10 job-search habits to break in 2010 from the San Francisco Chronicle
Here's the challenge: Are the things you're doing to find a job the right things? Are your activities producing results, or are you doing things you've always done and getting little in return? It's not that you set out to develop job-search habits that don't work. Often, these habits develop over time, until they're barriers, not productive tools.
Experts agree that habits can be formed as little as 21 days, and the more repetition there is, the stronger the habit becomes until a pattern is established with little thought. Once a routine becomes a habit, it can be challenging to identify.
Habits really can make or break your job-hunting efforts. Some habits are easier to identify than others, but you probably need to examine what could be blocking your success, if you aren't make the results you had hoped.
Job search habits can be deceptive
Think about what happens to a job seeker who has stayed behind a computer screen for weeks searching for posted jobs. That's a habit. The result of this habit probably will produce some forward motion, if they rely on this habit continually, they probably will get frustrated waiting for the ideal job to be posted.
The habit in question is not searching for a job online; it's the amount of time devoted to one job-search method. Applying for positions online is a vital part of a job search -- it's only when you start examine how much time you are spending on one search method that you see the habit.
Habits are powerful, and we often discount the role they play in daily life.
Here are some habits job candidates have said kept them from moving ahead with their search. They may help you identify areas that might be affecting your own search.
1. Thinking like a Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger wasn't really alone, even he had a buddy. Trying to job search on your own is a long process.
2. Focusing on what others think. In reality, most people are not thinking about your career or what happened. Spending time trying to guess what others might be thinking is a lost cause. You may not want to know what they are thinking!
3. Obsessing about your job search. If you wake up thinking about your job search and go to bed thinking about your job search, you may be obsessing.
4. Avoiding risk-taking by guessing about the end results before you began implementing a new job-search activity.
5. Staying in a place of grief about your job loss rather than working your way through the process of letting go and moving ahead.
6. Being negative. Negativity is contagious, and negative company thrives on negativity. If you hear yourself putting up barriers every time someone offers an idea or suggestion, stop.
7. Not establishing a routine. Without a daily routine, it's easy to lose track of time and feel unproductive. "(During my job search) I set my alarm each day at 6:30 a.m., I got up and dressed for work. This helped me with keep a structure, and kept me focused on my daily goals" said a job seeker who recently landed a job.
8. Living in "tomorrowsville". Procrastination goes something like this, "I will call them tomorrow and just wait, because I had planned to the grocery store, finish organizing the garage .." You get the idea.
9. Striving to be perfect. This can be counterproductive. It can result in feeling that your resume always needs to be stronger, for example. Yes, you need a strong resume, but after the tenth revision it's probably not the resume that is standing in your way.
10. Letting fear be in the driver's seat. Fear is one of strongest habits known to job seekers. It can dominate an entire job search and keep you from some of the best opportunities.
If you can identify with some of these habits, it might time to re-examine your job search and change habits that are not helping you land the job of your dreams.
The good news about habits -- if they aren't working for you, you can break them and replace them with habits that are more productive.
Something New Called Focus 2!
Focus 2 is a new program here with Career Services! We are very excited about it.
It helps you decide what your major should be!
OR if you have a job you want it tells you what major would be best!
FOCUS-2 is a self-guided, online career and education planning tool for use by college students. It will enable you to assess your interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations as they relate to careers and college majors. FOCUS-2 is designed to help you choose the best major for you and explore occupations that match your profile. Students who use FOCUS-2 make better decisions about their goals and plans and learn how to manage their careers.
Be sure to check it out today!
Etiquette Tip of the Week:
“Sometimes when you go to a banquet or an event, there are two wine glasses on the table -- one slightly smaller than the other. White wine goes in the smaller glass and red wine in the larger glass. If you do not want wine, do not turn your glass upside down, simply say to the server, "No thank you."
Never feel like you have to drink alcohol. At a business event, it is better not to drink alcohol and keep a clear head.”
Never feel like you have to drink alcohol. At a business event, it is better not to drink alcohol and keep a clear head.”
As you know, it’s polite to give credit where credit is due. Thus these tips are from www.cultureandmanners.com
Events for the Week:
2/9 | Career |
5:45-7 304 WSC | |
2/11 | Public Service and Nonprofit Career Day |
2:30-4:45 221 YCGU | |
2/23 | COSMC-KC Interview Day |
8-3:30 | |
Health Professions Career Day | |
1-3:30 |
Quote from the Office:
“I’ll come sneeze on you later.” - Manny
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