Thinking Ahead in the Job Search

Job Searchers, have you ever been so close toopportunities.Remember to keep looking at and
getting a new position that you stop doing most ofapplying for openings until you have completely
the things that brought you to that point? It is easynegotiated for your next position. Continue the
to get so excited over one potential opportunity thatactivities that resulted in success. Seek out the
you forget how important it is to keep your pipelineassistance of a coach or job search buddy who can
full of leads.A job search takes time, potentially threehelp keep you accountable during the demands of a
to six months, or longer in our current economy,search.Think out of the box for possible job options
depending upon your particular skill and salary level.or employers. You may have several skill sets to
People often get discouraged at the amount of timepromote rather than just one. Continue exploring and
it is taking and may slow down or even stop thetalking to anyone you can about potential
process. In addition, employers often state an idealopportunities. Keep your pipeline full of leads and you
time frame to fill the position. However, that goalmay be surprised by the results. Your negotiating
may not be realistic, and the employer may takepower and your confidence will increase when you
much longer than anticipated filling the position.Waitinghave more than one option.Joanne Waldman is a
on a specific job could put you at risk. Perhaps youtrailblazer in global learning and personal/career and
have interviewed once or even several times for theretirement coaching so her alma mater recognized
job. During the interview process, you receiveher with the Citation of Merit for Outstanding
encouraging signals that you are the top candidate.Achievement and Meritorious Service.In 2001 she
As a result, you decide that this is the job for youstarted New Perspective Coaching. Previously, Joanne
and you stop developing other leads. Then, youconsulted with Fortune 500 companies. Joanne trains
discover the position has gone to someone else.coaches for International Coach Academy and
Where does that leave you in your job search? AllRetirement Options. Awarded the Master Career
your eggs were in one basket and now you are backCounselor title, Joanne also earned her Professional
at square one with nothing on the radar screen andCertified Coach designation.Joanne has a Masters of
weeks wasted because you were counting on thisEducation and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She
job.So, what are some of the things you can do tograduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. A Licensed
keep the momentum going in your job search? BeProfessional Counselor with national counseling
aware that this is a process and takes time, energycertification, Joanne also serves as a Nationally
and commitment. The more you put in, the more youCertified Gerontological Counselor and completed the
get back. Set up some structures to ensure that youGeriatric Scholar Fellowship Program through St. Louis
spend a certain amount of time each week on yourUniversity.Joanne has been quoted in the Wall Street
search. That could include networking activities orJournal and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has published
even going to the gym, as long as you are cultivatingover 50 of her articles.