Welcome to the Friday Forum!

Every Friday, we take a question submitted by one of our readers and have our professionals field it and provide advice. We then encourage you to comment below and give your personal take!

Here is This Week’s Question:

Aaron asks:

“I have been looking for a job now for the past 4 months and I haven’t had any luck. I have gone on a number of interviews, even second interviews, but I have yet to find the right job. I have done a self assessment and I feel like I meet the qualifications for the positions that I am interviewing for, but the process seems to move slow and nothing has come to fruition. A friend of mine said that it can take a long time to find a new position when you are an experience professional. Is that true? How long should it take to find a new job?”

This is a question that I think all job seekers would love to know the answer to! Many times hiring is based on the “right time right place” phenomenon. With that being said, some folks can get lucky and land a position quickly, while it may seem like forever for others. Use the tips below to stay positive and help speed up your search!

Average time it takes to find a new job?

Many recruiting professionals live by the $10,000/month philosophy. This means that they feel that on average it takes one month to find a job for every $10,000 in salary you would like to earn. For example, if you are currently making $80,000 per year your search could take up to 8 months.

With that being said, this idea is not set in stone. This is the overall consensus of professionals who have been hiring/recruiting for a long time. While it may hold true for many, some job seekers may land a position much faster or it could take even longer.

What else can make it take longer?

So why is it taking you so long to find that new position? Many times it may not even be something that you are doing! There are many variables that come into play when it comes to looking for a new job.

Things like the state of the economy, the number of jobs available in your field, your location, your credentials and the amount of applicants will affect your search. Some of these variables are out of your control, but there are some that you can address to increase your chances.

Speed it up! Here’s how:

Location – You may need to expand your geographic parameters. If you are willing to drive an extra 10-15 minutes it may open you up to additional opportunities.
Sign up for job alerts – Stay on top of your search by receiving daily emails about open positions. This will not only let you know when new roles are posted, but it will help you get your application in as soon as possible.
Expand your search – If you were looking for a specific position, try to expand your search into other areas. You might be qualified for a different position that is available and you just don’t know about it.
Network – Tap into your network and let them know you are looking. Also, continue to expand your network by connecting on LinkedIn and attending networking events.
Seek professional guidance – Talk with a recruiter or career coach to see if they may be able to assist.

Remember…

Even if you follow all of the tips mentioned above you still may be in for a long job search. Many times factors out of your control are to blame. Stay positive and keep looking. It will be worth it when you find that perfect role!

What are Your Thoughts? Comment Below!

How long did it take you to find your last job? What strategies did you use?

Dan Metz is the Director of Executive Search and Employee Development at the Resilience Group, LLC, and Co-Founder and Contributing Author for Need a New Gig. Follow his blog for more great tips like this!

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Friday Forum – How Long Should It Take To Find A New Job?