Hunting for a job is usually a tedious and challenging process. It takes a lot of time and effort and can last for several months up to a year. But keeping a positive attitude and motivation when looking for a job is essential. In this article, you learn simple tips on not getting discouraged or depressed while looking for a job.
Types of people at risk and reasons
After a long job search and a massive number of rejections, anyone’s confidence would be shaken. After all, we are all ordinary people, and our hearts are not made of steel. But certain people are more at risk of falling into despair, negativity, and nagging discontent.
- Negative-minded people. Those who find it difficult to create positive scenarios for the development of events. They do not believe in a fairy tale with a happy ending.
- Sprinters. They are not ready to run a marathon. They cannot endure, limit themselves, or overcome difficulties.
- People who are not ready to change. Unwilling to take action.
But the most common reason for getting depressed and losing motivation during a job search is fear. Each person has their own fears:
- Fear of rejection;
- Fear of not finding a good job or looking for it for a very long time;
- Fear of not being professional;
- Fear of an interview: saying something wrong or being judged negatively;
- Fear of getting a job with no chance for advancement to a better position.
How to stay positive during a job search
Sometimes even a very talented person can be unemployed for months. Every time you get rejected before or after an interview, it can lead to feelings of defeat and hopelessness. In such a situation, it is difficult to be optimistic and believe that everything will change soon. Therefore, staying positive while job searching is important. The impression you make on potential employers, as well as your emotional well-being, depends on this.
11 awesome tips for staying calm during a job search
1. Be realistic
Sprinters should remember that few people find a job on the very first day of their search. Of course, there can be an exception if you had an agreement with another employer in advance.
You need to mentally prepare yourself that the job hunt may take some time and require lots of effort. You may have to go to several interviews. And it is natural to get at least one refusal.
2. Highlight big and small goals
It goes without saying that the main goal of a search is to get the job you want. But to be hired, you need to take small but necessary steps. First of all, you need to prepare a resume and a cover letter. Make sure that your abilities, skills, knowledge, and experience correspond to the requirements of the specific vacancy and employer. To do this, you need to adapt each resume to a particular vacancy and write a cover letter individually for each company. To not spend a lot of time creating job application documents, you can use an online builder such as Get Cover Letter for cover letter and resume. This will help you achieve results much faster and reduce bounce rates.
3. Don’t waste all day hunting for a work
Balance your daily routine. You do not need to sit at the computer monitor all day and reboot the search page every five seconds in the hope of a new vacancy. Set aside a few hours to monitor new vacancies in the morning or evening. Spend the rest of the time with family and friends. Don’t underestimate the role of rest. It will help you stay in working condition and remain calm and energetic for a long time.
4. Start doing what you didn’t have time for before
The only plus of unemployment is the opportunities to do what you really love. Take some free time to meet old friends, attend a son or daughter’s school event, read a long-purchased book, or go to the mountains for a picnic. Maybe you have long dreamed of taking dance classes – now is the best time for a new hobby. Do not miss this chance, because when you get a job again, you will not have as much free time for all this.
5. Don’t be discouraged by another job search failure
A lesson can be learned from every failure. Do not be discouraged by refusals. Instead, try to understand what your weaknesses are. To do this, you need to carefully double-check all aspects of your job search: from the resume to the interview. Ask yourself the question: what can be improved to appear as a professional employee in the employer’s eyes? After receiving a refusal, you can ask the employer directly about the reason for the rejection by calling or writing an e-mail. This way, you can find out what mistakes you made during the interview and try to avoid them in the future.
6. Sleep well
Sleep is an integral part of human life. Good quality sleep is essential for physical, psychological, and emotional health. Hunting for a job is already a nerve-wracking process. Your brain involuntarily works at a fast pace. You get tired mentally. And if you do not normalize your sleep pattern, then constant insomnia or superficial and disturbing sleep can lead to a nervous breakdown. Your motivation and spirit will begin to fade, and you will slowly lose your desire to go to interviews. Therefore, sleep is very important for staying positive during a job search.
7. Take profile courses
While looking for a job, you can improve your qualifications or get a new specialty. New skills will undoubtedly set you apart from other candidates. Besides, this can affect the size of the salary.
8. Read success stories
When looking for a job for a long time, job seekers often give up. It can seem that they longer feel the land under their feet. In this case, you need to find the strength to move on and not repeat previous mistakes. It can be a perfect time to read stories of successful people or watch various motivational videos. This can help you see that everyone has difficulties but must find the strength to overcome them.
9. Track your successes
If you know that you are a negative-minded person, you should create a personal success book to celebrate your achievements every day. It can also be used to record non-job-related successes. So you can see the achievements and learn to focus your attention on them.
10. Have a heart-to-heart talk
Unleash your emotions. Tell a family member or close friend how you feel, how unemployment presses on you, that you are losing motivation, becoming unsure of your abilities and professional skills. Just the opportunity to speak out helps to revive the fuse. Perhaps a loved one or friend will give you good advice or know a company where specialists like you are needed.
11. Join a Job Search Support Group
There are many such groups on social networks. Participants share their experiences, find support, and understand that they are not alone. If you live in the same city, you can meet in person and talk. Perhaps your new friend has already been interviewed at the company you are about to go to.
Final Words
Regardless of the industry in which you want to develop professionally and build a career, a job search can take several months. The main thing is not to give up, because then all the effort spent would be wasted.
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