Sure, we all make mistakes, that’s how we learn! But making the same mistakes over and over again is just plain stupid!
In life (and job search) we have to take risks. We have to step outside our comfort zone and try new things, especially if we want results. But fear is a powerful deterrent. We don’t like taking risks or feeling uncomfortable so we avoid the unknown or creative solution that might just do the trick. Maybe we should we call mistakes “learning opportunities” instead to make them seem less ominous.
I remember someone telling me once that it is better to tell children to “play in the yard” rather than “don’t play in the street.” When you tell them the latter, their brains can only process “play in the street.” Supposedly, brains can’t process the “don’t” part.
So let’s try this. Switch your thinking around and say “I will to succeed” instead of saying/thinking “I don’t want to fail,” and you may come out a winner!
How do you identify a mistake, oops learning opportunity?
If the results you are aiming for are not achieved, was that a problem your aim or your target? It could be either or both.
Here are some areas to evaluate.
- How often do people send you leads for the right type of job?
- Are people supplying you with names of good contacts to network with?
- How many responses have you received from the applications you’ve submitted?
- How many second interviews have you had?
Let’s stop here. There are certainly many more questions to ask (and you can read them here).
These four questions should get you thinking, “Gee, gosh, you know, I could be doing something differently.”
In today’s On Career’s post on US News & World Report, I have highlighted 8 crippling mistakes job seekers make and suggested fixes.
We can only learn from doing and if you are doing, then you aren’t learning!
It is YOUR Search
While it is easy to blame employers for being too selective or discrimination, you can’t control that. This is your search- own it and take accountability! Stop playing the blame game!
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