We talked about the problem of having a job search target that is too narrow. But equally problematic is having a target that is too broad, or a scattershot attempt to land any jobs. Instinct tells you that having a big target gives you a better chance of hitting something. Yet with job search, a huge target is not the best way to assure success. Here are some of the reasons why:
- Selling yourself as “I can do anything” makes you look like a dabbler who has done lots of things but is not deeply competent in any one
- Selling yourself as “I’m willing to do anything” makes you look desperate rather than appealing
- Lack of clarity around your strengths makes you less memorable
- People in your network find it hard to help if you are not clear what you’re looking for
- Lack of focus makes you less credible
- Pursuing jobs outside your area of expertise or well below your level is likely to leave you frustrated
- Applying for anything and everything, even jobs that are not a good fit, wastes your time and energy, taking away focus on finding jobs for which you are truly a match
How do you assure you’ve got the right size target? Read More