HOW LONG WILL YOUR JOB SEARCH TAKE?

“How long will my job search take?” 

This is probably the most common question I get from job seekers. Job searches are taking longer. With many of my clients, 6 to 9 months is becoming the new average. 

But there’s one word in that sentence that matters most: Average. 

Because some people are still landing roles in weeks, others are taking much longer. And the difference is rarely just the market. It’s usually this:

The quality and quantity of their career conversations.

Here’s the reframe I want you to think about.

Imagine your next role is waiting at the end of your 100th relevant career conversation. (Truthfully, it's much faster than that.)

Now the question changes completely. It’s no longer:

“How long will my search take?”

It becomes: “How fast can I create meaningful momentum?” 

So what actually counts as a relevant career conversation? Here are the four signals I look for with clients.

1. You leave with specific, actionable insight

Not generic advice like:

• “Keep applying.”
• “Network more.”
• “The market is tough.” 

I mean real insight.

Things like:

• What skills are becoming valuable
• Why your profile may fit better in adjacent industries
• What hiring managers are actually looking for right now

 The best conversations sharpen your strategy.

2. You discover where your background is uniquely valuable

This is a big one. Many job seekers spend months trying to “fit in.” Strong career conversations help you understand where you naturally stand out. 

Sometimes your advantage is:

• Cross-functional experience
• International exposure
• Startup + corporate background
• Industry knowledge applied elsewhere
• A niche combination of skills

The market rewards differentiation. Good conversations help you uncover it

3. The conversation expands your network

Not every conversation leads directly to a job. But the best ones create momentum. A strong conversation often sounds like: 

• “You should really speak to…”
• “Let me connect you with…”
• “There’s someone else you should meet…”

That’s how opportunities compound - Weak ties with warm introductions. This is why I always say:

Always Be Career-ing.

Because careers grow through ecosystems, not isolated applications.

4. You move one step closer to opportunity

This could mean:

• A referral
• A hiring manager conversation
• An interview
• Visibility inside a target company
• A recruiter keeping you in mind for future roles

Not every conversation needs to produce an offer. But every strong conversation should create movement. You can spend 5 hours tweaking your resume… or you can spend those same 5 hours building relationships that open doors no application portal ever will.

So let me ask you the same question I ask my clients: 

How many relevant career conversations are you having every week?

Because that number tells me far more about your job search than the number of applications you have sent. 

Be the CEO of your Career.

Always Be Career-ing.

You've got this!

Shub (Your Career Growth Partner)