Job hunting is tough work, a veritable job in itself in more ways than just one! It is actually even harder than most jobs, simply looking for a job, because, if you think about it, there are so many stress-causing factors involved, from having to spend cash while having no funds coming in to of course the uncertainty of it all – everything, just about every single little factor is uncertain: was that the right thing to say? Should you have said it more emphatically? Did you smile enough? Did you smile too much?

It is tough to tell what you ought to do or could do differently, but it’s still usually helpful to review your performance after each and every interview, just in case. Some very issues to become aware of include the obvious ones of on-time attendance and cell phone etiquette (always turn it off) to a well-written proofread résumé and adequately researching the prospective employer.

But a lot of other possible pitfalls exist, for instance relying too much on just a single job search technique or simply not following up soon after your interview, no matter how pessimistic you may possibly feel. On the other hand, you shouldn’t take a break from job hunting even if you’ve got a very good reason to think you’ll land a specific job.

Optimism is essential but do not let a sunny outlook lull you into a false sense of security! It is human nature to wish to optimize your time, so it will only seem like a waste of time to keep seeking when you are so sure this is “the one.” But it is far better to be safe than sorry, and with such high hopes the fall will be long and devastating if things do not pan out. After all, career hunting is really a job in itself and you should know better than to relax when on the job!