Of all the things in your job search,
this one may take the cake
➔ You’re an older job seeker, right? Do you know what you need in your job search? You need something that you’ve exhibited all your life. You need something that you have used all your working life – and even before that. You need something that has gotten you through all the challenges you’ve ever faced.
You need: perseverance.
It sounds so simple, yet…
You persevered on your last job, didn’t you? No matter how much you may have liked your previous position (or disliked it), there were times when you were frustrated, exasperated and just beside yourself. But you persevered. You got through it.
Even before that, when you were in school. Teachers aggravated you. Work assignments seemed overwhelming. But you got through it. You moved on.
Just to make certain that we’re all singing from the same sheet, let’s spend a few seconds to take a look at how the dictionary defines “perseverance.” Dictionary.com says that perseverance is a “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.”
Sounds a little like your current job search, does it not? Not too difficult to understand. But let’s take a closer look.
If you’re the typical older job seeker, you face “difficulties” everyday. You face “obstacles” with nearly every employer you approach. And, you experience “discouragement” every time you’re told that “you’re just not right for this position,” or that “we’ve decided to go in another direction.” Grrrrrrrrr.
As for that part of the definition, you seem to be a perfect fit. But what about the first part? Do you have a “course of action”? Do you have a strategy or a method to pursue as part of your job search?
And what about “steady persistence”? Are you hard at work in your job search everyday? All day everyday? Only you can answer that.
But we can add this: if you are steady; if you are persistent – you will succeed. It may take a while – probably longer than you’d like – but you will succeed. Persistence, perseverance – ultimately they do pay off.
As Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”