with inspiration from the Laws of Thermodynamics
0. Zeroeth Law: A Numbers Game
Looking for work is a numbers game.
- 30 Applications ==>
- 10 First Interviews ==>
- 3 Second Interviews ==>
- 1 Offer
1. First Law: It’s Not Personal
You are the salesperson, you are the product. This is a conflict of interest. You must objectify and promote yourself (since everyone else is).
The people who select you are judging you on the basis of a piece of paper, or a zoom call, or a short interview, They don’t know you. They are working to a brief. They are predisposed. They don’t care.
2. Second Law: You Will Fail
When you fail an application, an interview it is not about you. It’s about them.
Request practical feedback – you gave your time to make the application, they owe you. Judge it and apply it as you see fit.
3. Third Law: Finding a Job is a Job
You should be prepared to work a full 40 hour week to prepare and submit all your various applications. Since job seeking is a rather lonely and soul challenging activity, this is not easy.
Authors note: I have done job searches a lot over 40 years – both from the applicant and the employer point of view and thus consider myself well qualified to advise based on my experience.
~p6steve
Physics::Journey 