By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
EP 3127 The ticking clock is not your friend.
LinkedIn’s #opentowork post
Okay, let’s get started. Today, we are going to talk about something very difficult, but very, very important, which is the hidden dangers of long-term job hunting. We’ll explain why that ticking clock isn’t your friend and, more importantly, what you can actually do about it.
So let’s start with the big question. You might be asking yourself, if you’ve been in the market for a while, when does searching for a while turn into searching for too long? I mean, is there a tipping point where the search itself actually starts to hurt you? Well, as we’re about to see, the answer is yes. Which leads us to our first big idea: the job search clock.
You have to understand that when it comes to finding a new role, time is definitely not on your side. That’s the core principle in a nutshell. It’s a harsh reality, but the longer you’re unemployed, the harder it is to find work.
It’s like a negative spiral that gets steeper and steeper, and your job is to get out of it. OK So as the weeks turn into months, it’s not just a matter of how things look.
No, the real tangible consequences start to pile up, and they start to erode your professional standing. The first thing to give up is your power, your influence, especially at the negotiating table. Think about it.
Employers know you’ve been looking for a while. They know you need a job, and that knowledge completely changes the power dynamic in any salary conversation. Wow.
I mean, listen. That said, it’s a cruel thing, right? But it can give you a raw, unfiltered look into what some hiring managers are thinking. They see someone unemployed and they think this person needs the job.
Just like that, poof, your ability to negotiate your worth is gone, and the silence begins. The calls from recruiters just stopped. Why? Well, recruiters know that companies are uncomfortable paying top dollar for candidates who have been on the market for a long time, so professional outreach dries up and suddenly you’re almost entirely reliant on your personal network.
This loss of influence, this increasing silence, everything is heading towards a real tipping point. There is a certain threshold of time when your job search difficulty may explode. This threshold is one year.
Now, this isn’t some random number. This is a major psychological hurdle for employers, and crossing it can have some pretty profound consequences for your job search. This sentence really hits the spot.
A year out of work is when things can go from difficult to scary. This marks a huge shift in how the entire recruiting world begins to view you. So why? What magical and terrible things happen in a year? Honestly, it all comes down to perception.
The hiring manager’s view of your situation may be very different from your own. This is where things get really tricky. These are two stories from completely different perspectives.
From your perspective, this is completely understandable. You’re thinking, hey, the economy is tough. I was fired.
Just bad luck. But from their perspective, they see it differently. They’re looking at a bunch of resumes and know other people are getting hired.
So their simple, cold question becomes, well, what happened to this person? This problem leads to this extremely harsh and unfair label. Whether it’s true or false, it doesn’t matter anymore. You may start to be viewed as damaged goods.
You know, for some hidden reason, everyone else has given up on this candidate. There is a very real price to pay for being viewed this way. If you do get a job, it’s usually a demotion, a lower title, less responsibility, and, of course, less pay.
Is your job search routine or consistent?
The company just isn’t willing to pay the high price. They’d rather get you at a discount, bring you in and make an offer, watch you for a while, and then consider putting you back where you were. So, okay, you’re faced with this ticking clock.
You’re faced with these very harsh perceptions. What on earth do you do? Well, the source material is pretty clear on that. There is only one way forward.
You have to fight back with great effort. One way to move forward is to work hard. We don’t just talk about hard work.
No, it’s different. It’s a frantic, relentless, all-out blitz on every part of your job search. It’s actually a complete shift in your mindset.
It all starts with being brutally honest with yourself and admitting, okay, what I’m doing right now isn’t enough. From there, you have to find another gear, a whole new level of intensity, and then push yourself beyond that level. I just love this quote, busy like your hair is on fire.
I mean, you can feel it, can’t you? It perfectly captures the energy you need. This is no easy walk in the park. It’s an all-out sprint driven by this instinctive sense of urgency.
Why is it so strong? Why is it so important? Because let’s face it. It’s not just a matter of finding a job. This is to prevent long-term damage to your career, future earnings and professional reputation.
Everything you do is at stake. This leads to the final question. This is a question only you can answer.
Now that you’ve seen the stakes, now that you know how the clock is working against you, have you really done enough to win this fight?
Don’t act desperate!
About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire big game hunter Jeff Altman to provide no-BS career advice around the world because he’s done so much in people’s careers Easier. These matters may involve job hunting,
Recruit more effectively, manage and lead better, career transition, and advice on solving workplace problems.
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 job search podcast on iTunes with over 3,100 episodes.
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You’ll find important information to help you with your job search on my new website, JobSearch.Community In addition to video courses, books, and guides, I answer members’ questions about their job search every day. Leave your job search questions and I will respond every day. Becoming an Insider+ member gives you everything you get as an Insider+ member, plus you can connect with me via Zoom call to get your questions answered. Become an Insider Premium member and we offer individual and group coaching.
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Also, please subscribe to JobSearchTV.com on YouTube and No BS Job Advice Radiothe #1 job search podcast with over 2,700 episodes in over 12 years. On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon Music, and almost anywhere you listen or watch podcasts.
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