Balance is the key to a successful job search

Once in a while, job searching is easy. In the morning you contact a company, and by afternoon you receive a phone call to schedule a meeting. Thirty minutes into the interview, they offer a position on the spot.

Other times, it takes a bit longer. You spend a week daydreaming about new coworkers and increased pay before the manager calls to set up an appointment. A couple of days later, they present an offer that you accept over the phone. Just like that.

In most cases, job seeking is a process that unfolds over time. You do everything you can, from resume to thank-you note, and then you wait. Days turn into weeks, and you find yourself checking voicemail a hundred times a day.

It’s great to feel energized about new beginnings. It lifts the spirit. At the same time, many job hunters make the mistake of contacting a potential employer over and over again when it’s time to sit back and wait for a response.

Here’s a piece of advice to help keep you centered: To succeed in the future, focus on the present.

A healthy job search includes several steps. First, find opportunities that align with your goals. Second, pursue these positions in a way that highlights your accomplishments and expertise. Third, make a positive impact in interviews and follow-up letters. Finally, find a way to distract yourself and “let go” of the outcome.

It’s true that this is easier said than done. But don’t forget that you have the best chance of impressing a hiring manager when you feel calm and confident. And there may be consequences to contacting a company too many times to ask about your status.

The hiring process takes time. It requires focused effort for an organization to determine its staffing needs, place job advertisements, read and evaluate resumes, conduct interviews, make compensation decisions, and offer a job to the right candidate. At the same time, they must continue to run their businesses.

Keep yourself busy by writing thank-you letters in advance, practicing for interviews, and looking for more jobs that match your objectives. After you’ve done all of these things, take a breather. Do a little yard work. Go see a movie. The key is to balance your attention between job search efforts and personal time.

If you are an employed job seeker, after you feel more relaxed, shift your focus to your current job, the one that exists in your life right now. Make it your priority to perform your responsibilities with integrity and pride, even if you don’t like your situation. Whether you realize it or not, your work ethic will come through in your job hunt, and employers will respond.

If you are not presently employed, tend to your family, friends and career search with the same level of integrity and focus that you would bring to a job that you love. Also, consider rebuilding relationships with former coworkers or bosses. Research new possibilities, and allow yourself to get excited about what you find.

It takes courage to communicate with new employers, and patience as you await their response. Make a strong impression, and then allow the future to reveal itself. Change is inevitable. Give it time.

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