You might be saying, “Learn from nature about my job search? That’s crazy!” While it might sound a little off-the-wall, it’s not as crazy as you might think. I’ll admit today’s post is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but sometimes we can use a little humor to lighten a task that often stirs up negative emotions in us. So bear with me, as we take a stroll through lessons you can learn about successful job searching from Mother Nature.

WHAT YOU’RE AFRAID OF OR WANT TO AVOID

If preparing for a job search makes you feel as if you’re facing the kind of challenge represented by a crocodile eager to devour you, maybe it’s time for a decompression break, such as deep-sea divers need when it’s time to resurface after a long dive. In other words, look beyond the overall task, which might seem intimidating or overwhelming simply because it looks like such a huge challenge.

After all, experienced crocodile handlers have learned a number of useful tricks for dealing with these ferocious creatures and emerging undamaged. What points can you identify that will help you deal with the job search effectively?

How about listing the “pain points” you associate with doing a job search and analyzing them individually? That way you can see where you might be able to move past those obstacles safely and productively. Career success as a whole–and your job search as a key piece of it–depends on not letting a daunting obstacle stop you in your tracks or derail your progress.

ENEMIES” OF YOUR JOB SEARCH

In the extreme sense, anyone or anything that throws up a roadblock in your job search could be considered its enemy. For example, someone who constantly bad-mouths you or tries to put you down by disparaging your professional qualifications and opportunities could be viewed as sabotaging your search–either unintentionally (because they just can’t help themselves) or deliberately (possibly because they’re jealous or envy the career success you’ve achieved so far).

Of course, you could be acting as your own worst enemy by letting fear overcome you or by adopting a “lazy job seeker” attitude. What do I mean by that? If you essentially go to sleep during your job search after making a halfhearted effort–say, throwing your resume onto dozens of job boards or sending it out in response to a few online postings and waiting for the calls to roll in–guess who’s to “blame” for the failure to produce any positive results?

Rest is fine–when you’ve earned it and when there’s nothing noticeably more important you should be doing with your time and energy. Otherwise, not so much.

LESSONS YOU CAN LEARN FROM NATURE FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH

Unless you want the end of your search to look like a wasteland (no job offers and no real prospects for any), you need to keep pushing forward, obstacles notwithstanding. Just make sure you have your “supplies” (job search tools, career marketing materials, interview preparation, and so on) well prepared and ready for use.

If you learn the key lessons and execute well what you’ve learned, the result could be you at the top of the mountain peak, career-wise.

Nothing much wrong with that, is there?