Why I wrote this. I wanted to write something helpful to people who feel demoralised by the job search. It is easy to feel demoralised and then when the mood is down progress is slower and results can be even worse. We humans need to be in a positive state of mind if we want to be at our best performance, getting good results. What is also true and I see it from time to time, job seekers don’t know how well they are doing. For example, if you get a job interview, you are already a winner. You are 1 step away from getting the gold medal. Getting a job interview is like getting silver at the olympics, nothing to feel bad about. Getting short-listed is like winning bronze, this is a great space to be in, so don’t quit. Gold will come. Keep doing what works and celebrate the small victories along the way.
CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES
Are you struggling to find a job in today’s labour market? You’re not alone. Job hunting can be a difficult and time-consuming process, and it can be discouraging when you don’t get a job offer right away. But don’t worry, there’s a way to make the process less daunting: continuous improvement.
According to a 2015 study* it takes an average of six weeks to get an interview, and even longer to get an offer. For foreign migrants, the average numbers may be 20% higher if preparation is done really well. That’s a long time to wait, but it’s important to remember that getting a job takes time. It’s a process, not an event. If you’re feeling down because you haven’t received an offer yet, take a moment to notice the progress you’ve made.
The concept of continuous progress is one that many organisations use to guide their goals, using terms such as kaizen, lean management and change management. These approaches emphasise making small improvements over time that lead to big changes in the long run. You can apply the same principles to your job search by celebrating the small wins along the way.
Breaking big jumps down into smaller steps also allows you to see where the problems are. For example, if you’re having trouble getting interviews, ask yourself if you need to get through the AI vetting system to a real person, or if you’re getting real responses, maybe the challenge is with communication about your strengths or perhaps your job targets aren’t matched well enough yet? Breaking down your goals into smaller steps can help you identify and address these barriers.
In conclusion, continuous improvement is a powerful tool that can be applied to your job search. By breaking the process down into small steps and celebrating the progress along the way, you can stay motivated and positive even in the face of rejection. Remember that getting a job takes time, but by making steady progress you can focus on improving each step of the way. In time, you’ll get there faster and with greater confidence. Good luck with your job search!
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* The study I mentioned can be found in a report published by Glassdoor titled “Why Is Hiring Taking Longer?” The report is based on data from millions of job applications, 344,250 interview reviews from hiring events across industries and company sizes in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia. The report can be found at the following link: https://research-content.glassdoor.com/app/uploads/sites/2/2015/06/why-is-hiring-taking-longer.pdf
NEED HELP?
For helpful advice in about a day, send your CV and a short description of your status to tate@employmentforimmigration.nz.