Things you can control

The average search now takes five months, according to a new survey by recruiters Randstad USA of 2,000 people across the U.S. who have recently changed jobs.

That’s about the same length of time as before the unemployment rate fell to its current 49-year low of 3.7%.

Five months can feel like an eternity when you are unemployed. Focus on what you can control. Not on what you can’t control.

For example:

◆ Before you launch a search, consider creating a written job search strategy, including the level of networking activity that you will commit to. Hold yourself accountable to weekly metrics.

◆ Make sure that you have quality of job search materials, including the resume and cover letters.

◆ Mock interviews are a small investment that can offer you interview confidence, stronger more targeted responses and a leg up on your competition.

What are other things job seekers can CONTROL in the process?

Author

  • Sarah Johnston

    I’m a former corporate recruiter and industry “insider” who got tired of seeing talented high-achievers get passed over for opportunities because they did not have the right marketing documents or know how to position themselves in interviews. I have relocated multiple times across the country as a “trailing spouse” and have had to execute job searches in completely cold markets (where I literally knew no one!) I have been named a LinkedIn Top Voice in the career space in 2019, HR Weekly’s Top 100 Most Influential People in HR, named the owner of the “best resume writing firm for experienced executives” by Balance Careers and a “top follow” by JobScan in 2019 and 2020.

Sarah Johnston

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