The Road Not Taken
One of my favorite poems is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. The audio version at this site is very good.
There are two lines in the poem that I think are particularly relevant for job seekers.
The first is when the author says “knowing how way leads on to way”. Each and every day represents a decision – a fork in the road. Not that every decision has to be perfect – to extend the metaphor a bit – roads can connect back to other roads. But just as when you are traveling you need to have a destination in mind to guide you, in your job search you need to have a set of goals – beyond “getting a job” I would add – that will help guide your day to day efforts.
The other line – “I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” – is probably the best known line from the poem. The key there is to recognize that venturing out of the crowd and standing on your own will lead you to an opportunity that is better suited to you and your passions long term. In the end, you will be more productive and happier there. While it may cost you some time and pain in the short run, as I’ve commented before – “it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.”