5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Be Obsessed Over One Employer

It's a very easy situation to find yourself in. That dream of your perfect career will normally come hand in hand with a perfect employer. This is fine, but when that ideal company is the main focus of your job search, you are very much limiting your success. We've compiled 5 reasons why you should be more open to other companies and tone down your obsession, or risk hurting your chances.

1. Be realistic

Say you're soon to graduate and looking for a post-University career. What are the chances that in your year of Graduation your ideal employer will have a vacancy? It's also just as unlikely that they're looking for someone with your exact specifications. Even if you did find an ear to bend at the company, they may not have a need for your skillset. By no means, don't stop trying, just be conscious of the odds.

2. The competition is rife

Now imagine if you found a suitable role at said company - firstly consider how many people from your course will be looking for a similar job, and then all the other graduates in the country that are just as keen as you. The likelihood is that there's some stiff competition to be had, and you have no idea who you'll be up against. Make sure you apply for the job and do your very best, but keep the successful fantasies to a minimum.

3. If you get the job, you may be disappointed

Have you any idea what it's like to actually work on top of the pedestal you've imagined? As an outsider, it's very difficult to see past the cloud of wishy washy PR talk, and unless you know a current or previous worker, you haven't got much to go on. We do hope that landing your ideal job meets your expectations, but with obsession comes rose-tinted standards that are hard to meet.

4. Your confidence is at stake

If your endeavours don't pay off and you are thrown back into the job market, how will you manage the rejection? The odds are that your confidence will take a serious hit, because if you can't bag a job with your idols, what's the point? Wrong! Your sole focus on that one job means that other jobs won't be good enough, when in reality there are hundreds if not thousands more posts that will be just as rewarding (if not more). Confidence is a heavily contributing asset when it comes to the job-search, so don't let it crumble away just because of one rejection.

5. You are severely limiting your chances

Let's face it, pinning your hopes on just one employer is a bad strategy when it comes to selling yourself. You wouldn't do this in other aspects of life i.e "I will only date Mila Kunis" or "I will only ever buy milk from the Tesco on my street" - what if Jennifer Lawrence falls madly in love with you? What if that specific Tesco is closed? You are just setting yourself up for potential disappointment. Try widening your search in order to market yourself effectively. To conclude, we are in no way saying that you shouldn't have hopes and aspirations, or that you shouldn't put all your efforts into getting your dream job. Just approach the job-market with an open mind and avoid putting all your eggs into one basket. There are plenty of other baskets that could pass you by while you stare longingly at your ideal employer.