When I was a kid I distinctly remember the first time my  mother told me, “Patience is a virtue.” I also distinctly remember not having a clue what that meant. Not only did I have to look up the word virtue (cough, cough...virtue (n.) Moral excellence and righteousness; goodness), but I was pretty sure I didn’t like it since patience to me was synonymous with being bored.

It’s funny the things you remember from when you were a kid, but I digress.

Perhaps the more relevant message here is that not only is “patience a virtue” but it is one that we must continuously practice through-out our lives. Time and time again our patience is tested. Waiting our turn, waiting for our break, waiting for someone else, and so on, and so forth.  The irony is that no matter how patient you are, there are times in life you will absolutely erupt with annoyance, irritation…impatience.

What does all of this have to do with your job search? Stop rushing me . No, seriously, too often during our job search, we want everything to fall into place, nicely, neatly, and quickly. Read this line twice: You are nuts. A job search is rarely if ever a nice, neat, quick process. The very structure of it is counterintuitive. You are dependent on other people’s thoughts, timelines, and decisions. You are at the mercy of their hiring needs and processes.

The waiting game is one of the hardest pieces to the job search puzzle. To help you stay sane I have put together a few things that you can do to stay on track, and not be sidelined by frustration.

First off, be reasonable with your timeline. Don’t assume that everything will happen by next Thursday. In fact, the only timeline I support is a personal one for getting your resume in order, and applying. Once that resume leaves your hands and you have confirmed an employer has all they need for review…stop scheduling. You are no longer the captain of the boat. You can check in, and follow up, but never impose your timeline on a prospective employer. It only screams desperate and annoying. Trust me.

Secondly, get organized. Keep a job search diary with the company’s info, the individual you are communicating with, and the dates you sent them your resume.  By tracking this more closely, you will feel in control of your job search process no matter how often a company drops the ball…which will happen from time to time.

Lastly, keep your thoughts and impressions fresh. When you come across a company and an open position, write down what you love about it, and what concerns you have. In doing this, you will be able to keep perspective through-out the waiting game. If a company takes 2 months to get back to you, but you had an amazing connection with the position from the get-go, you may be inclined to give some leeway. If a company left a “so-so” taste in your mouth, you may want to cut them from the list as time goes on and other opportunities arise. 

When it comes to searching for a job, you have to be willing to put in the time. Flexibility, patience, and a few deep breaths are key. All of us have goals, and timelines, but when sit comes to your next opportunity, keep in mind that patience is a virtue. Oh man, I hate it when moms are right. I mean they always are…always. But I digress…