How Long is Too Long to Look for the Job You Want?
The answer is very personal and many factors affect the outcome.
Financial considerations
Emotional and physical health
Family obligations
Current job market
Today’s pandemic has made this situation more complex by imposing unprecedented health risks during a global economic crisis.
For over twenty years, I’ve worked magic for a thousand executives job search campaigns by creating unique, fresh positioning and personally executing an extremely efficient approach that has placed my clients on the radar of hiring authorities including C-level, Boards, investors, and silent owners and have devised ways to remain visible without sacrificing reputation or market value. By enabling JobWhiz clients to engage in private exploratory meetings, they have been able to discover the right new relationships and land positions that fulfill their wish lists. Simultaneously, their current search facilitates future transitions by expanding their network and establishing a broader referral base.
Developing smart relationships and gaining the sponsorship of the right individuals is valuable for opening doors and producing attractive opportunities. Choosing contacts and connecting is a guaranteed effective process for sourcing new job offers that fit each job seeker’s needs. But, it is not a quick fix for getting back into the game or making a swift change.
Covid-19 has changed the rules for all candidates from senior to entry-level.
Today, the qualified candidate pool is abundant; it’s an employers’ job market, very tough for executives who are eager to land a new role as soon as possible. In order to accelerate progress into their next position requires difficult choices and compromises near term. One of the most efficient ways to accelerate job search progress is to go where there are growth and demand for talent versus focusing on replacing incumbents and filling vacancies. It is also more necessary to show the skills and knowledge that employers expect instead of selecting and promoting the strengths which a candidate prefers to use in a new role.
It is better to be engaged in a less than perfect job than to be sitting on the bench.
Increased visibility
Better access to career-enhancing opportunities
Income and compensation benefits
Increased self-worth
I do not advise abandoning attaining a promotion completely or hope for making a career change, but the time spent job searching for the best opportunity compared to targeting a more accessible assignment should be allocated 20% to 80%.
Remember that the best, most effective job searching method is networking. Connecting for a less than perfect role has the benefits of gaining additional contacts to support future transitions.
