Fred Harteis News Articles - A strong hiring environment may cause you to think that your job search will be a piece of cake. But the truth is that finding the right job can be hit or miss. It's important to have realistic expectations to keep your spirits high and limit frustration.
Expectation: My job search will take no time at all.
Reality: There's no guarantee how long it will take to find a new position.
Finding the right opportunity is not always easy. The open positions you come across may not seem challenging enough, or certain details about a job, such as the salary or commute, may not be appealing.
In addition, hiring managers may take several weeks to respond to your application. After all, they have full-time jobs with demands of their own, and hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes to review. That said, don't be afraid to follow up with a prospective employer to help move the process along. Eighty-two percent of executives polled by Robert Half International said it's a good idea to do so within two weeks of submitting a resume.
Expectation: I need to send out only a few resumes.
Reality: Finding a job is a numbers game.
Also keep in mind that some of the resumes you distribute may not reach their destinations. If you e-mail your resume, it could end up in the hiring manager's spam folder, depending on the words it contains. For instance, if you "won an award" for being a team player, your message could be seen by an e-mail filter as a sweepstakes or moneymaking promotion. "Received formal recognition" would work better.
Expectation: My resume and cover letter are terrific!
Reality: You could probably improve your application materials.
Take a close look at your resume and cover letter. Do they sell your skills and qualifications? Make sure that, instead of simply listing your previous duties, you detail your accomplishments and contributions in previous roles. So rather than saying, "Wrote one high-tech column for company intranet each week," try, "Wrote weekly high-tech column for company intranet that increased readership by more than 200 percent and helped employees better utilize company systems." This will show a prospective employer exactly how your work improved the bottom line and why they should hire you.
Expectation: My skills are top notch ' any company would want to hire me.
Reality: You may not be as marketable as you think.
A common mistake job seekers make is overestimating their marketability. Although you may think your skill set is solid, take an honest look at your qualifications to determine how in demand you really are. Keep in mind that your marketability depends on many things, including factors that may be out of your hands. For instance, you may live in a part of the country where many other individuals with similar experience are also looking for employment.
Finding a new position is difficult, and it's easy to fall prey to your frustrations. But by maintaining a realistic outlook, you'll be better able to overcome any hurdles and land a job quickly.
Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures. Brett Deimler leads Deimler International.