Job Seekers: Replace Desperation With Tenacity To Land Your Dream Job

Forbes

21-04-2025

An NBC poll reveals more than 28% of Americans are searching for new jobs. And the question on every job seeker's mind is, 'What are recruiters looking for?' as applicants try to differentiate themselves and stand out from the pack. One of the most overlooked tips for job seekers is to learn the fine line between tenacity and desperation and make sure tenacity rules if you want to land that dream job.
There is a list of nine must-haves that recruiters want from job applicants, but perhaps the least talked about is demonstrating how badly you want a job. Research shows that 72% of job seekers feel their search negatively affects their mental health. But experts emphasize that showing you are desperate is an immediate turn-off for hiring managers and could end your job prospects.
"Desperation in a job search is never a good look," insists job networking expert and founder of BNI.com, Ivan Misner, who has been connecting people all over the globe for years as the world's biggest networking organization. He has bee called the "Father of Modern Networking" by both Forbes and CNN.
Misner argues that the fastest way to make a bad impression is to act desperate because if you're desperate, you're not hirable. A blanket approach to bombarding hiring managers through multiple channels is not a good look, either, he says and will rarely work. Instead, tenacity is the ticket to landing your dream job. So what's the difference?
'Tenacity is about purpose-driven (yet diplomatic) persistence,' according to Misner. 'Desperation, on the other hand, comes from fear or panic. The key difference is mindset: tenacity moves forward with conviction, while desperation clings out of anxiety.'
Misner offers an example of tenacity. 'The HR department at my company always had many people to interview for job openings, and it took time to get back to candidates because they hadn't decided who the right person was yet. In one particular instance, an applicant followed up once or twice, and we told him there was no update. The third time he reached out--he sent a video to us. In the video, he talked about a current project we were working on, his vision for it and his potential position with the company. Most importantly, he talked with conviction about how excited he would be to be in this role. When we saw that--all interviews stopped, and we hired him. He was diplomatically tenacious and not at all desperate in his communication.'
Misner suggests that you can avoid looking desperate by using five words: 'How can I help you?' He advises that when you're networking for a job, ask that simple question, and it could open doors for you in ways you never thought possible. 'It's worked for me at the highest levels of networking,' he says, 'and it works for entry-level job seekers too. When you offer your time and resources without expectation of anything in return, you make yourself memorable.'
When applying for a job Misner points out that it's important to not appear overly eager. "Bombarding the hiring manager through multiple channels, reaching out to other employees in the company and blatantly disregarding stated timelines are all red flags," adds Misner.
But one of the biggest mistakes you can make when following up is to share personal struggles in an attempt to prove how badly you need a job. 'Employers are NOT interviewing for people who bring drama--they are interviewing for people who bring results," Misner cautions. "I almost hate to say this but when you tell your troubles to people you are interviewing with, you're likely to find out that--half the people don't care, and the other half are glad you're worse off than they are! Don't do it.'
Misner recommends that when you get a 'no,' take the no. That said, if you don't have an answer yet, there is a way to make a great impression with your follow-up. If the job is really important to you, he encourages you to launch one last 'Hail Mary' and suggest a 'working interview.'
He insists that this generally works with entry level positions or a little above. 'This is where you tell the person doing the hiring that you would be happy to come in for a day or two and work for free (although depending on the state, they may need to pay you something). Offer to come in for a working interview to show them what you are capable of. I have recommended this to many college students in my classes (as well as one of my own children), and it has worked amazingly well,' he concludes.
Tenacity and persistent are one thing, but it's also important to know when it's time to accept rejection and call it quits. I spoke with game aficionado, Laura Robinson, who co-created the international mega-hit parlor game, Balderdash.
Robinson, an advocate of persistence, shared her success advice with me that also applies to job seekers of any age. She states that you pitch your idea until someone accepts it. And if that doesn't happen, you muster the persistence to keep knocking on doors. If persistence isn't working after a while you pivot and do something differently to get your message (or yourself) out there. Robinson says if you believe in what you're doing and have passion for it, you can sell it--whether it's a product or yourself.