How to weather a storm in your career search

It is officially storm season here in Iowa with some up and down weather patterns.  My family spent a good portion of last evening in our basement through a severe thunderstorm and tornado warning.  As usual when I can't sleep I start thinking about work.  I thought this would be an apropos blog topic for this morning after waking up this morning thankfully to minimal damage and kids who weren't too terribly tired.

Over my years of recruiting I have assisted many candidates through a "stormy" interview process or career decision.  There a few keys to survival that mimic what you would do in an actual weather event:

1)  Be aware of what may be ahead.  This may be an obvious one, but not many people adhere to the philosophy.  Just as you can't wait until the tornado sirens to go off to make sure the batteries in your flashlight are charged, you can't wait until an obstacle pops up to overcome it.  Be ready for your current employer to find out you are in an active search mode.  Be ready for a difficult resignation if you are nearing that turning point.  Be ready for your boss asking why you were seen in another agency's office by a marketing rep or old friend.  If you are not aware of these possibilities they can really trip you up in the midst of a search.  Last night we had the TV on late to watch the weather report, charged our cell phones for weather alerts, and jumped out of bed as soon as the sirens went off to shuffle our kids to the basement.

2)  Stick to the basics.  When bad weather approaches many people panic and forget the things you were taught all the way back in elementary school - go to an interior room, don't be near a window, don't go outside, unplug major appliances, etc.  There are also some really basic ideas when it comes to a search as well - always be professional in interviews, never bad mouth a former employer or colleague, be courteous even when told no regarding a new opportunity, don't become too impatient.....the list could go on and on.  But there is a reason there are career counselors all over the place - we all need them!

3)  Don't panic.  If something does go bad during an interview or search process, oftentimes people panic and make a decision they will later regret.  If you were caught in a bad storm, forgot that you left something outside from the day before, and then went outside only to get injured by a falling tree branch, that would seem like a bad choice afterward.  Similarly, don't make a decision you will later regret if something doesn't quite shake out the way you had anticipated with your search.

4)  Use common sense.  Yet another one that should be a no-brainer.  During one of the weather reports last night they were talking about flash flooding and reminding viewers that it only takes a couple of inches of standing water to possibly sweep your car away.  But how many people would see a few inches of water and think they could just drive right on through?  When faced with decisions during an interview or a search, listening to your gut and using common sense will benefit you 90-95% of the time.

Despite all of this advice, sometimes you just have to go through a storm to fully appreciate all of the tips that come before the storm even hits.  Have you ever been through a storm in your search, survived to tell the tale, and vowed to not repeat any mistakes?