Not only will you turn what can be a difficult situation into an easier, more pleasant one, you will ultimately be more successful.
We are following the points from great article by Mark Tyrrell on How to Stop Negative Thinking in 7 Simple Steps and applying them to your job search to help you stay positive.
See How to Stop Negative Thinking and Stay Positive in Your Job Search – Part 1
See How to Stop Negative Thinking and Stay Positive in Your Job Search – Part 2
See How to Stop Negative Thinking and Stay Positive in Your Job Search – Part 3
See How to Stop Negative Thinking and Stay Positive in Your Job Search – Part 4
See How to Stop Negative Thinking and Stay Positive in Your Job Search – Part 5
According to Mark, the 6th step to stop negative thinking is ‘Stop forcing your own rules on life.’ In other words, stop thinking that things must be a certain way (and only that way). Be flexible.
In a job search, some of your preconceived notions are not only causing you disappointment, they are limiting your success.
Here are some job search expectations that may be holding you back:
“The job description says they want X certification. Even though I have everything else, I don’t have that, so I shouldn’t apply.”
Hiring managers may say that they want this degree or that certification, and I bet they do—but companies hire people all the time that don’t exactly fit what they said they want, so why not you?
Reach out for opportunities you want (but believe are beyond what you can have).
“I contacted a hiring manager for a company I really want to work for, but they didn’t respond. I guess they didn’t like me.”
This is one of the most common (and the worst) assumptions job seekers make. The truth is more likely that they don’t need someone right now, or they were on vacation, or they are covered up with an urgent project, or any of a hundred other reasons.
Your job is to keep networking, keep looking, and after a bit, contact them again. Just because someone you approach this month doesn’t have anything, it doesn’t mean they won’t next month. Maybe next month someone will hand in their resignation and they’ll need someone like you.
“I must treat my job search like a job and work at it for 8 hours a day.”
That is not a plan. That is a recipe for discouragement. Instead, you need a real plan—a strategy.
Your goals should not be activity-based, like “I will look for a job 8 hours a day.” Set goals that are performance-based. The only performance you care about are actions that get you interviews.
Evaluate everything you do based on whether or not it’s getting you interviews and offers. If it isn’t getting you to that goal, do something else.
- If your resume isn’t generating interviews, don’t just keep sending it out. Change it. Research how to write a good resume and make the changes that will make hiring managers call you for interviews.
- If your LinkedIn profile isn’t getting you phone calls from hiring managers, find out what a good LinkedIn profile looks like, compare it to yours and make changes.
- If your interviews aren’t resulting in offers, hire an interview coach to offer you some outside perspective on your presentation as a candidate.
- If you start feeling discouraged about your skills or feel like you’re not selling yourself enough, make a brag book. Compiling your successes will make you feel better about yourself as a candidate. Make a list of your skills and identify ways they can benefit potential employers. Go back into your resume and think about ways you can quantify your achievements to make a bigger impact on hiring managers who read it.
The point is: Don’t force false ‘rules’ on your life or your job search.
Identify areas where you can improve and take action.
Always be focused on the results you want.