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Looking To Find A Job? Narrow Your Search With This Tip

Ellen Reeves
Posted on August 10, 2010

Here’s my #1 secret for getting the job you really want, in this or any economy: Don’t apply for jobs you don’t want.

“I Got a Job Offer But I’m Waiting To Hear From My Dream Employer”

Over and over, my clients come to me with the same dilemma: They’ve received offers for jobs they don’t really want to take, and haven’t heard back yet about the jobs they really want. They don’t want to say no to a job offer, but they also don’t want to burn any bridges.

My Question: “Why Were You Applying For Jobs You Don’t Want?”

I know—you need a job, you feel desperate, you already moved into an apartment you can’t afford…But one way to simplify your job search is to not apply for jobs you wouldn’t take if they were offered to you. This includes jobs you would only take at a certain salary: Do enough homework to know if that salary range is realistic, based on industry and regional standards, and on your own skill set and experience.

Figure Out What Your Strengths And Talents Are

This will help you understand what kind of industries, companies and positions are right for you. It can be hard to discern all this from a mere job description or website, so you can’t know for sure until you’re there. Keep an open mind right up through the first interview. If, at that point, you realize this is not the job, company, boss, or set of colleagues for you, write a polite thank you, say that your situation has changed, and withdraw your candidacy. Or, explain that the interview process helped you realize that this is not the right position for you, but that you love the company and would be eager to apply for other openings as they appear.

Don’t Waste Your Time—Or An Employer’s—Just To Get An Offer

By focusing your job search, you’ll save yourself and others a lot of time and trouble.

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  • Redog824

    This is great advice. I wish I had this foresight a couple of years back! The trouble is, I have always been told you are 'more employable' once you are employed. If you are in a bind, shouldn't you compromise even if it isn't your dream job? As for knowing your strengths, this would have saved me a lot of trouble! Marcus Buckingham has some good books on the topic.

    • LoveLV

      “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” and all that? Don't know if that's wisdom or just annoying. Here's my question: What if you don't know what job you want? Do you just starve on the streets until inspiration (or an overzealous passerby) strikes?

      • Caniwearmynosering

        As the Talmud says, if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there. If you really don't know, then try taking any job. You'll quickly find out what you like about it and what you don't, what your individual skills and talents are, and how you'd rather be spending your time. In other words, you can learn a lot about what you want to do by finding our what you don't want to do.

    • Caniwearmynoserin

      The bottom line is how long your finances will allow you to look before you compromise. If you manage unemployment correctly and present yourself the right way on a resume and in interviews, you will always appear to be working and engaged, even if you are not employed full time.

  • carolinewaxler

    One caveat, of course, is to make sure that you have enough of a financial cushion so that you can be choosy.

    • Caniwearmynosering

      Exactly–see below!

  • Cookie Dough Ice Cream

    Did you ever regret not applying to a job?

    • Caniwearmynosering

      I feel as if I've applied for the jobs I've really wanted; sure, there are jobs I should have/could have applied for, but shoulda/coulda won't get you very far!

  • Jobless

    My first instinct is always to apply for anything offered, but I guess that doesn't really make too much sense

    • Ellen_Reeves

      I would recommend really focusing instead of grabbing at anything. A strategic search will not only yield better results for you, but you should feel like you're much more in control of the process and enjoy it instead of dreading it!

  • Ellen_Reeves

    FYI: The Nose Ring comments below are actually from me!

  • Danielle

    I’m not the best at interviewing, so I thought: If I apply for any job, even if I don’t want it – then it’s great real world interviewing practice! Is that wrong?

  • Blue Mist

    My job search is narrowed, I have an art degree and want to stay in the arts. But I have felt it is a mistake keeping it narrow, I’ve been working a job I’m unhappy with for the past 4 years. All the jobs I’m interested in I don’t qualify for, or if I do I don’t hear from them. Decided, I am biting the bullet and applying for whatever. It’s not what I want, but it beats being unhappy and dealing with crappy management.