Commitment—The Linchpin to Successful Job Hunting
by Julie Swaner, Alumni Career Services Counselor

Lately I have seen a number of individuals who want to change jobs or careers paths because of what they see as limited advancement opportunities in the workplace. Can I help? Yes, of course! That’s what I’m here for. Alumni Career Services has the resources, the tools, and the coaching to make this possible.

We are set up to provide everything for the serious jobseeker, except for the one critical component—commitment, the lynchpin to a successful job search. Commitment requires the jobseeker to set a resolute goal and aim for it with gusto, energy, and singular dedication. Can I motivate, coach, or shame a client into a commitment to action and thus a brighter future? Probably not. That must spring from deep within each individual.

Commitment, or the capacity to pledge oneself to a result worth creating, is the key to success in the job-search process. It is through commitment to goals that we attain what matters most in our job, our relationships, and in the business world.

The choice of a new career or new position is a personal decision. The best career counselors might offer fresh ideas to mull over and directions to pursue, but the motivation one needs to tackle such a potentially life-altering challenge lies within oneself. In short, the search has to be self-directed. An individual contemplating career change will never find what he/she is looking for if someone else sets the goals and makes the decisions.

Profound change requires thoughtful—and often difficult—choices. It can move the jobseeker from the well known, but perhaps unloved, comfort zone, into a space that is unfamiliar. While the journey along this road less traveled is frequently a solitary one, establishing a firm goal to move toward can make the journey a pleasant one, offering a nice reward at the end!

The point is: Whether you are new to the labor market or a veteran jobseeker, a firm commitment to the job search is essential, and that takes planning and research. A library is a great place to start this process. Dig into books, magazines, newspapers, and trade journals to navigate new industry trends, industry forecasts, and companies that are mentioned within your geographical range. Map it out. This may tell you something about your future career path.

Job commitment requires putting a long-term goal ahead of short-term demands. A case in point: A client recently phoned to say that he had to delay his job search because of the pressing demands of income tax preparation, thereby justifying his inability to move forward. Yes, it is tax season and, yes, your federal and state returns are due April 15th. But aren’t there always multiple priorities screaming for attention?

Jobseekers: Be true to yourselves. The job search path has as many detours as you allow.

For more information about Alumni Career Services, contact Julie Swaner at (801) 585-5036.