As in Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad JOB SEARCH Days.

As in actually checking to see if email is down because apparently no one cares enough to even send you spam Days.  Or making sure your phone is working because you can’t remember the last time it rang Days.  Or having absolutely run out of ideas and not knowing what to do next Days. 

From the kid perspective,  Alexander’s day in Judith Viorst’s children’s book  Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day would seem to have lived up to its name. Gum in your hair? Terrible. Lima beans for dinner? Horrible. 

From the adult perspective, Very Bad JOB SEARCH Days are much, much worse than lima beans. And I say that as someone who has deep, personal experience with both. 

It all depends on your point of view!  This post presents a DATA-oriented perspective - a proven way to have Very Bad JOB SEARCH Days work to your advantage:

Not getting responses in your job search is, in fact, extremely useful information. It means that something about your job search strategy is preventing you from achieving your goals. Acknowledge it, and take action. Collect data on your job search goals and strategies by going through your job search activities, then analyze the data to identify what is and isn’t working.  

Once you know the problem,  you can modify your strategy so that you do MORE of what works, and LESS of what doesn’t.   (I know - so not rocket science.) We’ll talk more about targeting, and job search strategy in future posts.  But first, you need to collect and analyze the data.

Here are some questions  to get you started.  Keep track of your answers because you will analyze them later.  Add any other information you think would be useful.

What are the goals of my job search?  Hint: If your answer is “a job – any job” consider revising your goal.  When you are more specific about what you are looking for, it is easier to find it. Think of it this way – if you say “I am looking for a car” you need to look at all cars. But if you say, “I am looking for a Toyota”  you can eliminate all the other cars you don’t want.

What are my job targets? Are their patterns to my search? Hint:  Try to identify if there is a pattern to where you have been applying – is there a common geographic area, industry sector or kind of career field?   Did you target jobs in a particular area? If so, in what areas did you get positive, negative or no feedback?

What are my sources? Hint: List all the places (online and offline)  where you applied or networked  and how frequently.  Include sites like Careerbuilder, plus newspapers, specific companies and friends with whom you have networked. Which yielded the most positive results? Least positive? 

Now, analyze the data you have collected. You’re looking for trends; things that fit – things that don’t.  Look at the big picture; look at the little picture. Compare; contrast.  When you look at your job search as pieces of information, and not as pieces of you, it is easier to find ways to help yourself improve. 

My guess is that after analyzing your job search data you’re looking at things a little differently.  In fact, I bet you have the seed of an idea or even a new plan.  When you have an idea, you are no longer stuck. When you have a plan, you can move forward. Not getting responses can be a gift. The power of perspective.

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”    –Isaiah 49:14-16

Even when the phone doesn’t ring, and the emails don’t come – you are never, ever forgotten. Let me know how things are going – I’m interested.

Peace be with you,

Emily