Where Is My Job Search Going Wrong?

It’s at this time of the year that I hear from many of my students and various LinkedIn members that they are frustrated with their job searches. Year after year they ask me for a simple answer to the same complicated question: Where is my job search going wrong?

Job searches are a lot of work and can be very confusing and even disheartening experiences. I get it!

While, unfortunately, there are no simple answers to that question, I have created a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Job Search Diagnostic to help you determine where the process is breaking down for you, so that you can seek out help where you need it.

In this diagnosis, you will be examining your search from four different perspectives, starting with your overall search strategy.

Overall Search Strategy

In an overall search strategy, two patterns are problematic.  The first is too broad of an approach.  It is like throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks.  To be effective, you need to be able to articulate your value to each position and have an apparent reason for applying.  You’ll want to clarify your working identity to focus your attention on jobs that are the correct fit for you.

The second problematic issue is being too narrow in your search focus.  If you are not getting interviews, you might want to perform a gap analysis or look at your application process.   You may need to go onto a plan B to fill in gaps or examine your networking strategy.

If you have what I call the “right size” search, you are ready to move on to the application diagnosis. The “right size” search is a search that where you are focused on positions where you have at least 75% of skills, knowledge, and qualifications needed and within multiple organizations or sectors of interest.

Application Process

The application process needs to be examined next if you are not getting interviews with a right-sized search.  To be considered actively seeking a new opportunity, you should be applying to positions within a two-week window of the position opening and three to five jobs a week with a targeted resume and cover letter to the decision maker in the process.

Professional Network

If you are still not getting the interviews, your next step is to analyze how you are using or developing your professional network to help you in the search.  As you are seeking a position, you should be actively engaged in reaching out to people who are working in that sector to either provide you with advice on the search, potential job openings or recommend you to decision-makers in the process.

Interviews

Finally, if you are landing the interviews but not the job, you should examine your past interviews to see what may be going wrong.  Look to see where you have had difficulty or been surprised by the question.  If you are getting to second-round interviews, what barriers may be affecting the decision? Think about whether you are expressing your interest at the end of interviews and if you are following up with each person that interviewed you.

After examining each of these areas, you will identify areas where you could improve; however, you may be competing in an extremely competitive market!  Getting discouraged is normal. Take a short break, and then keep moving forward and you will land your next opportunity.