I get to see the hiring process from the inside out. And what I see is that applying for a job is looking more and more like speed dating.  You are given a very limited window to prove that you are the right candidate for the job and the employer is given the same small window to make sure you will fit well into their team.  This compressed time frame means that your first impression is all you have to get your foot in the door.   

 To have a successful job search, you must be resilient.  Getting an industry position is not going to happen overnight.  Focus on what you can control, your attitude, and your job search mindset.  When I see candidates who aren’t sure why they are searching for a job or don’t know what type of job they actually want, I know the road ahead of them is long.  Do not make the mistake of neglecting the foundation of your job search: your mindset.  

Searching for and choosing your next job is not a decision to take lightly. However, the hiring process from which we must make that decision is not ideal. According to a survey by the Conference Board reported in Forbes, only 50% of employees are satisfied with their jobs and according to Glassdoor, only 49% of employees would recommend their employer to a friend.

Set yourself up for industry success by preparing yourself mentally with a strategic mindset.

 Here are three steps to developing the right job seeker mindset so you can secure the industry position you want… 

1. Figure out your why. 

There are multiple steps in the job hunting process and very few are within your control. To maintain your sanity in this uncertain environment you must know why you are job hunting. The ability to maintain your motivation, momentum, and effort during a job search are all dependent on your answer to the question, ‘Why?’. Without a why your job search will fail. Once you know why you want to leave academia and get an industry job, defining the steps to get there will be much easier. Everyone has a different driving force. Figure out what your pain points are and use them as motivation to find a fulfilling career.

2. Pace yourself

The excitement of starting or shifting your career can be haunted by uncertainty, doubt, and exhaustion. Burning yourself out will kill your momentum, whereas strategic consistency will keep your momentum moving for the full distance. Staying up all night and submitting your non-optimized resume to 20 jobs online will lead to burnout. One candidate will receive a phone interview request six months after submitting an application, while another candidate who submitted an application on a Thursday will confirm an on-site interview for the upcoming Monday, with an offer before she even reached home.The take-away for job hunters: pace yourself. Pursuing interviews and making every step with your best foot forward is not only taxing, but can be demoralizing when your effort elicits nothing but rejections and silence. After submitting your application, there is little that you can anticipate accurately. Spare yourself the stress of guessing and instead focus your energy on the pieces that you have control over.

3. Strive toward your ultimate goal.

Figure out your dream endpoint. Think big. Do you want to be a director at Genentech? Do you want to work from home earning six figures? Do you want to be the CEO of a successful startup company? Whatever your goal is, it does not mean that it must be your first industry job — it simply means that you now know what your long-term plan is. With a long-term goal in place, you can determine what skill set you will need to develop to get there. What skills will allow you to impact a space filled with individuals that have already had success in what you are hoping to achieve?Focus your current job search, and any subsequent job searches, on gaining the skills and experience needed to bring you closer to your ultimate goal. A career is a journey of collecting many skills and tools while moving closer to your personal endgame, which ultimately will become your legacy.