There’s a few ways you can interpret a title like that, depending on where you place the emphasis, who’s saying it, or even the context. Is it the impatient “JUUUST pick one?” or perhaps it’s “Just pick ONE,” as in the kid at the toy store that wants everything but can’t decide. For the purpose of our messaging here, we’ll talk about the later.

So many job seekers seem to feel like more is better when choosing the number of positions to apply for. Who can blame them? Especially for those with no job!  Some job is better than no job right?  Perhaps. Don’t get me wrong, we’re all for earning a chance at something long term, and putting food on the table, BUT, nothing can be more frustrating for both sides, than when a job seeker applies for every job under the sun. Don’t’ get caught up in this trap. Recruiters hate it when you apply for everything (especially when you’re clearly not qualified for several of them). It shows a lack of focus on what the company is after. Let’s review a few things that can help you be more focused on choosing the right job for you.

1. Start by choosing jobs you’ve performed in the (recent) past. When reviewing your resume, one of the first things recruiters look at is how your most recent history matches the current opening.  If you can’t present the needed skills relatively quickly, your chances of moving forward are drastically reduced.  Similarly, if you’re applying for a job you’ve not performed successfully in the last ten plus years, it’s safe to say that your past skills in that area will not be looked upon as extremely strong compared to others who have been performing the role recently.

2. Find something you like doing. Let’s be frank – there are very few positions in the world where the person holding the job loves every aspect. That’s the epitome of a ‘dream’ job, and there’s a reason they call it a ‘dream’ job – it’s a dream, not necessarily a reality. That being said, you need to enjoy doing your job in order to find success long term. Few are those who accept a job that they really dislike and stay for the long haul. Recruiters will often ask questions about what a candidate enjoys doing, what size groups they enjoy, and explaining facets of former jobs that they enjoyed most. All of these are helpful indicators to make sure the person will be happy in the role the recruiter is looking to fill.  Save everyone (including yourself) some time – focus on the jobs you will fundamentally enjoy.

3.Think progressively.  We’re all faced with roles that might take us back a step or two.  It happens to everyone either in your personal space, professional space, or both. Sometimes you need to take a step back to take a couple forward down the road. Think of your last career move – did it happen instantly?  Probably not.  Be patient, but be thinking down the road about what your longer term goals are, and about whether those possibilities might exist at the organization you’re applying for. If you’re ultimately looking for a Director level position, but you’re in a company that only has eight employees, you might be barking up the wrong tree.

There are so many more avenues this line of thought could take you, but we are not targeting all of those at this point. This piece is just meant to provide you some things to chew on as you consider what your next career move might be.  If you have it all mapped out, good for you. If not, consider multiple avenues; find the one that bests suits your needs (food, rent, car, location, challenges, etc.).  Temp agencies such as AccuStaff can help provide some opportunities to try new jobs that you might not have considered in the past.