Troubleshooting Your Job Search

Do you feel like you are trying everything but still not getting the results you want from your job search? Troubleshooting your job search is the way to discover where your job search is stalled, and make fixes. Our wrap up of Troubleshooting Tuesday tackles some symptoms of a job search that is not at its best, and what you can do to make it better.

Symptom: Not finding enough job leads

Diagnosis: Unclear goals or a target that is too wide or too narrow.
Prescription:

• Makes sure you are not applying scattershot for any open position, but rather have a clear target and are focused on finding jobs that match.
• Read:   Picking the Right Size Target for Your Job Search
• Do not focus on a field that is no longer robust or where you have limited opportunity.
• Read: Is your Target Too Small?
• Convey your clear goal to your network to make it easy for them to help you.
• Read: Clear Goals = Better Networking

Alternate Diagnosis: Not looking in the right places for job leads.
Prescription:

• Spending less time on advertised jobs as primary source of leads.
• Read: Break Your Addiction to Job Boards
• Focus on networking to uncover the hidden job market.
• Read: Is Networking Your Problem?

Symptom: Not getting interviews

Diagnosis: Marketing materials, especially resume not doing an adequate job of selling you and your match to jobs.
Prescription:

• Customizing your resume to each position, and bringing out your match.
• Read: Not Hearing Back after Applying

Alternate Diagnosis: Resume lost in a sea of applications. Doesn’t stand out
Prescription:

• Using contacts within the company to introduce you to the hiring manager and advance your candidacy.
• Read: Are You Using Your Network Enough?

Symptom: Not passing interviews

Diagnosis: Not adequately making a connection and selling your value in interviews.
Prescription:

• Focus on communication skills including listening, keeping answers focused and asking good questions.
• Read: Improving Communications During Interviews

Alternate Diagnosis: Not fully prepared before interviews.
Prescription:

• Invest heavily in pre-interview research in order to fully understand the goals and challenges faced by the company and position yourself as a problem solver.
• Read: Stalling after Interviews

Symptom: Frustrated. Doing everything you know to do, but not making progress

Diagnosis: Measuring progress by the wrong standards
Prescription:

• Focus on expanding your network. Set challenging but attainable goals for reaching out to new people and measure progress based on success in that area.
• Read: Why Aren’t You Making Progress?

Symptom: Not generating results.  Not sure what to do next

Diagnosis: Efforts are not strategic. No master plan. Not spending enough time on job search or spending time on the wrong things.
Prescription:

• Track time spent on your job search and which activities you are spending the most time on.
• Set goals for spending more time on activities that are most productive.
• Read: Are You Spending Your Time on the Wrong Things?
• Read: Are You Spending Enough Time on Your Job Search?
• Spend time creating a job search strategy that will keep you focused and making progress.
• Read:  Why You Need a Job Search Strategy
• Read: Creating a Job Search Strategy for Success

Hopefully one or more of the symptoms match what you are experiencing and the diagnosis and prescription are right for you. If not, leave a comment on this blog. Let’s talk about where job searches stall and how to get them started again.

Jobfully offers a complete solution for job seekers including video coaching, a suite of productivity tools and a supportive community. Learn more by visiting our home page.