I’m not much of a fisherman, but from what I know, I can see that there are many similarities between searching for a job and fishing.  Over the years, I have used these principles with clients when discussing their career options.

My understanding is that there are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to catch fish:

• Using a boat is generally more effective than fishing off a pier
• You need to have the right bait and equipment
• You need to be patient
• You won’t catch a fish with every cast
• After you get a bite, you still need to land it
• Sometimes you’ll catch a particular breed of fish when you were trying for something else
• Local knowledge can make a big difference
• Sometimes you can do everything right and still not catch anything
• Sometimes you can do everything wrong and still catch something
• If you don’t cast a line, fish won’t just jump into your boat

So, how is this like looking for a job?

When job-hunting, you need to be aware of the following:

• Having a great resume and application letter is better than a mediocre one
• You won’t get every job that you apply for
• You need to be patient
• If you want a particular job in a particular industry, you need to use the right tools to get there
• Sometimes when you’re looking for a job, an unexpected opportunity will come up
• Getting an interview isn’t enough, you still need to land the job
• Knowing people who work in the industry or for the company that you are trying to enter can make a huge difference to your strategy
• Sometimes you can do everything right, but there’s someone else who’s a better fit for the role
• Sometimes you can do everything wrong, but you’re the best person for the job
• If you don’t apply for anything, you won’t get anything

Just like in fishing, there are no guarantees when looking for a job.  However, there are a lot of things that you can do to increase your chances of success.

Taken from Darren’s Better Life Coaching Blog.