Since you clicked on this article, it's likely that you're either looking for ways to improve the efficiency of your job search, or your a cynic who wants to see what this bozo thinks is the "perfect" way to search for and land a job. Well, I think it's safe to say we all know that there is no perfect way to find a job, and no matter what, searching for a job can be time consuming, soul crushing work. But what if you're searching for a new job and you're also somewhat of a perfectionist? You could be slowing your progress without knowing it! There are specific annoyances and barriers for people with perfectionism tendencies that tend to surface during their job searches., such as:
Time management is hard for them.
They judge their work very harshly, and they often believe that their work is not good enough to be considered complete.
They see mistakes as something negative instead of a learning opportunity.
They are aware of their flaws, and they hide them, so that they don’t have to experience the judgement of others.
They are avoidant of trying something new when success is not guaranteed.
They rarely feel proud of their own work.
They rarely take credit for exemplary work.
They believe they don't deserve great opportunities, so they self sabotage.
They expect perfection from others too.
Is your perfectionism plummeting your job prospects?
Here's 5 ways your perfectionism could be killing new job prospects:
1. You spend way too much time writing and rewriting a single bullet point on your resume. Recruiters only spend 6 seconds to 30 seconds looking over. your resume. Don't worry if every bullet point is perfectly worded. Instead, try to make sure your words are concise and easily understood.
2. You miss out on jobs that genuinely excited you because you took too long to apply. You can't quite get your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn vanity link, and application form in order the way you want it, so. you miss the deadline to apply, thus missing out on the job opportunity.
3. You go back and forth about quitting your job or staying the course. Even though you're bored with your current job, you manage to convince yourself that you can't leave just yet. You haven't mastered enough here. You haven't earned enough promotions yet. Whatever it may be, you don't want to be there, but you do, but you don't.
4. You read every word in every job ad at least twice, and if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications, you don't apply. New rule of thumb: if you meet 70% of the "important" qualifications for the position, and there's a low applicant count so far, and you meet the education/experience requirements, go ahead and apply. "Important qualifications" means any real, measurable, provable qualification, and not something like, "You're a team-oriented individual." What's a "team-oriented" individual anyway?
5. You answer interview questions so precise, that you fail to connect your experience with the company's needs, over and over again. While you certainly deserve a gold star for your honest answers, sometimes you can be too honest and cause the recruiter or interviewer to "connect the dots" between your previous experience and their current needs. If you are too exact when answering questions about what you've done and what you know, the recruiter can fail to see how your past work will be beneficial, and you'll be skipped over for someone who more clearly articulates their story and connects it to the organization's needs.
How to overcome perfectionism during your job search
If you discovered that your perfectionism is likely hurting your job prospects, you'll need to figure out how to overcome or minimize it so that you can get back on track to finding a job quickly. You may want to try:
Change your goals. Perfectionists tend to operate in extremes, so it can be useful to change up your milestones or final goals.
Don't allow yourself into "desperation mode." Striving for perfection leads people to desperation mode. Desperation mode is when you have become so distraught, so fed up with your job search, that you are extremely desperate for some kind of sign of life from any employer, and you believe at this point, any job is better than no job. Due to this belief, you apply to everything, you scare away every recruiter that attempts to connect for a phone screen, and you land nothing. Desperation mode is where perfectionism and plausible opportunities go to die,
Set rules around your editing processes. Give yourself 1 hour per document for editing. After that, send it.
Find a job coach or accountability partner. Everyone tends to feel alone during a job search as is, so make it easier on yourself and get some help right off the bat. When you hire a coach or have an accountability partner for your job search, chances are you'll stay on track better, make fewer mistakes, and be less likely to waste time and energy on inconsequential items.
Get a realistic view on rejection. The fact is, when it comes to job searches, everyone experiences rejection! So don't take it personally. Remember, everything in this process is about timing. If you get the timing of your application right, and you send in the right info, you'll see a big boost in your response rates from employers.
Is perfectionism halting your job search? Could you use an accountability partner or coach to get you through your job search process easier and faster? If so, get in touch with us today.