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articles

Holding Out for the Ideal Job

By Patricia Smith

If you are looking for a job, don’t make the mistake of holding out for the premier spot. Women are too often guilty of this. We are certain we will miss a golden opportunity if we accept something less.

When polled, women have greater expectations of work than our male counterparts. (See Each of Us, chapter 2.) Our expectations do not deteriorate over time, while men tend to become more realistic. Just believing there is an ideal job out there can cause us to hold back when a less-than-perfect opportunity arises. Meanwhile, we may be stuck in jobs which lead us no where.

Make a change for the right career path (See Each of Us, chapter 1) but the first job in that path will not be your last. The job you don’t think you want may lead to a golden opportunity, or it may even turn out to be something you enjoy. Your worst nightmare of a job can be a boost to your resume. The job I consider to be the biggest mistake of my career is impressive on my resume. This has lead to other positions which I considered to be much better.

Of course, you may have to accept a position you don’t want and is not in the career path you wish, just to pay the bills. There is no shame in doing what you have to do. Work hard, keep your eyes and ears open, and move on when you can. The job market today is tough, but times will change. Awareness is the first step. Small adjustments make a big difference.

Patricia Smith, author of Each of Us: How Every Women Can Earn Money in Corporate America.