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Naomi Rothwell-Boyd, February 22 2023

Why Is It So Hard to Find a Job? Avoid These Top Mistakes

It can be a real challenge to find employment nowadays, particularly if you're seeking something fresh. It's not only about the qualifications and abilities; it is also essential to possess defined career objectives, as well as networking capabilities. You need all the help you can get to find a job, and maybe you've already tried loads of different things! But despite having taken all the necessary steps, why is it still so difficult to find a job?

Having the right qualifications and skills, clear career goals, and networking savvy are all necessary components to making a successful career change or getting one's foot in the door; however, these may be hindered by lack of clarity on priorities, qualification gaps or inadequate networking capabilities. Let's take a look at how each one affects your chances of success.

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Unclear Priorities

When it comes to career changes, having clear priorities is essential. Having a well-defined set of priorities is essential for successful career changes, as it allows you to remain focused and on track. Taking a moment to consider your priorities and ensuring they shape all of your choices is critical when it comes to making career transitions.

For example, if family is a top priority for you, then making sure that any job or career change allows enough flexibility for family time should be taken into consideration before committing yourself fully. Weighing the monetary gain of different occupations or sectors against your financial objectives is a must if you place more emphasis on money than anything else.

Gaining insight into your core priorities can help ensure any choices you make will reflect those principles. Taking the time now will save frustration later when trying to navigate through a career transition and provide clarity on where best efforts should be focused in order to achieve success.

Unclear priorities can make it difficult to identify the right job opportunities and find success in a career change. To get closer to achieving your goals, take some time to consider what you want out of your next role by assessing yourself and setting clear objectives for yourself.

"A career change can be overwhelming, but by taking the time to prioritize what matters most you'll have clarity and success. #careerchange #jobsearch" Click to Tweet

Unclear Career Goals

Unclear career goals can be a daunting and overwhelming obstacle to overcome. Without having a clear vision of the career path you wish to pursue, it can be difficult to gain traction in your job search. By utilising a few basic tactics, you can start to sharpen your goals and commence taking steps towards attaining them.

Define Your Goals:

Before beginning your job search, take some time to define what kind of work you're looking for. Explore the possibilities of vocations and sectors that fascinate you to make sure they coincide with your values and capabilities. Ask yourself questions like "What do I enjoy doing?", "What am I good at?" And "Where do I see myself in five years?". This can assist in determining the roles that are most appropriate for you.

Once you have identified a role that suits your interests, devise an action plan with realistic deadlines for each step of the process such as researching potential employers, refreshing resumes/cover letters and networking. Set realistic deadlines for each step such as researching potential employers, updating resumes/cover letters, networking with contacts etc., so that when it comes time to actually apply for positions there won't be any surprises along the way.

Seek Professional Help:

If after trying these steps on your own nothing seems clear yet don't hesitate to seek professional help from a career coach or mentor who can provide advice tailored specifically for where you are right now in terms of experience level and industry knowledge. They may also have connections within certain fields that could prove invaluable during the job hunt process as well as offer guidance on setting achievable short-term goals while keeping sight of long-term objectives too.

Take time to reflect regularly on your professional goals and aspirations, without judgement, so that they remain a priority in the future. Whether it is having more control over projects at work or making a switch into another field altogether, allow yourself this opportunity without judgement so that those aspirations remain top priority when considering future opportunities.

Unclear career goals can make it difficult to find a job that is both fulfilling and rewarding. Demonstrating one's ability to employ transferable skills can help them gain an edge in the job market.

Key Takeaway: To make the job search process easier, it's essential to take the time to clarify your career goals and create a plan of action. Getting assistance from an experienced individual, like a tutor or advisor, can offer useful comprehension into what sort of position is appropriate for you. Ultimately, keep in mind that self-reflection is key when making decisions about future opportunities - don't be afraid to dream big.

Not Demonstrating Transferable Skills

Job seekers often overlook the necessity of showcasing their transferable skills when making a career switch. Transferable skills are those that can be applied to different jobs or industries and they’re essential when making a successful transition into a new field.

One way to showcase your transferable skills is by highlighting them in your resume and cover letter. You should also explain how these skills have been useful in previous roles, such as problem solving, communication, teamwork and leadership. By showcasing your transferable skills in your resume and cover letter, you can demonstrate to potential employers why they should consider you as an asset for their company.

It’s important to show that you have a broad range of knowledge by staying up-to-date on industry trends through reading relevant publications or attending conferences or seminars related to your desired field. This will demonstrate that you are familiar with the latest developments in the industry and understand its challenges. Additionally, having strong networking connections can help open doors for opportunities within certain fields so don’t underestimate the power of building relationships with professionals who could potentially become mentors or sponsors for future positions.

Realising the proficiencies you've gained in your profession and how they can be put to use for a different role is essential. Gaining an awareness of the competencies you've acquired in your current role and how they could be used to further a different career path can help you comprehend what qualifications are essential for achieving success when searching for a new job.

Key Takeaway: Making a successful career change requires showcasing your transferable skills on your resume and cover letter, staying up to date with industry trends, and building relationships within the field. All of this will help you demonstrate that you have what it takes to be an asset in the new role - so don't let job hunting get you down; network like crazy.

Lack of Qualifications

Having the requisite qualifications can be essential for securing a job, and without them, it could prove to be an arduous endeavour. Without them, you might find yourself in an uphill battle when applying for positions.

Take transferable skills, for example. These are proficiencies you've gained from prior occupations or encounters which can assist you in making a good impression on potential employers. If your CV doesn't demonstrate these clearly enough, employers may overlook your application and move on to someone else who has more relevant experience.

Networking is another important factor when looking for work - especially if you don't have the exact qualifications required by a role. Connecting with people who already work in the industry can help open doors and introduce you to potential opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be available to you. However, without the ability to form strong ties and make meaningful connections, it can be difficult to progress beyond other applicants vying for the same position.

Finally, there's career goals – this is something many job seekers struggle with because they're not sure what direction they want their career path to take them in next. When making decisions about where your future lies professionally speaking, consider how each option could benefit your long-term plans and weigh up any pros and cons before committing fully so that nothing gets left behind or overlooked down the line.

Obtaining the desired job may be difficult without suitable credentials, yet with diligence and commitment it is possible to surmount this challenge. Poor networking skills are another important factor in securing employment; however, developing these skills requires strategic planning and effort.

"It's not enough to have the right qualifications when job hunting. Networking & career goals are key too. Maximize your chances with #careercoaching." Click to Tweet

Poor Networking Skills

When it comes to job hunting, networking is key. It’s like having a “get out of jail free” card in Monopoly; without it, you can’t move ahead. Many individuals lack the know-how and proficiency to efficiently connect with hiring managers or recruiters, which can be a substantial impediment when striving to secure an interview for their desired position. This can be a huge obstacle when striving to attain the position one has been dreaming of, due to an absence of awareness and expertise.

Fortunately, networking doesn't have to be difficult. There are several steps one can take to make the process easier and more efficient. Here are a few tips on how to network in order to land your dream job:

1. Create a LinkedIn profile – A great way to start networking is by creating a professional, comprehensive LinkedIn profile. This will be visible to recruiters and hiring managers, giving you an opportunity to showcase your skills and experiences. Additionally, if you know someone in the industry who can vouch for your qualifications, ask them to write a recommendation on your profile as well.

2. Reach out – Don’t be afraid to reach out! Connect with recruiters, hiring managers and professionals in the same industry as you. You can send them a short message introducing yourself and your skills and explain why you would be an ideal candidate for their organization.

3. Attend networking events – Networking events are great ways to meet people in the same field and build relationships with potential employers. They also give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge and ability to think on your feet.

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Conclusion

Having the right strategies and guidance to effectively showcase transferable skills, set clear priorities and achievable goals, along with strong networking capabilities can help make a successful career transition. 

With clear priorities, achievable goals and transferable skills that are showcased effectively, along with strong networking capabilities - you will have all of the tools necessary to make this transition successful. Remember that although "it so hard to find a job", if you focus on honing these key elements in your professional development journey then success is sure to follow.

Author: Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

Naomi is the founder of Tribe And Seek and an EMCC and CIPD accredited career coach specialising in career change. 

Her career advice comes from her work alongside ex-olympic athletes supporting corporate clients like Kraft Heinz, and creating leadership courses at the Duke Of Edinburgh's Award.

She also left a previous career in international development consulting behind, where she led UK corporate fundraising at Habitat For Humanity.

Written by

Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

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