Demons, Roadblocks and Pitfalls on the Way to a New Job—Part One

You have probably already encountered one. Almost everyone who has been “put out on the street” by a layoff or job loss faces some demons, roadblocks and pitfalls that get in the way of an effective job search. Some can be overcome simply by focusing on them and making changes yourself. Others will take special effort or reaching out for professional help. Each requires a different strategy, but if you can block the following from railroading your job search, it will be smoother, and quite likely, faster:

Lethargy & Laziness—Not enough sleep. “Tomorrow is good enough.” “I’ll take this week off.” “Job hunting is so much work!”

The solution lies within you. You have to decide to get enough rest and to become focused and stay on task.

Fear & Panic—“No one will hire me now.” “I don’t know what to do.” “What if I can’t find a job and ____ (you fill in the blank) and a year goes by? Then what?”

If this is holding you back, get professional help. Talk to a career coach, your college career counselor, your best friend or spouse, your pastor, a psychiatrist…anyone who can help you get a grip and focus back on the task at hand.

Getting Overwhelmed by your own Disorganization—Can’t find anything. “Which resume was the last one I revised?”

Start now, early in the game, and you will be glad you did. Already deep into piles of unidentified papers and files? Dig in now and sort them out. Rename your computer files and put them into folders. Establish a naming convention for your documents and stick to it.

Falling in the Email Trap—Too much time spent checking, reading and responding. “Where did the day go?”

If your time is being eaten up by email, pick a couple of times a day and a certain length of time you’ll spend on emails. Delete or get off lists that fill your inbox with emails you never read.

Pressure (perceived or real)—“I am the sole support for my family.” “Everyone will think I’m a loser.”

Focus on the pressure you put on yourself, not what others think of you. If you are in danger of running out of funds and your unemployment has run out, take an interim job—anything you can get—whether in or out of your normal line of work. Set aside time daily for job hunting and enlist the help of friends, family and former colleagues. There’s nothing about being laid off that reflects on you. It’s not about you. So, redirect your energy to finding a new future.