'I'll Take Anything' Attitude Can Backfire

ByABC News via logo
March 24, 2006, 2:05 PM

March 27, 2006 — -- I've spent the last several weeks traveling throughout the country for my company's career expos. These are one-day events that enable professional women in all fields to connect face-to-face with top employers.

By and large I'm always very impressed with the people I meet. They've got stellar work history and solid academic credentials. But that doesn't always mean they know how to present themselves when seeking new opportunities.

Although I run into many women who carry themselves with great confidence, more often than not I'm drawn to women who appear nervous and fidgety. I discovered years ago that those behavioral traits don't necessarily mean that a woman is any less qualified in terms of knowledge, skills and experience than her peers who are perfectly poised.

Just because you're good at what you've been trained to do in your chosen profession, doesn't mean you're good at the job search process. The biggest pitfall is the "I'll take anything" syndrome. It's an equal opportunity offender across gender, education, ethnicity and experience.

Candidates whose searches for employment are taking longer than they would have hoped find themselves lowering their standards. Women, especially, will reveal their sense of panic by approaching recruiters and saying, "I'm willing to consider any positions you might have available right now. I'd be happy to take anything. I just need a job."

When I ask these candidates to explain their rationale for using such opening lines -- whether I'm in Chicago, Altanta, Tampa, Fla., New York or Washington, D.C. -- they tell me they're at their wits end and really do just need a job. Their bills are piling up, their rent is overdue, and their credit cards are maxed out. I can relate; I've been there too.

They truly believe they're coming across as flexible and accommodating. They think it's a good thing that they're willing to do anything an employer might ask. And on the surface, that makes sense. It sounds akin to a team player --