One of the Biggest Mistakes Most Job Seekers Make

Question: Do you want to know why most job seekers fail to connect to the job of their dreams?

Hint: It’s not because no one wants to hire them or a lack of job openings.

In the 13 years I’ve been a career counselor and advising people in their careers, I’ve found that the jobseekers who connect with their job target in the least amount of time begin with a good foundation. They’ve defined in as much detail as possible their “ideal” job. They know, specifically, what they are looking for in their next job. They know how they want to use their skills, the kind of people they want to work with, their preferred industry, and the desirable companies where their job can be found.

From that foundation, all of their efforts lead them in the right direction from crafting their resume, to their 30-second elevator speech, to the networking events they attend, to the relationships they build and on.

The bottom line is- they are FOCUSED!

The biggest mistake I see most job seekers make is not knowing what they want. Often, when I ask a job seeker what they’re looking for, I get an answer like this, “Oh, I’ve done a lot of things. I can do something in high tech, telecom, marketing, human resources, pretty much anything.”

Whenever I hear a response like that, I want to scream “STOP RIGHT THERE!”

This is especially true of people who have been off the job market for more awhile. By the time they get to me for career advice, they are nearly in a state of panic or desperation and are willing to take almost anything that comes their way. They want to “keep their options open.”

In their view they’ve tried everything. Unfortunately, no matter how much effort they expend, which frankly usually isn’t that much, they will not have success. If they do happen to find a decent job, it’s totally by accident.

The best way to launch a successful job search is to start with a good foundation. Take the time to define your job target, select the best tactics, and craft a solid action plan. With that foundation, you will have more confidence about your options and will shorten the time it takes to connect with the job of your dreams.

Markell R. Steele, M.Ed., NCC, Career Counselor is the owner of Futures in Motion, Inc. and author of Fast Track Your Career: Three Steps for Finding Work You Love. For the past 13 years, she has helped frustrated job seekers connect with their dream jobs in less time with less stress by sharing her secrets for career happiness and success. Her company provides career assessments and career transition assistance. More articles can be found here- http://futures-in-motion.com/article_archive.php. She can be reached at Markell@futures-in-motion.com.