“I’ll Take Any Job” – Pros and Cons

Many times when I ask a job seeker what kind of position they’re looking for, the response is “I’ll take anything”.

There are both pros and cons if you’re a job seeker and you respond in this manner, and this article covers both.

PROS:

Can show what you can do

You’d be able to demonstrate to an organization the work you can do once you start and you may be able to work your way to a position that more closely suits your background/skill level.  You never know what type of position might become available after you land in an organization.

Can show you’re flexible

This can demonstrate to a recruiter that you’re flexible in what you can do and that you’re willing to try different responsibilities.  It may also be an opportunity for you to learn different skills and get additional experience.

Take your career in a different direction

Perhaps your previous positions weren’t what you had really wanted or the work didn’t satisfy you -- this could be an opportunity to head your career in a new direction.

You might get a chance

An organization might be willing to try you out for a position even though you might not have the required skills – it could be that they’ve been looking to fill the position for a long time and might be struggling to find someone.  Sometimes timing is everything.

You need the money

You might be in a position that you need the money for personal and/or family reasons. This is understandable, although generally this is not something that you should reveal to an organization during interviews.

Can demonstrate motivation

It can show that you’re motivated to work, which organizations generally like.

You’ve been out of work for a long time

In situations where you’ve been out of work for a long time, you might feel the pressure to take on whatever position you might be able to find, so that your resume doesn’t become too choppy.

You won’t box yourself in

Sometimes there’s no job description, or you don’t know exactly what the organization is looking for.  As such, being more open/general may help you get a better understanding of what is available within the organization before communicating that you’re looking for one set of responsibilities when the role is something different.

CONS

You won’t be as helpful to recruiters

Recruiters, especially within recruiting firms/staffing agencies, like to have a clear understanding of what a jobseeker is looking for, otherwise it makes placing a candidate more difficult.  As such, they might be less helpful to help you in your search.

Specializing will generally pay more

If there’s a clear direction as to what you’re looking for, that position will generally pay more than when you are vague as to what you’re looking for and you’re willing to settle.

You may not come across as focused

An organization may determine that you’re not focused or that you don’t have a game plan, and may feel that will translate into someone who is less focused in their work.

Will you really take anything?

In my experience, there is always a line that will be drawn somewhere.  Will someone truly take “any job”?  There is usually a bottom that someone would be willing to take (compensation, responsibilities, etc.).

You may need to explain later

At some point in the future, you may need to explain to another organization why you took a position outside of your career path.  You’ll need a good explanation.  You also might not be able to get back to the type of position you were used to as fast as you might want.

What if you get the job but don’t want it?

You won’t be doing anyone any favours by saying you’re willing to do anything, be offered a position and then decline the opportunity because it wasn’t what you were looking for.  You would just be wasting everyone’s time, including yours, and you will lose credibility with recruiters.

You might not earn as much

You might not earn as much by taking any job because an organization might offer you something below your targeted salary range since that’s what that position pays.  Recruiters might sense that you’re more desperate, and this also might not work to your advantage when you’re negotiating compensation.

CONCLUSION

Although there are several advantages to say that you’d be willing to take any position, it is generally not recommended to do so – the cons noted above outweigh the pros in most situations.  Unless you are truly interested in taking anything, I would recommend only using that as a final resort.  Determine exactly what you’re qualified for and what you want to do, and indicate that in interviews.  Have a bottom as to what you’d be willing to do and what you wouldn’t.  In the long run, it will be better for you.

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Marc Belaiche is a 1990 CA and is President of TorontoJobs.ca, an internet recruitment business and recruiting firm located in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada. Marc has been in the recruitment industry since 1995. TorontoJobs.ca allows companies to post their positions online, search a resume database to find candidates, provides outplacement services and full temporary and permanent recruitment services. TorontoJobs.ca also allows candidates to search and apply to positions directly online and get career, interviewing and resume tips all at no charge. Marc is also President of TorontoEntrepreneurs.ca, an organization geared towards business owners (see www.TorontoEntrepreneurs.ca). You can reach Marc at marc.belaiche@torontojobs.ca and check out TorontoJobs.ca at www.TorontoJobs.ca.