Landing the Job – Logic or Luck?

Most of us would like to believe that if we do the right things, we’ll get the right results. If we measure carefully and include all the right ingredients, an apple pie will result. If we follow accurate directions to our destination, we will arrive where we planned to arrive. So why wouldn’t if follow that the same holds true for the job search? If we do the right things, we will get the right results. Assuming that is so, we read the resume books perhaps have our resume professionally written, we watch the ads, go to the job boards, respond quickly to appropriate openings and wait. And, much more often than expected, we wait and wait and wait. Nothing happens. No results; zilch! Then self-examination starts. What did I do wrong? Maybe I should rewrite my resume. Was my cover letter inappropriate? Perhaps a negative personal evaluation starts: I’m not marketable. I’m too young, too old, too – whatever.

In my experience, although logic suggests otherwise, it’s very likely that nothing was done wrong. It’s the job search process itself – a non-scientific process combining logic and luck. Some of which we have control over, some of which we absolutely do not. So what is a job seeker to do?

I encourage my clients to see the process as unscientific and illogical so that they can approach the process with that understanding. Instead of looking at their strategy as a scientific formula, they look at how to increase the probabilities. What customization of the resume in response to this job is more likely to be seen as a good fit? What content in my cover letter is more likely to catch the attention of the person doing the first review? Whom do I know that has influence with that organization that will suggest that they schedule me for an interview? How shall I follow up after sending the resume? This analysis continues during the entire job search. At all times, the game plan is to increase the odds.

My recommendations:

• Don’t depend on luck, but be prepared for it.
• See the process for what it is: unscientific and often illogical. (That will preserve your sanity!)
• Finally, keep doing the logical things – luck will favor you.

Comments

[Amanda]

Thanks for the great post! This has really helped me to put things into perspective when it comes to career evaluation and job searching. It can be frustrating at the best of times.