Photo by Karim Ilya. CC Attribution 2.0 Generic License
for ROTC Cadets
10
If you fall too far back, the car you’re following will lose sight of you in the rear view mirror; and if you follow too close, you could wind up crashing into their bumper.
There is, however, a sweet spot when it comes to tailgating the lead car, and the same holds true in the job market. Seriously, if you don’t hear from a company or a lead, contact them. Set a calendar reminder, follow them on social media, email the last person you talked to, and let them know they are on your mind because you really wanted to know … you get the idea.
If they say that they didn’t pick you for the position, ask for a referral or if another position is available. If you don’t get the answer you wanted, it’s okay. You’re going to find the one that’s right for you. Move on to the next opportunity… but at least you’ll know, and you won’t be waiting.
The job search is an adventure and an exercise in patience. My sincere recommendation is that when things aren’t going right, strip your job search down to the basics. Focus on the bare essentials: Target your search, Network with people in those positions, and Tailgate to follow up so that you get an answer, good or bad. Repeat as necessary, as long as it takes to reach that goal.