Believe it or not, “clarity” is not the most important part of starting your job search.

Now if you’re waiting for Exactly The Right Time to focus on your job search when you feel perfectly ready, confident, and clear about your next step…

You are welcome to keep waiting.

I’m not going anywhere!

On the other hand, if a little part of you is feeling like maybe you could use a friendly push to get started now, well, you’re in luck today.

I understand why so many people want to “wait until they are ready.”

You’re waiting to have more time, until things are less busy, and you can focus.

You’re waiting until you feel more confident.

You’re waiting until you’re clear on your goals before you commit to doing the work to move forward.

I get that instinct to wait until you’re a little more certain about things. It makes sense intuitively.

But waiting for the perfect time, to feel 100% ready, and be totally clear…well, it just doesn’t happen that often!

And the good news is, those aren’t even the most important traits required to get started or to get traction in your job search.

Instead of waiting for things to be perfect and clear, consider relying on these attributes instead:

Flexibility

Learning to be flexible with your schedule and creating pockets of time, over time, means that you’ll gain traction from consistency.

You’d be surprised what 20 minutes just a few times a week can yield over a month or two!

While there can be a lot of upfront work, the strategies and tips that I teach lead to a more efficient process over time.

Curiosity

You already value learning and growth, so why not extend that to your own job search and career exploration?

Your intention for the next month (or two!) can be focused on meeting new people, learning new skills, and researching opportunities.

Don’t be surprised if you end up feeling a little more clear and confident once you’ve first spent a little time being curious.

Empathy

Do you have the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes?

A huge (like, HUGE) part of career growth is learning to build and grow a network of peers who look to you as a trusted leader and colleague.

A willingness to engage in your professional community is one of the best long-term investments you can make in your career.

Even if you are navigating a transition or turning point, don’t be surprised if your knowledge and experience are still helpful to other people.

Persistence

There are a million things we can do to make your job search easier…but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Making a commitment to yourself to have the career you deserve requires more than a little patience and persistence.

Have a long-term plan for yourself (I recommend at least six months) so that you don’t set yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations!

Forgiveness

If you’ve made choices in your career that you now regret, welcome to the club! (It’s literally everyone.)

Just because you’ve made mistakes or ended up in a situation you now can’t wait to get out of doesn’t mean you shouldn’t trust your judgment anymore.

The most important thing to do is to take ownership over your decisions, forgive what failures you’ve experienced (real or perceived!), and start turning that ship around!

Here’s one last point on clarity: a little bit can go a long way.

Most people have more clarity over what they want - and simply to recognize it!

If you have flashes of insight while you’re exploring your options or meeting new people, make sure you write that down, tell a coach, or talk to a friend.

Get it out of your head so you can keep track of what you’re learning.

If you’re looking for some inspiration and education for your job search, make sure you’re following me over on LinkedIn!