Is Staying In Your Pajamas All Day Stalling Your Job Search?

By Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter

Unbridled stress and angst can exacerbate today’s job search. The economy is uncertain, bad attitudes are ablaze and the competition is fiercer than ever. No wonder job seekers struggle with maintaining poise, hope and focus. With that said, targeted, positive and actionable behaviors are what create the perfect storm for meaningful outcomes in today’s job hunt.

Avoidable job search behaviors abound. We’ve unearthed six more unhealthy job search habits you must steer clear of to ensure a more robust result.

1. Staying in Your Pajamas All Day. It takes time to freshen up and put your best face forward. By remaining unkempt, you are unavailable for impromptu face-to-face meetings such as a Skype call or someone who may want to meet you on-the-fly. While being perfectly coiffed at 8 a.m. may not be the only way to go, at the least, make it a habit to be showered and dressed before lunchtime.

2. Being Constantly Plugged In. If you are always “on,” your brain will never defrag from all the bits and bytes of information that you continually absorb from Google or LinkedIn searches, blog posts, job boards, company websites, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and more. As well, constantly texting or private messaging friends, colleagues or family to chitchat about this or that, to kvetch or to discuss job search strategy is not healthy. You have to give your brain and your emotions a break in order to present your value, with focused, unfettered energy and optimism.

If the weather permits – and it almost always does regardless of your climate – step outside and take a brisk walk. This time of year, you may need a jacket or heavier coat, but after just a few minutes, you will warm up. Amazingly, your blood flowing, the crispness of the air against your skin and fresh air will help you clear the cobwebs. By invigorating your body, you may even unconsciously solve underlying job search and networking problems.

To read about all 6 Job Search Behaviors to Avoid, please visit my latest Glassdoor post, here: “6 More Job Search Behaviors to Avoid.”