Your body could be telling you to make a career move.

We use so many excuses to avoid looking for a new or better job. Are you unsure that you’re qualified for your ideal job? Do you worry that a new job might not be any better than the one you have right now? Are you afraid of the unknown? Or are you simply too exhausted to begin a job search?

Often, our bodies give us clues about decisions we need to make. How often do you listen to your body? It’s important to take time to pay attention to what you do on a daily basis and how it makes you feel. Are you going to work every day excited about the possibilities and about interacting with co-workers? Or are you feeling drained and anxious even before you get into your office? Physiological clues like these will allow you to determine if you are living and growing, or if you are stagnant and settling.

Here are a few exercises to help you face your fears, listen to yourself, and start moving forward:

1. List three (or more) things you like most about your workplace. (Your co-workers, your clients, your office, the industry, the dress code, the quick commute, the pay?)

2. What are the three (or more) things you dislike about your workplace?

3. Taking a look at the three (or more) things you dislike, ask yourself if there’s anything YOU can do to improve the situation.

4. Close your eyes and imagine your ideal work setting… think about your commute, where you do your work, what type of work, your hours, your co-workers (if any), your pay, and benefits. What did you imagine? Take a few moments to write down the details of your ideal work setting.

These quick exercises will help you decide whether to improve your present work environment or find the strength to begin looking for a new job. You may still fear the unknown, but remember, things tend to become clear, once we begin the task.

Please feel free to send your career questions or topics to maria (at) bonusresumes.com.

Maria DeBonis

Maria DeBonis, M.S.ED., is the founder of Bonus Resumes, a job search coaching service that provides affordable resume critique, creation and reformatting, cover letter writing and assistance, and interview coaching. She has provided career counseling at Fordham University in New York, St. John’s University in New York and The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Her passion is helping others realize and utilize their potential.

A job search is like planning a road trip, and you must prepare accordingly. There must be a destination in mind, detailed steps to follow, and an estimated time of arrival. Without any one of those, you probably won’t get there. In a tough job market, your job search must be even tougher. But no matter what the market looks like, doing a job search takes focus and must be your top priority.

Obviously the ultimate goal is to get a job, but anyone can get any job; remember McDonald’s is always hiring! To get the job you want, you have to focus on key aspects of the job search.

Before you begin to search for a job, it is important to uncover your interests, strengths, values, skills and abilities. Know yourself. If you’re unsure of what you want, how will you ever get it? There are many ways you can do this, such as utilizing career and interest assessments, visiting your college career center, asking friends to point out strengths you may not recognize, or working with a career coach.

Next, follow these steps for a successful job search:

• Explore: Research areas of interests, different positions within industries and educational requirements.
• Prepare: Create or update resumes, cover letters and references. Develop a 30-second commercial for networking opportunities based on your interests and goals. Work on yourself, your appearance, your attitude, your enthusiasm and your professionalism. You never get a second chance at a first impression!
• Network: Begin or continue to speak to people about goals and interests. Networking is the number one way to find a job or learn more about different industries.

Remember, these tips are not just about getting a job, but getting the right job for you. Get in the driver’s seat of your life right now and prepare for your successful job search!

Maria DeBonis

Maria DeBonis, M.S.ED., is the founder of Bonus Resumes, a job search coaching service that provides affordable resume critique, creation and reformatting, cover letter writing and assistance, and interview coaching.  She has provided career counseling at Fordham University in New York, St. John’s University in New York and The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  Her passion is helping others realize and utilize their potential.