Free Career and Job Search Advice

Elizabeth Nofziger

Stop wasting your time... and your energy... Looking for a job in a way
that's not going to get you the results you want...

As a job hunter, you can spend a lot of time looking for decent work. And
for most of us, that time is something we'd like to minimize. So it's pretty
horrible to discover you've been sabatoging yourself.

And if you're feeling frustrated, stuck or in despair in your search, then
you're almost certainly making these mistakes.

Read on if you want to know... What's THE Worst Thing You Can Do For
Your Job Search?

(All right, I'll admit that there's not one but two things ... but they are
closely tied together.)

Mistake #1 NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT

If you're out there looking for a job, any job, and you don't care what as
long as it pays really well and you get along with your coworkers... well,
you're probably not going to find it.

Before you think you're not making that mistake... if you're saying, "I'd like
something in banking" or "I want to do graphic design"... then you're
probably not that clear.

Here's the problem with not being clear. It's hard to find something if you
don't know what you want to find. And, most jobs come through people
you know. People want to help you, really. But it's really hard for them to
do that if you're not specific.

(Think about it... if someone said to you "I'm looking for a retail management
position", what do you think? ... Oh, that's nice. Best of luck. There are
probably some stores in the mall that are hiring.

Now, what if that same person said "I want to be a manager at the new REI
store opening in Orlando next month." All of a sudden you're probably
thinking... Oh, really? Hey, my cousin knows someone who works at REI.
My college friend lives in Orlando. ...

And it's much easier to give that person information, even though you're less
likely to know the owner of the Florida REI store than someone hiring for any
retail management position.)

All right... once you're clear... the actions you need to take next are clearer--
and easier too.
Don't worry, you don't need to know exactly what you want. Often, while
you're focused and in action looking for Job A, you discover Job B.

Sounds good, right? Well, there may be just one more problem.

Mistake #2 NOT WANTING WHAT YOU SAY YOU WANT

Ok, back to our friend who's looking for the REI job. Picture someone
saying, in a very unexcited, bored voice, "I want to be a manager at the
new REI store opening in Orlando next month." How much do you want to
help that person now?

Not wanting the job you're searching for is an impediment in all phases of
the job search process--as you're looking for openings, writing your resume
and interviewing. It's so much harder when YOU MAKE IT HARDER FOR
YOURSELF by going after something you don't even want.

And that doesn't mean you have to be looking for your dream job. It just
means that you're happy with it, that it's where you need to be now or
even that it's a step towards your dream job.

The moral of the story:
STEP 1-figure out what you want and...
STEP 2-go get it!

If you're having trouble with Step 1, check out http://www.freshvisioncoaching.com/.

If you're having trouble with Step 2, find a friend who'll brainstorm with you
and keep you accountable, try a book (like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Could-Anything-Only-Knew-What/dp/0440505003)
and/or get a coach.

Join our Newsletter
CopyRight © 1999-2008 cvtips.com This material cannot be published under any form or condition.