When you’re job searching, the real danger zone is the comfort zone. Typically, job seekers fall into the comfort zone slowly, when they least expect it.
A comfort zone sounds like a relaxing place to be. But staying in a comfortable place can lead to discomfort, particularly during a job search when staying in the comfort zone can keep us stuck in old, unproductive habits.
Job seekers can miss opportunities when they lose their sense of urgency. They’ve found their comfort zone, so they delay until they are in the mood to act.
Settling into a comfort zone can play a role in a job loss, too, because that can lead to an unadventurous state of mind and loss of momentum. Action comes from a sense of urgency. You move forward with purpose and an awareness of opportunities.
Most successful people have in at least this trait in common; they seize opportunities. They don’t wait. Bill Gates reflected on this attitude of urgency in his book, “The Road Ahead.” He described Microsoft’s early attitude as one of urgency, they saw their company as being on the losing side, so they focused on getting to the No. 1 position by being attentive and being led with a sense of urgency.
In a job search, some react more when they are under pressure. For example, they’ll update their resume because they’ve been asked for one by a prospective employer or they have an interview coming up. Without that pressure, comfort takes over and a resume that should take a couple of days to complete ends up taking weeks.
You can stay out of your comfort zone and make your job search more effective if you follow these guidelines:
• Hold yourself accountable by being involved with a person or group that requires progress updates.
• Break your job search into daily steps. For example: Monday morning — call three references about your job search and discuss your future goals.
• Say your goals aloud, and write down what you want to accomplish in your job search. The more open you are, the less likely you will fall into the comfort zone.
• Stay updated. Read and stay current with trends in your field. The more you stay in your comfort zone, the less likely you are to grow. In an ever-changing job market, you must grow and stay current.
• Get an accurate picture of your finances and what will happen when your pipeline runs dry.
• Make appointments with others, and take a friend to a networking event.
How do you combat your job-search comfort zone?
