Job search success comes from staying focused, keeping your emotions in check, and presenting solid evidence of your value
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Though I have no empirical evidence, I believe using “The Job Seekers’ Trinity” framework can help you achieve job search success faster:
- The power of focus
- Managing your anger
- Presenting evidence
Each component plays a critical role in sustaining motivation and strategically positioning yourself for success. Harnessing your focus, managing your anger, and presenting compelling evidence (quantitative metrics of achieved results) will transform your job search from a daunting task into a structured, persuasive campaign that employers will notice.
The power of focus
 Photo by Benoît Deschasaux |
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Your life is controlled by what you focus on, so focusing on the positives shapes your mindset for positive outcomes. Yes, layoffs, which the media often emphasizes to capture attention, are a daily occurrence, but so is hiring. Don’t let doom-and-gloom news overshadow this fact. Focus on where you want to go, not on what others and the media want you to fear.
If you’re struggling with your job search, it’s likely because you’re not clearly demonstrating to employers – along with providing evidence – how you can add measurable, tangible value to their bottom line. Business is a numbers game, yet few job seekers talk about their numbers. If you don’t focus on and share your metrics, how do you expect employers to see the value in hiring you?
Managing your anger
Displaying anger in public is never a good look. Professionals are expected to control their emotions, so public displays of anger are often viewed as unprofessional.
LinkedIn has become a platform heavily populated with job seekers posting angry rants – fueled mainly by a sense of entitlement – criticizing employers, recruiters, and even the government. These posts show that many job seekers don’t realize how negatively public displays of anger can affect their job search.
When you’re unemployed, it’s natural to feel angry when others around you are employed, and “Why me?” may be a constant thought. Additionally, job searching is fraught with frustrations, such as unanswered applications and being ghosted after interviews.
The key is to acknowledge your anger but not let it dictate your actions, like adding to angry rants on LinkedIn and other social platforms – posts that employers will see.
Rejection, inevitable in job hunting, often fuels the most anger. What works for me is to reframe each rejection, whether from ghosting, email, a call, or a text, as “Every ‘No’ brings me one step closer to a ‘Yes.’”
I’ve also significantly reduced my anger triggers by eliminating any sense of entitlement and keeping expectations in check. Neither you nor I are owed anything – not a job, respect, empathy, or understanding. A sense of entitlement and anger are intrinsically linked. The more “rights” you think you have, the more anger you feel when defending them. Losing that sense of entitlement will make you less angry – an essential mindset in a job search.
Presenting evidence
As mentioned earlier, business is a numbers game. Since all business decisions, including hiring, are based on numbers, presenting evidence in the form of quantifiable metrics is crucial.
Consider which candidate you’d contact to set up an interview if you were hiring a social media manager:
- “Managed Fabian Publishing’s social media accounts, posting content daily.”
- “Designed and executed Fabian Publishing’s global social media strategy across 8.7 million LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook followers. Through consistent engagement with customers, followers, and influencers, increased social media lead generation by 46 per cent year-over-year, generating in 2023 $7.6 million in revenue.”
Quantifiable evidence, not generic statements or opinions, is how you prove your value to employers. Saying you’re a “team player” or “results-driven” doesn’t mean much. Instead, try something like, “I’m part of an inside sales team that generated $8.5 million in sales in 2023,” or, “In 2023, I managed three company-wide software implementations, all of which came in under budget.”
Despite the advice out there, I still see resumes and LinkedIn profiles listing generic responsibilities instead of accomplishments backed by numbers. A statement like “Managed a team” doesn’t convey your management responsibilities or your team’s achievements under your leadership. “Led a team of five to increase sales by 20 per cent, from $3.7 million to $4.44 million, within six months” shows the value of your management skills.
Throughout your job search, always think about the numbers you can provide – revenue generated, number of new clients, cost savings, workload reductions, waste reductions – to show employers the measurable impact you’d bring.
The Job Seekers’ Trinity – focusing on the positive, managing your anger, and providing evidence – is a framework that will increase the effectiveness of your job search activities and make you stand out in today’s hyper-competitive market. Applying these principles will expedite your search and leave a lasting impression on employers, ultimately leading to job search success.
Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job.
The views, opinions, and positions expressed by our columnists and contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of our publication.
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