How To Wait For 'The One': Get the Job Offer You Want

I can count on one hand how many times I've accepted a position knowing in my gut that I shouldn't have accepted the job. Red flags were flying everywhere. The recruiter missing our scheduled phone interview, reading bad reviews about the company, management not knowing what they're looking for, they just know they need some RIGHT NOW! Oh, and once I even interviewed for a position and the Controller and IT Manager said to me, "Get. Out. Now. While you can" Talk about a red flag.

I'm a little hard headed in the red flag department (still working on it), but I've figured out why I do it, and maybe you see this in yourself too. The answer is simple: fear. We fear that another opportunity won't come along; that something bad will happen and this is the last chance to work in our field ever again. The bills are piling up and your phone is dry. Nobody else wants to interview you, so you might as well give up and accept this offer right? FALSE! I love the acronym, False Evidence Appearing Real. That's all it is when we accept a job out of fear that another one won't come along. The next opportunity will come along. I promise.

So the pay is not what you desired, the management is a little sketchy, it's further out from your home than you wanted to drive, the turnover's been crazy, the hiring manager said some weird things to you during the interview, it's a downgrade from your education and experience. You know what you do in this situation? You turn it down. You politely let the hiring manager and/or recruiter that the position is not a good fit for you and you thank them for their time. Hey, you're apart of this process just as much as that company is. They're looking for the right fit and so are you. In the dating world we hear so much about having standards, it's the same with finding a job you want. Stay true to what it is you're looking for and the job offer you want will come.

Now, what do you do in the meantime? I'm glad you asked. You go to work! It sounds contradictory, but hear me out. Unless you have a cool severance package from your previous employer or a deep savings account, you still need to work. For others, you may have been entitled to unemployment compensation and can survive off of your weekly benefit amount while you job hunt; that's great, but make sure you're still actively searching for a job because those unemployment benefits do have an expiration date.

Where was I? Oh, we're talking about going to work while looking for work. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about: this job is not your dream job. It's probably not even what you imagined yourself ever doing, but it is what it is. It's a job to get you through until you've identified your dream job, interviewed, and been offered a position. This is a job that allows you the flexibility to get hours, interview for other jobs, and bring home a paycheck. These jobs are plentiful, and I'll tell you where they are.

Staffing agencies!

I love them and I recommend them for anyone that's job hunting. I've used staffing agencies for years and I've had some good experiences and some bad, but mainly good. Most of the reputable ones are extremely connected with businesses in your area and they have insider access to upcoming jobs. Some companies don't even advertise their jobs, they leave it to staffing agencies.

My advice in searching for a staffing agency is to know what you want. Some staffing agencies specialize in manual labor, accounting and finance, office and administrative, IT, etc. Length of assignments can vary and are based on the client's needs. I've worked a temporary, contract position before for three months and received an awesome recommendation. Some clients only need someone to fill in while an employee is out on leave. Some clients end up hiring their temporary employee.

Do a Google search for staffing agencies in your area. I would advise that you narrow your selection to one or two agencies. It can become a pain repeating your information over and over again, plus some agencies want you to know upfront if you're working with another agency. In addition to finding work with an agency, you can let them know to keep you in mind for future permanent jobs. I've been offered employment directly through an agency with no wait!

For other tips on how to survive unemployment, check out my previous post here. I hope this tip was helpful. This season will not last forever, so hang in there. I know this time is not easy, but you will make it through and I want to hear about it when you do!