Many are familiar with the image of the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Bible’s Book of Revelation, coming to bring doom and destruction to an unbelieving world. For jobseekers, there are similar, though not as globally spectacular, threats to a successful job transition. To see and understand them is to be able to avoid them running roughshod over your life.
The first “horseman” is the biggest and worst – FEAR. A primal human emotion, we can be fearful of many things at any age – the dark closet as a child or the dark future as an adult. Nothing can strike fear, though, in the heart of any working America than the sudden drop-off and disappearance of what seemed to be a perfectly good job. Fortunately, life does not stop or the sun not shine in the face of a crisis – day will follow day. The wise jobseeker will understand that much of life is already out of anyone’s control, so emergencies must be faced with courage. And of course, a plan. The job search campaign should be the focal point and source of courage to face down any fear arising from this kind of transition.
The second is ANXIETY. This is a specific kind of fear – one more of immediate needs and threats. We can be anxious about such things as paying the mortgage, medical bills, car note or college tuition. These pressures easily weigh down hearts and minds, just a fear can cast a cloud over an entire life. Anxiety too can be met with specific solutions, such as a well-organized job search campaign. Action and movement are required to maintain a sense of momentum and effectiveness, just as endorphins make jogging several miles endurable. Actually, all types of activities can be a reliable cure for anxiety, but passivity and being a couch potato about your job search will breed more and bigger fears.
Third in line comes CHAOS. Most people have not been through a lot of job transitions in their career, and it usually is a negative experience. Being dropped into a job search quickly creates a zone of chaos that needs to be organized and controlled. At this initial point, it is really useful to get guidance from career professionals, such as a resume writer, career advisor or interview coach. They can help you identify and prioritize your resources. Successful jobseekers will understand what they can actually influence in the process – and what they cannot. They will be able to nurture and allocate their energies and efforts wisely, while avoiding the other “horsemen.”
Bringing up the rear is LAZINESS. This may surprise some, but it is as much as threat as the other three, if not as obvious. A common and natural emotional response, after the initial jolt of job separation, is to retreat, regroup and relax for some time. The stress of going to work and putting in the long hours is gone for the foreseeable future. Old habits and defined routines go slack and things progress to the point where the jobseeker struggles to get out of bed and get going. Again, having a job search campaign comes in handy to restore the necessary focus and drive that made you effective in your career. Laziness can easily derail a successful transition as quickly as the other three, but having the accountability of an organized campaign can make the needed difference.
Some quick applications:
1. Identify and understand how these 4 “horsemen” can threaten your job search.
2. Organize and use a solid job search campaign with definable goals.
3. Get into an accountability relationship for the duration of the transition to keep you on track.
4. Stay active and engaged with your family, community and hobbies – no downside to regular exercise.
Remember – Many things in life are beyond anyone’s control, but some things, including the dreaded job search, can be conquered with courage, stamina, focus and persistence.
