Get job search on the right track
Arvind Sharma

Do you feel stuck in your job search and not sure which direction to turn? Are you sending resumes and getting no response? Do you feel like you are spinning your wheels? You say you have tried everything, but feel stalled?

Many job seekers know when the job search stalls, self-doubt sets in, and feeling discouraged they accept positions that pay less than what they have previously earned. Self-confidence falls, and the person convinced there is something wrong with him personally.

But wait; there is hope for job-seekers whose search gets off track. Learn how to get back on track in the job search with these few steps:

We usually get off track because our personal life is out of balance, and now in the job search we are especially feeling out of sync. It is the perfect time to create balance. This is easier said than done. If you are like most people, you are good at taking care of everything else in your life but yourself. Consider what you have done for yourself lately. What steps have you taken to achieve personal goals, maintain a positive attitude or boost your self-esteem? By focusing on your personal needs, you will reactivate rewarding hobbies or start new ones, begin exercising or socialising more and build other areas that you have neglected. Living a balanced life will greatly improve your outlook in the job search.

Dust off old goals or set new ones. Realise that to achieve them, you must develop a plan of action and stick to it. If you feel you will never get what you want, perhaps you need to work on your self-esteem. Analyse your self-talk. Personal conversations that take place inside your mind may be productive or destructive to your job search success. If you constantly undermine yourself and say you will not succeed, you won’t. Your confidence needs rising. It is not surprising that during a job search, most job seekers say their self esteem is at its lowest. Recognise the need for increased self-esteem and begin to develop a positive attitude before the next job interview.

Prepare yourself for the next interview and it will help the interview process go smoother. Consider developing answers to difficult questions, especially ones that may stump you during the interview. Formulate your answers to questions about your strengths, weaknesses and long-term goals.

Be ready the next time an interviewer asks, "tell me about yourself" by preparing (and polishing) a two-minute commercial. This concise summary describes your abilities, skills and qualifications for the available position, and describes why you are the best candidate. Such a commercial will vary based on the position for which you are applying. For example, when interviewing for a sales job, you will want to focus on your sales skills by saying, "I personally increased sales within a designated territory by 128 per cent the first year, with annual sales increases of 30 per cent or more thereafter."

However, if you are seeking a sales manager position, modify your commercial and say, "I successfully developed, trained and motivated a sales force to achieve and often exceed the company’s sales goals by 140 per cent."

Prepare your responses to the inevitable questions about salary. Then, if asked about your salary requirements, respond by asking, "What have you budgeted for the position." If your salary expectations are higher than the company’s proposed range, be ready to state your reasons why you are worth more.

After the next interview, review your answers and comments on the way home. Do some answers need refining? Did you suddenly feel at a loss for words? Constructively critique your performance after each interview. Compliment yourself for a job well done, but know what you would change for the next time. Note three things that you would do differently for the next interview.

Planning daily activities in a job search can be overwhelming. Calendar your time with working on the resume, scheduling interviews, attending networking functions and following up on leads. However, always plan the next day’s activities so that you will use your time wisely. Remember too; maintain balance in your life while in the job search by building a little fun into your day. By following these few simple steps, you will be back on track before you know it.