Posted under Career Planning, Job Search on July 29th, 2008
… A frequently heard question from my clients – usually uttered in desperation after only a few weeks of search efforts.
Of course, there is no simple answer. The variables are too many: the overall economy, the state of your particular field, and the type and level of the position you are targeting (the higher up, the fewer positions there are, so the longer it takes).
Most importantly, it’s the amount of effort you put in and the quality of your efforts that matters. Are you spinning your wheels using ineffective, outdated methods in an attempt to secure your next job, or do you have a solid job search strategy in place?
All factors that are food for thought and material for another blog. For now, I will try to answer the question, keeping in mind that there are no real “averages” when it comes to matters as complex as these.
I think it is fair to say that for a lot of people, searching several months for their next position – up to 6 months even – is not unusual.
My assessment stems from conversations with other resume writers/career coaches, and of course, from hearing clients’ stories.
In the current economical climate, people remain in-between jobs longer than before. Long-term unemployment (6 months and more) seems to be on the rise.
An article on CNNMoney.com by Chris Isidore from last January explains this – and why the unemployment rate by itself is not a good indicator of the state of the job market.
Another article that appeared on CareerJournal.com (the online careers section of The Wall Street Journal) by Perri Capell also covers this topic.
All this to say: Don’t despair if you’ve been out there for a few weeks with no tangible results yet. It is important to have realistic expectations so you don’t become discouraged early on – or, worse: take it personal – and with that lose momentum altogether.
Last but not least: Make sure you are being effective; if you’re mainly relying on the Internet to find your next job, diversify your strategies and/or consider talking to a coach to put a personalized job search plan together that makes sense for you.
Do you have personal stories of your job search you’d like to share? We welcome your comments!
Posted by Ilona Vanderwoude
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