Three things that let the air out of your search

The hype over #DeflateGate may subside now that the Patriots won the Super Bowl.  I do have to admit it was fun to watch all kinds of companies create advertising campaigns around the conflict.  I saw some creative ways to attach products to all of the hype surrounding the story.

It also got me thinking about how a job search can begin to look like these sad, under-inflated footballs if you aren't too careful.  Here are three classic mistakes that people make to let the air out of their search:

1)  Lack of interest.  I have seen people just stop caring when things don't go well during an interview or a search process.  It is usually someone else's fault, they just hope fate intervenes to turn things around, and they do nothing pro-active to turn their situation around.  It may seem unlikely, but I have seen it over and over in the past.  Maybe they haven't had to look for a job before, and it is tougher than expected.  Or one minor setback puts them into a tailspin that they can't break out of.  The bottom line though is that if you don't care, no one else will either.

2)  Lack of communication.  Somewhere along the lines in that game for the Patriots there were not proper checks and balances to make 100% sure the balls were inflated correctly.  Similarly during an interview or search process you have to make sure you are checking in, making yourself available, and saying what you are thinking.  You certainly don't want to over-communicate, but I had to admit I appreciate too much communication over not enough nine times out of ten.  I can't tell you how crazy I get when I try to check in with a candidate before or after an interview, only to get the silent treatment.  It doesn't send a good message that you are engaged with the process.

3)  Lack of effort.  You can telling when someone simply isn't trying.  You ask for something ahead of an interview and get nothing.  You advise someone how to prepare for an interview and know that they didn't.  Employers and hiring managers will tune into this and vet it out quickly.  It can happen before, during, and after an interview.  Once again, I am okay with trying too hard and it backfires on you much more so than deciding to not try at all.

The solution to combat all three of these is quite simple - be interested, or at least feign interest.  It isn't that difficult.  Stay in touch with the company and/or recruiter throughout the process.  It doesn't have to be over-done, but to the point.  Lastly, show me some hustle.  If you are in a job search you have to go out and get it.  The right job isn't going to come knocking on your door.  And even if it does, you still have to open the door!

Have you ever had the air let out of your search?  If so, what did you do to stop it?