Unemployment comes to us all. Evidently, no one is immune. No job is secure; no planet is safe.

Nobody deals with career adversity better than Storm Troopers!

Storm Troopers face every hardship: demanding boss, exploding work site, dealing with Rebels, chasing Droids, poor safety conditions, interplanetary travel, high mortality rate and unemployment. Yet Storm Troopers just keep coming.

So let's learn from Storm Troopers.

[Actually, I'm just answering questions received from a previous post, How the Job Market Really Works, based on my 28+ years in executive search and career coaching.]

The #1 mistake job seekers make is vastly underestimating the type and amount of work that a successful job search requires.

that a successful job search requires. Do the 20 not the 80. Many job seekers spend 80% of their time on irrelevant activity and only 20% on progressive action. Do what matters, not what's easy.

Many job seekers spend 80% of their time on irrelevant activity and only 20% on progressive action. Do what matters, not what's easy. Activity ≠ Achievement. Don't confuse movement with progress; activity is good if it advances you. Focus don't flail.

A laser not a shot-gun. A narrow, well defined approach succeeds faster than a broad, general approach; the more focused you are the easier it is for a prospective employer to recognise you as an asset

A narrow, well defined approach succeeds faster than a broad, general approach; the more focused you are the easier it is for a prospective employer to recognise you as an asset 4 hours per day. An effective job search when unemployed requires 4 hours of genuine work per day; eg, networking, gathering information, interviewing sources of information; 4 hours of intelligent effort per day produces results.

After those 4 hours, live your life : go to the gym, play golf, hit the beach, read, play with the kids, etc.

: go to the gym, play golf, hit the beach, read, play with the kids, etc. You already know what you want to do but you may not be fully conscious of it if it hasn't percolated up from your heart to your head. Solution: do the exercises in John Bolles's book What Colour Is Your Parachute

30 seconds / 50 words: if you can't say in 30 seconds (or fewer), and in 50 words (or fewer), exactly what work you want to do, then you haven't thought deeply enough about it

if you can't say in 30 seconds (or fewer), and in 50 words (or fewer), what work you want to do, then you haven't thought deeply enough about it Seek the the 'right job' not the 'perfect job' (which doesn't exist and even if it did, it wouldn't be permanent), or just any job. The right job suits both you and the employer and includes appropriate remuneration.

Networking is interacting with people who are sources of information and/or prospective employers. Meeting people who can facilitate your job search is crucial to your success. Cultivate them wisely.

is interacting with people who are and/or prospective employers. Meeting people who can facilitate your job search is crucial to your success. Cultivate them wisely. Common error: overlooking sources of information already within your existing network.

of information already within your existing network. VERY common error: being afraid to contact those people.

to contact those people. VERY, VERY, common error: feuding with reality. The Buddha observed that all our suffering stems from our reluctance to accept things as they are. Instead we insist that reality be another way. Well, every Storm Trooper knows that sometimes your job (or planet) just blows up. Don't insist that the job market be other than it is. The job market and this world are imperfect; accept it and create a way to get what you need from both.

Unemployment is not your fault but if it is, so what? If you're unemployed, maybe it's not your fault (or maybe it is). Unemployment has many causes some of which are outside your control. Even top performers get outplaced (I've seen it firsthand) but so what? Does it matter now? The task now is to find meaningful employment. Attributing blame, fault or guilt is a waste of your time.

If you're unemployed, maybe it's not your fault (or maybe it is). Unemployment has many causes some of which are outside your control. Even top performers get outplaced (I've seen it firsthand) but so what? Does it matter now? The task is to find meaningful employment. Attributing blame, fault or guilt is a waste of your time. An academic degree is not a magic talisman guaranteeing you life-time employment so don't overrate the importance of your university degree. An employer only needs to know: what can you do for me? how will you contribute? what do you offer? and-- most importantly-- can you demonstrate it? Fact: you're not hired because of the degree(s) you possess but because of the skills you demonstrate.

People hire people: therefore the task is to get in front of people who may employ you; there may be many gatekeepers between you and that hiring person, but eventually you will be employed by a person not a company; therefore you must interact with people.

therefore the task is to get in front of people who may employ you; there may be many gatekeepers between you and that hiring person, but eventually you will be employed by a person not a company; therefore you must interact with people. I've never seen an employer 'low-ball' a candidate's remuneration or take advantage of an unemployed candidate; it may happen but it's uncommon. So don't fret about it.

remuneration or take advantage of an unemployed candidate; it may happen but it's uncommon. So don't fret about it. Do the math : for every person hired there are others who aren't; that's just how it is. All job markets are competitive. This means you'll lose out occasionally (or regularly) en route to getting the job you want. It's ok to be disappointed if you miss out, but don't be surprised.

: for every person hired there are others who aren't; that's just how it is. All job markets are competitive. This means you'll lose out occasionally (or regularly) en route to getting the job you want. It's ok to be disappointed if you miss out, but don't be surprised. You weren't hired for the right reason, so move along: If they didn't hire you, it's because they had a good reason. They found a more suitable candidate or the fit wasn't right.Rejection is hard to accept but c'mon folks, let's take it in stride and keep moving forward; only the naive are unprepared for adversity.

Job markets evolve due to technology, economics, trends, geography, etc. Use these changes to your advantage.

It's an adventure: job seeking can be a rough ride so remember to have fun; you may have to ride alone but you won't have to blaze the trail; others have gone before you with success.

Bottom Line: The easier you make it for someone to hire you (and it'll be a person, not a company) the faster you'll be employed.

If moderately skilled, chronically low-achieving Storm Troopers can find work, imagine what a talented person like you can do.

All we need now is your comment!





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Duff Watkins, a former psychotherapist, hosts the 10 Lessons It Took Me 50 Years to Learn podcast and is Director of ExecSearch International- Australia.





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