When your job hunt bogs down: Five ways to beat procrastination
Day 14: Take pride in yourself. You've worked hard and set in motion everything you need to land a job.
Getting stuck. Many people shut down when they hit roadblocks–which abound. You might not be able to come up with 20 employers, for instance, or get past an obstructionist gatekeeper, or answer a hiring manager's tough questions.
Solution: Find a savvy career counselor or friend who will take the time to work through the details with you. Your coach should do some role-playing, for example, helping you practice conversing with your network and with prospective employers. During mock interviews, your coach should ask the questions you're most afraid of being asked. If you can, tape these interviews and review them later. If you hire a career counselor, make sure he'll be available for questions by E-mail or phone between sessions in case you get stuck. Also, keep a few superpractical job search books by your side: My favorites: Knock 'Em Dead, which contains model answers for hundreds of common interview questions. Résumé Magic offers hundreds of r ésumés shown before and after an expert's revisions. My book, Cool Careers for Dummies, provides model phone conversations with networking contacts and prospective employers, plus a chapter called "47 Ways to Conquer Procrastination."
Reasonable fears. If you've failed on previous jobs or simply have had a hard time landing a job, it's understandable that you're not eager to job-search.
Solution: Ask whether you've been going after the wrong jobs. Almost everyone can find work they're good at and ought to be content doing. Maybe you've been focusing on high-status fields, and therefore highly competitive jobs. Stop worrying so much about what others will think of you. Many people make a good living and enjoy their work when they go far from the madding crowd and look for a nonsexy job, like working for the government or nonelite industries. Jobs with good bosses and coworkers, reasonable pay, and a manageable workload and commute are easier to land when you search away from glamour fields. Of course, focus on landing a job that would accentuate your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Don't know what they are? Be brave and ask current and former colleagues and friends.
Unreasonable fears. Scared to cold-call because you're afraid of imposing? Worried that your spouse will resent your working? Afraid you'll have to work such long hours you won't have a life?
Solution: Keep reminding yourself that such fears are irrational. For example, when you cold-call an employer to offer your services, you're not taking any more of her time than if you had stopped a stranger to ask for directions. If, after your 10-second pitch, she's not interested, she can say so. If you fear your spouse will resent your working outside the home, calmly but politely say you think that's unfair, and collaboratively figure out how chores will be handled. If you prevail, there's a good chance you'll actually gain your spouse's respect. Worried that if you get a job, you won't have time for a life? Don't pick a field notorious for strenuous work hours, and before accepting a job offer, make clear how many hours a week you're generally willing to work. Say no when your boss makes unreasonable work demands. That way, you'll almost assuredly have enough time for a life.
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