Copyright (c) 2012 Alison Withers
If a candidate or job seeker's efforts to win an interview are repeatedly unsuccessful it is easy to become demoralised and to feel one's skills have no value.
The advice from career guidance experts is to remain positive and confident, to treat the search for a position as a job in itself, but at times this can be easier to say than it is to do.
Whether they are looking for a first job or seeking to move up the career ladder, perhaps from a general secretarial to a PA role, or from administration into middle management, the temptation for someone in this position is to start to believe some of the many myths that are perpetrated about employers and the availability of work when economies are struggling as they currently are in the UK, Europe and the USA.
One of the most frequently-repeated myths is that employers are just not hiring. There is plenty of evidence that this is not true.
For example, the regular monthly updates on unemployment in the UK have revealed that unemployment has continued to fall suggesting that employers are in fact hiring and in some cases creating new positions. No matter what the state of the economy there is always some movement as people leave their current jobs and need to be replaced.
Linked myths are that working voluntarily or part time are dead ends. Actually they can be opportunities not only because they offer the chance to develop skills and to maintain the working rhythm but also because they may offer access for networking and for accessing vacancies coming up that are not going to be widely advertised.
The value of being occupied in whatever way should not be underestimated. It is helpful to maintaining self respect, confidence and a positive attitude when a person is feeling that they are contributing something rather than focusing their activity wholly on filling in application forms, sending out CVs and waiting for results.
Believing that one should lower one's salary expectations can also be a mistake. If a candidate knows the accepted rates for the work they hope to do it can be counter-productive to be willing to accept a lower rate and may give a potential employer the impression that they have no confidence in their value and their skills. It may also have the effect of convincing the employer that a person will not be committed to a position but will always be on the look-out for a better paid post. Generally employers expect to pay a competitive rate for a particular position if they want to hire the best candidate for the job.
These days education and qualifications are no longer guarantees of a position and it is worth reminding yourself that personality and culture fit are equally important.
Try to find ways to ensure that you are memorable, in the best possible way. Something as small as sending a thank-you note following a meeting or temporary posting interview can make a significant difference to the professional reputation.
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It is important for candidates to maintain confidence in their skills and value to an employer during a prolonged search for work and to avoid believing in the many myths surrounding the job market. By Ali Withers. http://www.rmsrecruitment.com
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