Are you sabotaging your job search?

Navigating a job search is not a one-dimensional task. Your journey will constantly be riddled with the demands of your current job, making time for job search activities, networking, and building your brand online.

Even if you are unemployed while looking for the next opportunity, you will still be dealing with a multifaceted, complex task. A job search is a delicate process that can easily unravel if you are not paying your full attention.

So, in what ways could you be sabotaging your job search?

Having unrealistic expectations

You can’t expect to get hired within the weekend when you start your job search. A job search takes a reasonable amount of time. It consists of several stages. You will need to research employers, send job applications, wait for them to begin the hiring process and shortlist candidates, face interviews, again wait for further instructions from the employers, attend further interviews if you make it, and negotiate terms of the job offer if you get selected. All of this will take time. You need to have reasonable expectations about the time taken and the outcomes of your job search.

Not having a plan

It’s important to have a proper game plan set when you start your job search. Otherwise, you will find yourself jumping from task to task making no real progress. If you want to make a good career choice that will propel your work life forward, you have to start creating a career plan and setting goals that align with your plan. Plan your job search from the very beginning. Carefully map out the steps you will take to ensure the success of your job search.

Entertaining imposter syndrome

Many job seekers give up early and easily because they don’t believe that they have what it takes to score their dream jobs. Don’t let a dozen or so rejections from employers convince you that you don’t have the right qualifications. Fear and doubt have killed more career dreams than any harsh hiring manager ever has. So, re-evaluate your job applications for weaknesses and keep applying for jobs you have the right skills for.

Focusing only on job titles

I’m not going to lie, the title of your job is important when you want to progress in your career. But the title isn’t the only thing you should consider when looking for your next job. Think about the reasons why you are looking for a new job. There will be multiple things driving your needs such as better compensation, flexible work arrangements, better work-life balance, more perks, etc. Take these needs also into consideration when you look for opportunities. This will save you a lot of time that you’d otherwise spend on applying for jobs that you have to decline in the end because you don’t like what the employer offers.

Applying for every job

If you start your job search without setting clear career goals for yourself, you will soon be applying for every single job you see online. While applying for several jobs will increase your chances of getting an interview, it is not entirely beneficial if you are applying for positions that you are under or overqualified for. A job application takes quite a bit of time. You’d have a much better outcome from your job search if you dedicate your time to applying for jobs that you are qualified for and those that align with your career goals.