Last month I wrote about how critical it is to focus your search.
This is a time when you may be perceived as having time on your hands, and therefore are called upon to take on a lot of tasks you would be assumed not to have time for if you were working. It is also a time when you desperately need to focus your energies, but can be overwhelmed by all of the things you COULD be doing to move your search forward.
One of the most important strategies for creating that focus is learning the art of saying "No."
There are two extremes here. One is the sharp, brusque "NO!" that has others start to view you as being negative, unhelpful or only in it for yourself. This contributes to a poor professional image that can harm you just as much (or more) than having gone ahead and gotten involved.
The other extreme is the excuse-filled "No." This is where you provide all sorts of justifications for why you are saying "No", and they come across as overkill, just a series of excuses rather than valid reasons. And again, this damages your professional reputation.
So how do you navigate between this Scylla and Charybdis? In my latest issue of Career Tips I shared three principles for doing that, with specific examples. I also addressed a common misconception about effective networking.
If you would like a copy of this issue of Career Tips, just drop me a note at John@JHACareers.com,or you can visit my website to check out the contents of past issues and selected articles and sign up yourself at:
http://www.JHACareers.com/Newsletter.htm
John
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John West Hadley Career Search Counselor (908) 725-2437
"Land The Job And Pay You Deserve"
