There are many reasons why your job search may be stalled
➔ It seems like there are many job seekers who always seem to have a few “irons in the fire.” Likewise, there are others who are always waiting for that next break, always waiting for the phone to ring, and never seem to be making any progress.
Why is that? Why is it that some job seekers are always actively pursuing something while others sit and wait… and wait… and wait.
Are they just lucky?
Lucky? Probably not. In all likelihood, they assessed their situations, identified what they want to achieve and have constructed a plan of attack to achieve it. The rest of the job seekers submit an application online and wait for the phone to ring.
This is one of those life conundrums where sport can provide some insight. In football, turnovers are a crucial component of any game. (In this sense, a turnover is a fumble, an interception, a blocked kick, etc. where the other team takes possession of the ball away from the opponent.)
When discussing turnovers, most commentators and coaches frequently make mention of a team “forcing” the turnover. Teams can accomplish this in any number of ways, but the key is that they don’t sit and wait for the turnover to happen. Through their aggressive play, they make them happen.
Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown once said that “Football is a game of mistakes. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins the game.” And turnovers are most decidedly “mistakes.”
Our college coach often said that “We have to take the game to them.” We have to make it happen. We have to force the turnovers… and be ready to take advantage of them.
Is a job search very different? Are you sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring, or are you taking your job search to them.
You’ve found yourself out of work. What is your plan of attack? What do you have to do before you begin actively looking? Do you know where to actively look? Do you know with whom to speak and how to reach them? You’ve submitted your application… now what?
What are you doing? Here’s a hint: Sitting at home waiting for the phone is akin to doing nothing.