For many, career transitions can prove to be some of the most stressful times of their professional careers, however there are ways to make it easier while still achieving the end result of finding a better job.
Try these steps, they work:
1. Know where you want to be.
Get specific.When we set career goals, the more specific we are, the more we tend to stick it out and achieve exactly what we set out to do.
Simply wanting to get a better job is not going to drive you as much as wanting to get a sales management job in a Fortune 1,000 CPG firm.
2. Know what obstacles lie in your way.
The bare necessities that all job applicants need is a great resume and cover letter / contact email. Are yours updated, formatted well and do the documents display the skills that employers are concerned with you having?
While there will be obstacles all along the way in any job search, you must hit the main ones head-on, always anticipating the next obstacle and being confident in yourself that you can overcome the hurdle once you get there.
3. Become more productive.
Time spent chatting with your co-workers or worrying about getting a response to that resume you sent in is the worst use of time possible. Prior to believing we just don't have the free time to spare to overcome our obstacles, closely analyze the time that you waste which can be put into better use.
For instance, every time I find myself worrying about something, I pick up a book. When we are able to look at our daily schedules and actually see how much time can be put towards personal growth that otherwise goes wasted, we can begin to put forth otherwise empty hours towards a useful goal.
4. Give yourself constant feedback.
How are you doing? If you're stuck not getting interviews, then you must change something. If you're getting interviews, but not getting job offers, than chances are it's your interviewing skills that need improvement.
Only when we are honest with ourselves can we begin to pinpoint problems, then address them with the necessary solutions.
5. Remain optimistic and know that it's not going to be easy.
Belief that we can achieve the career goals we set out to is a big factor to getting the job we want. While we should believe that we can achieve what we want, we have to know that it is not going to come easily.
Continue to focus on getting better and better at interviewing and finding jobs. Once you do, you'll continue to see improved results and will come one step closer to achieving your goal.
Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement Recruiters a sales and marketing executive search firm based out of New York City.
