As 2018 winds down, you may feel like waiting until next year to secure your dream job. But what will waiting and coming up with excuses do for you? Nothing.
It’s easy to become your own worst critic and use excuses as crutches. However, it’s time to put your foot down and finally get what you want! You deserve to accelerate your career—don’t let these common job search excuses hold you back from your highest potential.
“It’s not a good time to search.”
You may not feel like opening your laptop and diving headfirst into a sea of potential jobs. But maybe you’ll never feel like it because you’d rather binge Netflix show after Netflix show. You can’t just hope that a recruiter will call out of the blue with the job offer of your dreams. You need to commit to your job search and block out time to sift through job listings. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it in the end!
Any time is a good time for your job search. Why? Well, you can tell yourself, “Someday I’ll get my dream job,” but someday will never come—unless, of course, you do something about it. Even when you think nobody is hiring, someone always is (and it’s usually a company that you didn’t know existed). Numerous employers post job openings every single day, and if you wait around, you may miss a great opportunity. There are even some people who will hit up job boards to see if there’s anything out there—passive candidates. They’ll sweep up an opportunity if you don’t act first!
“I can’t do X, Y, or Z skill.”
When we tell ourselves that we can’t do something, we only hold ourselves back from what we really want to achieve.
It’s going to take some time to learn a new skill, but it’s achievable. Learning comes in baby steps, and you’ll need to accept that if you want to move forward and acquire new skills.
Don’t get down on yourself if you don’t know how to do something. Instead, take a class on the subject. See if a community college or company you admire offers some courses, and be sure to register. Whether you need to refine your skills or are eager to learn something new, an online course is a refreshing way to get ahead. You may tell yourself that you don’t have the time for a class (yet another excuse), but you can often find ones that are flexible with just about any schedule.
“I’m too young (or too old) to achieve my dreams.”
Your age shouldn’t prevent you from seeking out the opportunities you want. Our ages are a good thing; different age groups lead to a diverse, fruitful workplace.
The truth is, regardless of their age, nobody has it all figured out. The “right” time is always right now. Everybody constructs their careers at different paces, so don’t think you’re too far behind or that you aren’t moving fast enough. Slow but meaningful forward progress is progress nonetheless.
“I don’t have a mentor to vouch for me.”
It’s more important than ever before to develop connections with people who can support you during your job search. But it’s also simple to seek out these relationships and maintain them.
If you don’t think you have a mentor, sure you do! A mentor can be any working professional you admire. Finding a mentor can be as simple as reconnecting with an old friend, a neighbor, a previous employer, or a college classmate. You most likely know plenty of people who are willing to help you along—all you have to do is ask!
“I’m not an expert, so I won’t get this job.”
Look, there’s probably somebody out there who’s better than you at almost everything you do. But that means there’s room for self-improvement. In fact, plenty of employers seek out potential employees who still have room to grow.
If you’re interested in a certain position, but you’re an industry newcomer, go ahead and apply anyway—you have nothing to lose. You may be able to win the hiring manager over with your determination and the skills you already possess! However, if you already have some experience under your belt, you’re sure to find a company who needs your help.
There’s bound to be a newer company who’ll appreciate the experience you do have, even if the experience isn’t exactly applicable. If you apply to a start-up, don’t hesitate to let the hiring manager know how they can benefit from your limited experience. Give yourself some credit for what you already know. You might not know everything, but don’t be afraid to really home in on the knowledge you do have. Also, don’t be afraid to post industry-related articles on LinkedIn to show that you’re passionate about and value industry knowledge.
“I don’t want to face another rejection e-mail.”
Failure is inevitable, yet it still prevents most people from taking chances. They’re afraid of messing something up or facing defeat.
You can’t fail if you don’t try—that’s true. But you can’t succeed, either. Rejection might hurt, but if you don’t try, you’ll carry a heavy burden. If you receive a rejection e-mail, it simply wasn’t meant to be. A rejection email might be a closed door, but there are plenty of open ones. The more doors that close on you, the closer you are to your dream job.
Excuses are personality defense mechanisms that aren’t easy to shake, but recognizing them will help you become the best version of yourself. We hope this blog post helps you set your hesitations aside, so you can ditch the common job search excuses and work toward your dream position.
If you ever feel discouraged and require assistance, consider working with Burnett’s Staffing. We offer invaluable recruitment services for job seekers. Our team services cities across North Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano. Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, we’re happy to help you in your professional endeavors. Contact us today!