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Being realistic about job opportunities in today’s economy can sometimes be difficult. If you’ve just started a job search, your expectations may be different than if you’ve been searching for awhile.
The following comments have been mentioned recently by candidates about their job searches:
· I’m confident that I’ll find a similar position and salary within a short period of time.
· I rarely hear back from employers for jobs that I’ve applied for online or via mail.
· I think it’s a good time to explore opportunities in other cities.
· At this stage, I’d settle for even an entry-level position.
These comments demonstrate the spectrum of people’s perceptions. On the one hand, there are “overly optimistic” individuals. At the opposite end, there is the “overly pessimistic” group.
Overly Optimistic - There is no denying that optimism will get you ahead faster than pessimism but for this group, the challenge becomes determining when to abandon the ideal opportunity in favor of the good opportunity. Being absolute rigid in what you will consider in today’s market means that you may be waiting for a longer time than you would prefer.
Overly Pessimistic – This group faces the challenge of becoming desperate and unless you’ve been in the situation of absolutely needing any job, it’s easier said than done to tell someone to remain detached opening their career options.
To help reach the middle of the spectrum on job expectations, we offer the following tips:
1. Accurately identify your skills and experience and double-check with people that you trust to confirm that you’re being realistic in your assessment. It does no good to apply for every opening that you “think” you might be qualified to hold.
2. While it may certainly be necessary to take a pay cut in today’s market, don’t completely undersell your worth. Remember that when things turn around, employers will not remember that you took a lower paying job because of the economy. What you accept now will be the benchmark for salary increases and promotions for years to come.
3. Likewise, don’t oversell your worth in today’s market. If necessary, consider bargaining for other elements of the compensation package to keep you at an acceptable level.
4. Consider relocation options only if you’re truly qualified for the position and are certain that relocating your family will work in the long-term. Remember that employers generally consider relocation candidates only for specialized or highly skilled positions. If you still think applying for a position in another city is a good idea, be sure to quantify every detail of your relocation costs and confirm how much, if any, the employer will cover. Always be sure to identify the cost of living differential between the two cities. See http://www.coli.org/
Being accurate about your skills, diligent about your search and able to compromise on your expectations will enable you to achieve both your short-term and long-term career objectives.
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