The Results Are In

Posted on Sep 29th 2009, 11:06 am, under Career Advice

Here at Instant Career Search, we really believe in the advice that we provide to you, our readers. We want to see you succeed. This is why we always aim to give you the best information and assistance possible.

And that's why it's nice to hear that science actually backs up what we've been saying --  In a recent study by the University of Missouri, two factors were found to significantly increase one's chances of landing a job: having a good plan before starting the job search, and staying positive throughout the experience.

The study examined 327 people looking for employment, ranging in age from 20 to 40. The researchers concluded that job seekers who took the time to plan and set goals for themselves were more conscientious and self-disciplined. This in turn had a direct impact on the number of job offers they received.

The other aspect, positivity, is self-explanatory. Those who remained optimistic during their job search were more likely to persevere through the lean times, when no offers were coming their way. As a result, they were able to hold out until they got the job they wanted.

You may be reading this and thinking, "Well, that's obvious". And you'd be right. Anybody looking for a job should take the time to think things through carefully.

But unfortunately, this doesn't always happen in real life. Many job seekers take a shotgun approach, haphazardly sending in applications without really trying to consider how to maximize their time and effort. Then, the first time things don't go their way, they get discouraged and stop looking. This is exactly the wrong thing to do. 

And this is precisely why we've always stressed the importance of planning and positivity in our articles. We're here to remind you of your potential, as well as the pitfalls you should avoid. So, if you're looking for a job right now, create a good game plan and never, ever give up. Trust us on this; after all, we've got the scientific evidence to back it up now.