What do you want to accomplish this year? Do you have plans to land that dream job but haven’t bothered to layout your job search plan? It’s not too late. Start today by first identifying the holdups.

You’re Paying Attention to Other People’s Opinions 

“You have to do this,” “Never do that,” “My cousin’s best friend got a job by standing out in front of the company wearing a sandwich board.” Everyone has an opinion about how to conduct a job search. Some of it is confusing, some of it is just plain wrong. Your friends and family can be misinformed about how the job search works, and it might hurt your chances to get your dream job. Don’t believe everything you read online, and remember that one person’s opinion is just that — one person’s opinion.

Trust your résumé writer and your own positive instincts. There are some best practices résumé writers and job search coaches could share with you to help you be successful. 

You’re Getting Frustrated 

Well, stop it! Relax.

Did you know, the average length of time for a job search has steadily increased over the past few years. In a recent RiseSmart survey, 40% of hiring managers report conducting between 3-10 interviews before extending a job offer, and nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said their hiring process is 3 weeks or longer. 

So don’t be discouraged if it takes days … or weeks … to hear back after applying or interviewing. Some extraordinary professionals I’ve worked with received great offers a month or two after interviewing. So, stop getting frustrated and get motivated.

You’re Putting All Your Eggs In One Basket 

“But this is my dream job!” While that may be true, you will have a better chance of getting an even better job if you don’t rely on a single opportunity. Wouldn’t it be great to have two or three job offers to consider? That’s only going to happen if you diversify your job search. Apply and interview for multiple positions — even a couple you think you wouldn’t necessarily accept. You never know what you might learn during the interview process. You may find a different dream job — or a company might even create your dream job for you, once they know what you have to offer them.

Now, devise one, two, or more goals and begin hanging up the holdups in achieving success in your job search.