3 Traits You Need to Survive the Job Search

It’s an understatement to say that the job search process is competitive and grueling. You’ll be measured against many other candidates with the same degrees, the same types of jobs and internships, and the same type of skills. You’ll also likely have to deal with a fair amount of rejection. So how can you stand out from the competition and keep going when the going gets tough? Here are three traits that will help you not only survive the job search but also find the right opportunity for you. 

1. Resilience 

Resilience during the job search means the ability to pick yourself up after a setback and try again. For example, say you’ve already been to three unsuccessful interviews in a week and you have one more on the calendar. Without resilience, you’ll give up, skip the fourth, and maybe miss out on the perfect job opportunity. In other words, with resilience you’ll be less likely to give up when the job searching process knocks you down. And it will likely knock you down, even if you have every single requirement for every single advertised job. So go easy on yourself when you do experience setbacks, and remember that those who pick themselves up will be the ones standing in the end.

 2. Enthusiasm 

In an interview, you need to show enthusiasm and express positive energy. This is very important because it can set you apart from other candidates. With enthusiasm, you’ll stand out—it could be just the thing that separates you from the person with a similar resume but who's a little less convincing in their overly-serious and unexcitable energy. As for how to show enthusiasm, first get clear about why you actually want the role and what would be exciting about it. Then practice expressing your enthusiasm with words and positive body language. Note that, in interviews, you’ll also want to show your enthusiasm for learning new skills and taking on new challenges. This will help you impress your interviewer, as it’ll get across your extreme interest in the job.

 3. Trust 

The capacity to trust in your future growth can be a great help to you during the job search. It can help you get out of the trap of only searching for very specific types of roles, and allow you to see other opportunities that could be a good, if not perfect fit for you. For example, if you have a hefty student loan to pay off, it could hinder your chances of searching for jobs that pay not so much now but that have high future earnings potential. Without trust, you might only look for roles that pay a lot right now and not so much down the line, missing out on a lot of great and very lucrative opportunities that could be better for you in the long run. In other words, without trust, you can get stuck thinking near term and not see the big picture.

A final note

Remember, during the competitive job search process, you're going to have to find creative ways to grab hiring managers' attention. So be open to the possibility that a few traits, such as those above, will be the ones to set you apart from the competition. Don't give up, always be positive, and trust in your future success.

Natalie Fisher is best known for helping professionals land their dream jobs and achieve explosive salary growth (even with little experience). Get started by signing up for her free workshop "How to get the job you want (regardless of where you’re at right now)" by clicking here.