Patience!!!!

Several components go into conducting a successful job search such as having a great resume, remaining organized throughout the process, developing great interview skills, proactively following up on job leads and interview results, maintaining a current list of solid references, etc.  A lesser known component for success, one that is becoming increasingly significant, is developing a high level of patience.

Recently, I coached an individual who had been out of work for quite some time due to a combination of a staff reduction at her company and a long term disability.  She sent out countless resumes and went on a decent number of interviews to no avail.  This alone tested her patience but was only a table setter for her final frontier in the job search world.

An employer contacted her for a position a step or two below where she hoped to land but the company has a great reputation and a decent benefits plan.  She went to the interview, met with four people for about an hour then was told that two others were part of the hiring process but not available that day.  Naturally, she figured this was a way of brushing her off.  As she drove home, she got a call to come back the next day! This meeting with two people lasted a total of 20 minutes and she was told someone would get back to her.

Four or five days passed with no further contact and the candidate called me for advice.  I suggested she call the original person who invited her to the interview and ask for an update on her status.  She had to leave voice mail and was very frustrated but did not give up hope.  She received a call two days later with an offer contingent on a background check which she submitted all required forms for immediately.  A week later, she was told to go for a drug screening.  Another week later, she was told the results were inconclusive due to a testing glitch and she had to retake the test.  Finally, 5 days later, she was officially hired.

From time of submitting her resume to the actual date of hire was a span of almost two months.  Countless times, she was ready to give up but really wanted the job and kept pushing forward.  The key here is that patience got her the job offer.  Today, hiring processes are slower than i have seen over the past 30 years.  If you are impatient and anxious and give up quickly, you are cheating yourself..Patience is an acquired quality for many of us but I strongly suggest you find a way to be patient in order to succeed!