Perfect is an “imperfect” word. Really, what is perfect? Is the the absolute best solution forever or for right now?
Our work life (what was once called a career), is made up of a series of jobs. Sometimes these jobs connect systematically and with purpose, other times, well, not so much.
It is my belief that we can can steps to make our work life flow in the direction we want. But only to a point. Set the course and see what happens.
When I hear job seekers say, gosh, I just applied for perfect job…I cringe. Job descriptions seldom accurately describe the full requirements and needs of an employer. You know why?
- They can’t predict the future or their needs beyond 6 months
- They have difficulty defining exactly what they need and what the right “fit” is to fill their void
- They have written a bunch of general things they “think” they would like
- They are throwing out a bunch of requirements, sometimes unrelated or unreal, to see what sticks
- They’ve used the same job description for the past, oh, 5-10 years, without updating it
You get my point. And I am not faulting them. Establishing hiring criteria and then trying to put it into meaningful terms is quite difficult.
I recently had a conversation with Tom Biviano, of Black Ink International on this very topic. Tom is a wise and experienced Sales Coach. I love good sales professionals. Their brains work like no others. Tom’s personality is so far from the sleazy insurance sales guy or used car salesman’s. Phew.
Here are two questions for you:
- Do you know what direction will take you closer to where you want to be in the future?
- Are you clear on what your strengths are and how you communicate them to match the jobs you are pursuing?
If you are looking for additional thoughts about the perfect job, when to hold out etc, please be sure to check out these posts:
Should You Hold Out or Throw in the Towel
Is it a “Tweener” Job You Need?
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
