Managing uncertainty effectively in your job search

Pri Notowidigdo, The Amrop Hever Group, Global Executive Search (e-mail: jakarta@amrophever.com)

I have been talking with a number of people over the last two weeks who have either been retrenched from corporate downsizing or have chosen to explore new opportunities in the job market.

A major issue for these people has been how to deal with the uncertainty of their situation.

Fear inevitably takes hold and the need for certainty comes into play -- whether it is the "certainty" of a steady pay cheque or of the jobseeker finding a job.

What is certainty, except that it is really about inner security or a deep inner sense of personal worth? Such things as integrity, the unconditional love of family, service to the community, and a spiritually rich private life will make a person more effective in all phases of his life.

These things provide a strong foundation for managing uncertainty effectively in your job search. Complementing these things are guidelines to keep in mind to maintain your perspective to ensure that the job search process can be managed effectively.

The first guideline is that there are few absolutes, as looking for a job is an art and not a science. Whether you find an opportunity or not depends on you the individual and the situation.

Another guideline is that effective ways of looking for a job are really applications of common sense.

How you project yourself and treat others can have a positive or negative effect on whether other people will be receptive to you. The power of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is worth thinking about.

Looking for a job involves a bit of selling and marketing yourself. Why should someone hire you? What value can you offer a prospective employer? Do you share similar values with a prospective employer?

Another guideline is that you may have problems looking for a job because you are so emotionally involved in the process.

Can you take a step back a bit? It's hard to be objective when your life, career, and future are at stake, isn't it? Put on your intellectual hat and hold on to your emotional one as best you can.

There are no guarantees that you will find your dream job, let alone a job at all. But if you're determined, patient, persistent, and organized, you can increase your chances significantly. Luck, of course, plays a big role.

You can impress some people, but not everybody, with your qualifications. That's OK and normal. Just be yourself ... but be your best possible self.

Despite all the great advice you may think you're getting, it all boils down to whom you are. Adapt good advice to your own personality, style and approach.

If a certain piece of advice doesn't work for you, then ignore it. But this doesn't mean that the tough task of calling people you don't know and networking should be avoided -- even if this makes you uncomfortable at first.

Networking will give you useful, albeit conflicting, information sometimes. Your responsibility is to sort it all out and to determine what to do given your circumstances.

In the end, most people find jobs through friends, family, colleagues and other acquaintances by networking. This is not the only way to find a job but it may perhaps be the most effective way for you personally to find your job.

If you work hard and intelligently at the process and stay focused and positive, you will eventually be successful.