What Job Search Worries Are You Stressing About?
What Job Search Worries Are You Stressing About?
Posted by John Krautzel, Beyond
Searching for a job is often stressful, especially when that search is motivated by being out of work rather than simply looking for something new. However, some of the factors that job seekers spend a lot of time worrying about don’t actually matter as much as you think. If you are stressing about any of these job search worries, try to calm down; they won’t hold you back from getting a job.
1. Resume Gaps
When you embark on a job search, you might worry about gaps in your resume. As long as you can explain why you were out of work, a few gaps in your work history shouldn’t present too much of a problem. In the current economic climate, being out of work for a few months is very common, and many employers won’t even ask about it. Most employers are also very understanding about longer career gaps that you’ve taken while raising children, caring for a family member or dealing with a health problem.
2. References
If you clashed with a former manager, you might worry about them thwarting your job search with a bad reference. However, many companies supply references that simply confirm your dates of employment, without giving an in-depth appraisal of your character or performance. Always provide references to a potential employer. Not doing so looks suspicious, whereas it’s unlikely that your previous employer will say anything to scupper your job search.
3. Trimming Down Your Resume
When writing a resume, it’s important to be as brief as possible. Remember, your resume should show that you are the best candidate for the job, not give every detail of your life so far. Go ahead and leave off the part-time jobs you did in college, unless they’re your only work experience. Many job seekers worry that leaving information off their resumes is dishonest, but in reality it’s simply saving space.
4. Negotiating Your Salary
Salary negotiations don’t have to be awkward or involve long speeches explaining why you are worth the extra money. Simply state the salary you were hoping to get and see how the hiring manager responds. The worst that can happen is that the hiring manager refuses your request and offers you the job at the advertised salary, in which case you are no worse off than if you don’t bring up the topic at all.
Many people find the job search process stressful, but keeping these points in mind can help to ease your stress a little. Remember that hiring managers are human, too. They don’t expect you to be perfect or never show any nerves at all during your job search. They simply want to find out whether you have the right skills for the job. Relax and let your resume speak for you.
