Fear of an unknown future may hold you back when you go on the prowl during a job search. You have so many details to attend to, such as updating your resume, inputting the correct keywords, writing a personal story in a cover letter and then picking out the right clothes for an interview. All of these issues may add up to unhealthy fears and inability to take risks.
Contrarily, you might take comfort in looking forward to that summer blockbuster, planning your next weekend getaway or getting ready for your child's birthday next month. The reason for a lack of fear with regards to these tasks revolves around familiarity. You already know about your movie preferences, vacation spots and your children's gift list. A job search or career path represents an unknown future where you have less control over the final outcome. Therefore, you could worry about those aspects of life more often.
Instead of focusing on the minutiae of whether your tie matches your shirt, recognize you have a better economic future ahead of you as you go through your job search. Finding the right career may include a process that you perfect as you go through it. When you gain experience, your judgment improves and you make fewer mistakes along the way.
The pioneers of the Old West faced the unknown as they set out in wagon trains to face wild animals, hostile people, harsh weather and other untold dangers. Yet these people sought to better themselves and improve their quality of life. The same remains true of your contemporary job search skills.
Take the wagon-train metaphor to its fullest extent with two examples. Each expedition employed a wagon master, or the leader of the team who had a vision and oversaw daily tasks to get things done. You represent the wagon master of your job search and your career. Each pioneer team also sent scouts ahead to get the lay of the land and to see what hazards lay ahead. Research what others have done before you as you work through your visionary career plans. Rely on blogs, anecdotes, mentors and colleagues who have picked up tricks of the trade.
Choose five of these "scouts," and meet them regularly. These people may offer insights as to multiple directions for your career, current information and trends, qualitative analyses beyond raw numbers, and fact-checking that updates your previous information. These scouts help you find a career opportunity, polish your resume, and brush up on interview skills. All of these people take the stress out of finding a job, and some of them may even lead to a good reference. These trusted scouts help you advance your skills, practice interview responses and encourage you to remain resilient during times of unemployment. Surround yourself with people who reduce your fears rather than make it worse.
Your inner circle helps you maintain focus on the long-term goal of career satisfaction. Although your current job search may turn difficult or trying, the overall tenet remains finding happiness in a career rather than attempting to fit into a position you simply do not enjoy.
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