Your Job Search is a Marathon, Not a Sprint - Coffee Break Blog

Your Job Search is a Marathon, Not a Sprint - Coffee Break Blog Dig in, breathe deep, and set your pace, because its time to chase  your dream job. Looking for a new job is an exciting process, especially at the start. However, the initial excitement can diminish easily. For this reason, many job seekers work hard to search at the beginning. However, this is akin to trying to sprint an entire marathon. Barring an extremely lucky break, your job search will take some time. Thus its incredibly important to realize that your job search is a marathon, not a sprint. Preparing for the Marathon Lets say youve kept your social media professional and made your resume a living document. Even if youve done a good job of making yourself marketable, if youre unprepared for a longer job search it can hurt your chances. In 2015, the average job hunt took 43 days. While the current job market is more in favor of candidates, you cant expect to find a job within your first two weeks. Check out this infographic to see which country has jobs that go unfilled for the longest. Heres a hint-  its the United States. Time to hire varies greatly based on industry, experience, and salary expectations. Depending on what you are looking for, it could take more than 5 weeks to find a position. Thus you should  always be prepared for a long search. Just like an actual marathon, you will want to be in good health, and constantly training. However in this case the training is more mental than physical. Make sure you are constantly reviewing interview questions, and networking when you get the chance. Set yourself a pace that is strong and steady, and focus on quality instead of quantity. Dont focus on applying to as many jobs as possible. Instead, apply to the ones you are truly interested in, and go out of your way to get in touch with the hiring manager if possible. Set yourself apart from other candidates by taking the extra step. Variables Out of Your Control Also, the right job may not even be open when you start your search. Turnaround time between companies varies greatly, so sometimes you will have to wait a while for a response. In any job search, there are variables out of your control that you must account for. The process can be frustrating,  but it can also be extremely rewarding if you find the right job. No matter how you feel, its never a good idea to take an easy job too early. In most cases, you wont be getting relevant experience, and you will have to restart your job search again soon. Be smart, and prepare for the long  haul!