Money matters might push you into taking a job you don't want, but you might want to hold out for something better if you want to propel your career forward.
There are also some traditional advice to find a job that will help you boost your possibilities. According to Teri Hockett, the chief executive of What's for Work, a career site for women, pursue your passions, leverage your network, tailor and tidy up your resume, do your homework, and dress for success are foundational aspects to job seeking that are timeless.
David Parnell, a legal consultant, communication coach and author, agrees: Much of this has been around long enough to become conventional for a reason: it works, he says. If you take a closer look, things like networking, research, and applying to multiple employers are fundamental ‘block and tackle' types of activities that apply to 80% of the bell curve. They hinge upon casting a broad net; they leverage the law of averages; they adhere to the fundamentals of psychology. It's no wonder they still work.
Some of it does get old and overused, because job seeking is as unique and creative as an individual, says Isa Adney, author of Community College Success and the blog FirstJobOutofCollege.com. When you ask any professional who has achieved some level of greatness how he or she got there, the journey is always unique, always varied, and rarely cookie-cutter. Most have, in some capacity, followed their passion, used their network, and had a good resume--but those things are usually part of a much bigger picture, and an unpredictable winding path. Instead of always following the exact by-the-book job seeking formulas, most were simply open to possibilities and got really good at whatever it is they were doing.
Searching for a job can be exhausting which might entice you to just take any job you can get to get back the hours you've put on searching for a job. Although this means you are not constrained by the motions of job searching, you'll be held to the new expectations of being the new person on the team.
It's only when you are passionate about your job that you don't feel burnt out. Being passionate about one's career means you are going to give it everything you've got because you are excited about it and happy to take on a new challenge.
If you are not under financial stress, you might want to consider taking some time off from searching for jobs. During that time you can reconnect with what you've been sacrificing, you'll have renewed energy to put it towards finding the right role for you.
If you are not on a rush to get a job, you might want to hold out for something better because if you don't like your job, you'll start dreading it and your productivity will decrease. Sooner or later, you'll need to start looking for a new job. Before applying to a job, ask yourself if you'll be excited about doing it in the future?
If you've passed the test so far, ask yourself if the job posting will improve your career. Is there potential for growth? Although it might be a job you like, it might also be one you are overqualified for or one you've done before or there are no opportunities to move up the ladder, and therefore, it is not going to help you move up the ladder or learn new skills. Unfortunately, no matter how much you like this job, it is a dead end and you'll lose motivation along the way.
If you only qualify for a job that will not get you the position you want, you might want to consider taking a class or doing an internship to fill in the gaps, so later on you can apply to the job you want.
If nothing else works, you might also want to try something new. Times are always changing and while it's always good to follow the basic advice, we also have to get rolling with the times, says Amanda Abella, a career coach, writer, speaker, and founder of the Gen Y lifestyle blog Grad Meets World. For instance, group interviews are making a comeback, we've got Skype interviews now, or you may interview in front of a panel. All this stuff didn't happen as often before--so while the same basic stuff applies, we have to take into account all the new dynamics.