Sometimes, job search can seem endless and sometimes people feel stuck – as though they keep doing the same thing over and over without the result they want.  What to do?

While I firmly believe that if you are doing everything right in job search, it’s a question of “when,” not “if,” you land your “right fit” job, I also am a big believer in shaking things up when you feel stuck.  Here’s a very simple (though not necessarily easy) method to recharge and refresh your job search:

Restart your job search plan with a personal SWOT analysis.

I’m an inveterate planner. It’s one of the best skills I learned through my decades in the non-profit sector. I planned everything: programs, hiring processes, budgets, and organizational strategic direction.

Planning is the means by which I mapped out HOW to get to my GOAL, and WHAT I needed to do and assemble along the way. Usually, I planned with others in a team. We started with an assessment of our current situation, doing a SWOT* and PEST** analysis.  Then we articulated a vision of our desired outcome.  To get from our current state to our desired future state, we developed strategies and made an action plan.
For job seekers, you probably have a good idea of your vision. Hopefully, your vision is to get a job doing work you love, do well, and want to do again (your “right fit” job). But how well do you know your current situation?
If you don’t have a great handle on the answer to that, I suggest doing a SWOT analysis on yourself. These are some questions I suggest.
Strengths: What are my strengths? What am I really good at? What are my talents? What skills do I have that I love using? What makes me happiest? Where do I feel best about myself? Doing what? When? With whom? What do I do consistently?  How can I count on myself? Am I asking for help?

Weaknesses: What am I not so great at? What don’t I like doing? What do I wish someone else could take care of for me? How’s my attitude? How’s my support system?

Opportunities: What exists in the outside world that could help me realize my dreams and achieve my goals? Who do I know? What kind of information is out there for me to gather? What networks could I join? Are there opportunities for me to develop my skills, to discover my talents, to build my confidence, to feel more hopeful and positive? What can I do to give value to others, to be of service? Am I willing to leave no stone unturned in my quest? Is there any idea or dream in the back of my mind that I dismissed as being unrealistic?

Threats: Are there things in the external environment that could upset my plans or hopes? Have I put too much emphasis on one or two options? Do I know as much as I can about myself and my abilities? Do I have ideas and negative thoughts that could trip me up?

The point is to identify those attributes, beliefs, thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes that I can

a) capitalize on (S);
b) compensate for in some way (W);
c) maximize (O); and
d) minimize (T).
For job seekers, it can be a challenge to do this work alone, which is why coaches and job search circles exist. Seek out another job seeker who might be willing to do this work with you.  You’ll both be stronger for it.
* SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
** PEST: Political, Economic, Social, Technological conditions
print