Most of the factors that influence the length of a job hunt are under your control. Scan the following topics and read the ones that interest you now. Read the others later.
Factor #1: Career continuation vs. career change
All things being equal, changing careers takes two to three months longer than looking for a job in the field you are in now. If you want to head your career in a new direction, do it but realize that it will take longer.
Factor #2: A clear target
You dramatically reduce your chances of finding the job you want if you don't have clearly defined targets, or if you have more than three or four targets.
A job target is a clearly selected geographic area, industry or company size, and function within that industry. For example, a job hunter may target the advertising industry in New York or Chicago, and aim at positions in the account management area. That's one target. That same job hunter may target media sales positions in the publishing industry, also in New York or Chicago. That's a second target. They are related, but require quite different campaigns.
You may feel you are willing to take any job that comes along, but attaining results with that approach takes longer than with a targeted approach. When you target, your campaign is focused and more convincing to hiring managers. Your pitch is more polished, and you'll find it is easier to network. Serendipitous leads can certainly be worthwhile, but the core of your campaign should be targeted.
Factor #3: A clear positioning statement or pitch within that target
You are selling an expensive product yourself and you cost many thousands of dollars. To sell this product, know what the customer (your prospective employer) wants, what you have to offer, and why the customer would want to buy this product. As you position yourself, figure out what to say about yourself in light of what your "customer" needs. Know how you fit in.
Factor #4: Favorable conditions within your target market
If your target area is growing or desperately needs what you are offering, or if there are plenty of jobs for which you would qualify, your job hunt will not take as long.
On the other hand, if you decide to go for a tough target, expect to work hard to overcome the difficulties. Find out how to get in, and then do it.
Factor #5: True desire to find a job
The people most likely to succeed are the ones who sincerely want to find a job, and work hard at getting it.
Job hunting is a job in itself. If you are unemployed, work at it full time (with time off for a little fun). If you are employed, treat job hunting as a serious part time job and work at it.
Many job hunters do not treat finding a job as their top priority. Some may spend time suing their former employer. Others work hard at a job hunt doing the wrong things: when choosing between doing two things, they seem to choose the one less likely to result in job hunt progress. A person may spend months in the library getting ready, for example, when they know they should be out meeting people. They may consciously or unconsciously sabotage their own efforts because they were recently fired and are afraid of getting fired again. If you find everything is going wrong all the time, ask yourself if you may be afraid of the future. Honestly ask yourself how sincere you are about finding a job now.
Factor #6: Attitude. Attitude. Attitude.
You may have the right target, the perfect market, and be the perfect match for a company, but if your attitude is wrong, you'll have a hard time. The worst attitude is to expect someone else to find a job for you. Successful job hunters are those who take responsibility for their own success or failure rather than blaming the counselor or the system when things go wrong.
"Attitude" includes:
- taking responsibility for your own job hunt
- the self confidence you portray
- being able to think and act like a winner even if you don't feel like it (who wants to hire a loser?)
- your drive, your energy level.
Factor #7: Working the system
In addition to being willing to work hard, you must be willing to work the system. Those most likely to find a job quickly are those who go through every step even if they go through certain steps quickly or find other steps distasteful.
A job hunt is going to take time. The time you think you're saving by skipping a phase will haunt you later. Do not bypass the system. There are no shortcuts.
Factor #8: Good interviewing and follow up skills
Some people get lots of interviews but no job offers.
You cannot get a job without an interview, in which you'll have to do well. Interviewing is a skill that requires preparation, practice, and an ability to notice what is important to the interviewer so you can take whatever next steps are required.
Factor #9: Support and encouragement from friends and family absence of personal disruptions
Recently divorced people, for example, tend to do less well in their jobs and less well in their job hunting efforts. If you have other things on your mind, they may adversely affect your job hunt. Try to be effective despite these problems.
Job hunters usually need emotional support because this can be a trying experience. Our egos are at stake. Job hunting is not an easy thing to do.
Sometimes the support of family and friends is not enough because they are not going through what you are going through. That's why people join job hunt groups or get outplacement counseling. You need realistic, honest support from people who know what you are going through. Studies have proved that those who get ongoing counseling during their searches get jobs faster and at higher rates of pay than those who simply take a course or decide to search on their own.
Factor #10: Previous job hunt experience
If you haven't job hunted in a while, you're probably rusty. People will ask questions you're not used to answering and you may not sound polished. The process requires skills we don't use in our everyday work lives. Inexperienced job hunters usually take longer than those who are used to marketing themselves. You need to develop the skills you'll need to land the job that is right for you.
