Life Between Jobs

I think the single most disregarded job search principle is “Know what you want.” I admit when you’re faced with the situation of having no income, and providing for yourself and your loved ones, you will do anything. That’s as it should be. But so often people become desperate and they flop around into varied strategies without giving them much thought. And it’s that lack of thought as to why they are pursuing that path that ends up hurting their job search.

When I’ve been talking with prospective employers, very often they will ask me questions about why I am interested in that particular position. Most people understand that most people can do just about any job if they put their minds to it. The question is the motivation to do the job and without a cogent explanation, they will wonder. If I hire this person, will I invest my time and effort into training this person, integrate them into the organization, and then they’ll leave if something else comes along? Not a really good return on investment.

So my suggestion to you is to spend some time writing out your goals. What makes you tick? What gets you out of bed in the morning? And check those against where you’re looking for work. Are they aligned? If so, great! If not so much – maybe you need to re-assess your strategy or re-assess your goals. In the end, pursuing a position that is rewarding to you (beyond the pay) you will likely be happier and more productive in your work. And that’s a good thing too.

I wish you best of luck in your job search.