On the face of it, getting a new job appears to be a straightforward affair: Just look for job opportunities in the newspapers or on the Internet, prepare resumes, send applications, appear at interviews and accept job offers. The process is indeed simple; it’s not rocket science. Yet, as you probably know, job search can sometimes extend to painfully long periods of time, going up to months or even years. And when a new job doesn’t come along after repeated attempts, it’s common for job seekers to point fingers in various directions.

Some people blame their qualifications. Some see the general scarcity of jobs as the main problem. To those who have many years of experience, the age appears to be the main barrier. There is no doubt that economy, market demand, qualification, experience, age and luck—all play a part in making it easier or difficult for you in the job market. But unfortunately, what most people don’t realise is that a set of completely different factors is more responsible for their long, inconclusive job search. To understand these factors, you have to first understand the hiring process.

Getting a job is like surviving a multi-round game of elimination, which begins with spotting job opportunities and ends at interviews. Some people don’t use the right job search methods and thereby fail to even spot job opportunities. They get eliminated even before the real game begins. Some do see the job opportunities, but their weak and unacceptable resumes fail to open doors for interviews. Out of those who survive up to the interview stage, many bow out of the race because they fail to project their own value to the employers. Finally, the winner is someone who survives all through and proves to be the best among fellow survivors.

If you have been looking for a new job for quite some time and are in the mode of blaming lack of opportunities, education, experience, luck, age, etc. for your current situation, it’s time you shifted focus to the way you are playing the game. Specifically, pay attention to the following five steps.

Play by the rules
It was Albert Einstein who said: “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” Play by the following rules:

●   Rule of least effort: At every stage of your job search, ensure that employers spend least effort     (and time) while dealing with you.

●  Rule of Needs and Means: Your success lies in understanding employer’s needs and then     showing that you’ve the means (experience, education, skills) to satisfy those needs.

●  Rule of seeds: If you want something to happen, plant more seeds—make more attempts and be     prepared that many of these attempts will not bring the desired results.

●  Rule of obsession: When you chase jobs that you are obsessed about, you are bound to succeed.     Your obsession is your trump card.

●  Rule of perceived value: What matters is not what you think about yourself, but how much value     employers see in you.