Things You Don’t Need to Worry About When Searching For a Job

Searching for a job can be really stressful, especially when you are unemployed. There are certain things job seekers give too much attention to. While a little bit of nervousness is fine, but allowing yourself to get overly anxious is just not worth it. There are far bigger and significant issues that you end up overlooking which may cause hindrance in your job search mission.

Although, stress cannot be completely eliminated, it sure can be reduced to a great extent. So in short, you need to know what things you should rightfully be concerned about and what you can let go of. Here are a few things job seekers unnecessarily stress about but shouldn’t:

1) Modifying your CV way too much:

Updating the CV is the first thing every job seeker does when on a job search mission. That’s a great practice to follow. It becomes problematic if it becomes the only practice. Most job seekers make the mistake of obsessing over their CV when actually it’s a waste of time. No, we are not completely eliminating the need to modify the CV. A well-written CV is indeed an important tool for job search, but that’s all it is: one tool. Tweak your resume according to what is essential to the job you are looking at and move on to other important things like networking, meeting new people and letting your existing contacts know that you are looking for a job.

Also read: Top CV Bloopers that Annoy Employers

2) Addressing the Hiring Manager / Interviewer:

Most job seekers spend way too much time over tracking down their hiring manager’s name before sending their CV and cover letter. If the information is easily available to you, use it. Otherwise, a simple ‘Dear Sir/Mam’ is good too. Job seekers face the same dilemma once they have made it to the interview stage as they don’t want to do anything wrong. It can be stressful.  However, that doesn’t mean you freak out over something as small as addressing the interviewer. A simple ‘Sir’ or ‘Ma’am’ would do just fine. Channel your energies to get the big things right, like sending a ‘thank you’ note to the interviewer after the interview.

3) Minor gaps in between jobs:

As long as you don’t have a large gap on your resume, there is nothing to worry about. Interviewers may ask you about a large or a recent gap in your career but they certainly don’t care much about the other smaller gaps visible in your CV. Even if you have a large gap reflecting in your CV, for which you have a perfectly justifiable reason, just explain it to the interviewer confidently when s/he asks. Don’t get stressed instead focus more on preparing a valid answer.

4) Explaining your non-linear career path:

Having a non-linear career path has become normal nowadays with most people trying their hands at a variety of things. If you also happened to have shifted to different roles in your career that doesn’t mean you have to explain in meticulous detail about each and every career decision of yours in the cover letter itself. If an interviewer wants to know, s/he will ask you directly at the time of the interview. So don’t waste your precious cover letter explaining about your past choices, rather utilize it to bring the hiring manager’s attention to your capabilities and what you are willing to offer.

5) The references you give:

On your list of references, there may be many former employers or colleagues who might have moved to some other places or companies and some may have even retired. Reaching them might be difficult but that should not be your concern. When a hiring manager asks you to give references from your previous workplaces, s/he is simply asking for your permission to contact them. How they reach these references is not something you should be worried about.

6) Employer contacting your current employer:

Sometimes hiring managers ask job seekers for references from their current organization. This gets job seekers in a fix as they don’t want everybody from their current organization to know about their job search plans. Employers contact references only after they have hired somebody as a part of their background verification process. Therefore, there is no need to feel stressed about this.

7) Worrying about when and how often to follow up:

After everything is sorted and done, the most common thing a job seeker worry about is how much one has to wait before following up with the hiring manager. Waiting for the final answer can be stressful, but following up after every three hours until you get a response will only annoy the hiring manager. Making the decision to hire someone takes time, especially when the hiring manager has to take several people’s approval. If a hiring manager says that s/he will get back to you within a week’s time, send a thank you note after the interview and do not follow up until the week has passed.

Also read: How To Follow Up After A Job Interview

To put it simply, don’t get overwhelmed. While it is understood that the job search process is inevitably a little stressful, but does not need to turn into a nightmare. Just be confident and approach every opportunity with a positive attitude. If you follow these tips, there’s nothing that can stop you from landing your dream job.