Joining An Accountability Group May Change Your Search – Part Two
In Part 1, I discussed the need for getting an accountability partner and what an accountability partner is. This article will be about what an accountability partner should do to help you.
A good accountability partner can make a major difference in one’s job search. I have seen people spend months looking, but once they engage an accountability partner their search takes off. You can call this coincidence if you want, I did for a while until I saw it happening over and over, and the people using the accountability partner were giving them the credit for their success.
So what should an accountability partner do? Here are some of my thoughts, and please add your thoughts and experiences in the comment section so others will benefit.
1) Accountability. Sounds obvious doesn’t it, but this is the main goal. A good accountability partner will hold your feet to the fire. First and foremost, they will hold you accountable to do what you say you are going to do.
2) No Excuses. They will listen intently to your excuses and then hold you accountable to what you say. A good accountability partner knows the difference between excuses and real road blocks.
3) Empathy Not Sympathy. Accountability partners understand the emotional ups and downs. They understand your feelings but don’t become emotionally involved or attached. They can separate their feelings from yours, which allows them to stay objective.
4) Listen Well. They know when to let you blow off frustration and vent. They recognize this is part of the process. However, they don’t let that get you off your plan or off track. They will still bring you back and hold you accountable to what you say you need to do.
5) Help and Guidance. Most job searches get stalled at some point. An accountability partner has the experience and knowledge to help you redirect your search. They have the experience to recognize opportunities that you, the candidate, may never have thought of or when you are just not doing something effectively.
6) Tough Love. A good accountability partner is not there to be your friend. Get a dog if that is what you want. They are there to give you tough love when needed. Sometimes even make you angry or embarrassed if you aren’t delivering what you said you promised to do. They call it as they see it. Would you really want anything less?
7) Willing to Meet Regularly. They will meet you at least weekly to discuss progress and lay out a plan for the following week and month. If your plan is weak, they will push you to improve it. They keep you on schedule and on track. They will take your calls and reply to your emails. Yes, it is a lot of work and time.
These are some of the key functions of an accountability partner. It is not by any means a complete list. If you get these in an accountability partner, you will be off to a great start in 2012.
Please add other key functions that you think are important or have benefited from in the comment section. We welcome and encourage your thoughts, comments and input.
To download the free chapter on Conducting an Effective Phone Interview from our book “This Is NOT The Position I Accepted” CLICK HERE and then click on the Free Search Resources link.
If you would like to know if your job search is fully utilized and you are doing the right things, download our free 8 Matrix Job Search Self- Assessment Scorecard. CLICK HERE and then click on the Free Search Resource link.
If this was helpful, then please help others by forwarding it on to your network, posting it on your Facebook page, Tweeting with the link, posting to your Linkedin groups or status update. Let’s all do everything we can to help those looking for employment.
I welcome your comments.
Brad Remillard
Tags: Job Hunting, Job Search Preparation, LinkedIn Job Search
Job Search Mistakes, Job Search Preparation | bradremillard December 6, 2011
About the Author
Brad Remillard is a founding Partner of IMPACT Hiring Solutions, co-author of "You're NOT the Person I Hired", and "This is NOT the Position I Accepted". Brad is an award-winning international speaker, retained executive recruiter, and expert on hiring and retaining top talent, and executive job search.
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By Ahmed Ali, December 6, 2011 @ 3:45 pm
What can i say , you are absolutely right . I frustrated ,i spent all the night for nothing just reading. OH thanks a lot
By bradremillard, December 6, 2011 @ 3:50 pm
Ahmed;
In the article I offered some free resources for you to download. I recommend the one the assess your job search. At least start there as a resource for you. The links to the pages are at the bottom of the article.