There are a few of things I’ve been seeing a lot lately that I think need to be addressed.
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Procrastinating. If you’re waiting to start your job search or finding excuses to not apply for jobs (i.e. saying, “I’m just too tired tonight”), you’re not doing yourself any favors. You are literally putting off finding a more satisfying role. While this can be laziness, it can also be a sign of a bigger issue.
Focusing too much on one area of your job search. Whether it’s crafting the perfect cover letter or connecting with as many people on LinkedIn as possible, fixating on one part of your job strategy can actually hold you back from getting a job.
If this sounds like you, there might be a bigger problem at play here. Procrastinating or obsessing over one aspect of your job search can be a symptom of the following underlying issues:
If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. It’s impossible to market yourself effectively if you’re not 100% confident in your abilities. Moreover, if you lack confidence in yourself, you’ll make your job search ten times harder and a zillion times more frustrating. In order to succeed, you’ve got to have confidence in yourself. Without that confidence, it’s easy to get crushed by negativity, criticism, and rejection (which we’ll talk about in a second). If you need help rebuilding your confidence, check out our Confidence Project.
2. Fear of rejection.
Have you ever seen a job that would be PERFECT for you, but didn’t apply because you didn’t think you had a shot? You might not realize it, but you’re probably letting your fear of rejection drive the bus. How many jobs are you going to pass up because you “don’t think you have a shot”? Look, you’re going to get rejected. That’s part of job search. In order to land a great job, you need to put yourself out there. Sometimes it will work out, other times it won’t. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know.
3. Lack of enthusiasm.
If you’re not excited about the opportunities you’re “trying” to land, you’re probably unconsciously sabotaging your job search. Landing a
new job isn’t easy, and if you’re not 100% sold on the idea, you’re not going to put forth your best effort.
Instead of wasting your time on opportunities you’re not enthusiastic about, create an interview bucket list of your favorite companies and build a job search strategy around them. When you’re excited about something, you’re more inclined to follow through with it (and give it your best shot).
4. Lack of direction.
If you find yourself applying to jobs across the board, one completely different from the next, your job search is going to be scattered and unfocused. Moreover, it’s clear that you’re not sure what you want to pursue in your career. As a result, you will likely find yourself hopping from job to job because you’re not satisfied.
Before jumping into your job search, it’s important to clearly understand what direction you want to go in, what’s important to you in your next job, and what skills you want to leverage in your next role. Otherwise, you’ll have a very hard time finding something that meets your needs and makes you happy.
If you find yourself obsessing over one part of your job search, it could mean you’re dealing with one or all of these underlying issues. Don’t let them silently sabotage your job search! Acknowledge them, overcome them, and go get the job you WANT!
Are you SABOTAGING your job search?
If you suspect that you're sabotaging your job search but aren't sure how, watch our free tutorial "
8 Ways You're Being SHUT OUT Of The Hiring Process" with career expert J.T. O'Donnell to find out what's holding you back from getting hired... and how to fix it!
WATCH NOWThis post was originally written by Ariella Coombs.
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