Here are 7 Tips for Staying Motivated During Your Job Search and push through to the finish line.
It can be exhausting to look for work. You know you have to keep going, but every setback or rejection can add up and adversely affect your confidence, draining your energy. It’s difficult to stay optimistic and happy when nothing seems to go right. You continue to contact friends, former colleagues, and others in your network in the hopes of obtaining a decent job lead.
Here are some things you can do to stay positive, motivated, and upbeat in order to avoid a downward mental and emotional spiral.
Establish a daily routine.
Setting a daily routine is critical if you are unemployed and looking for work. This will be extremely beneficial to your mental health. A daily routine has been shown to relieve stress, build morale, and even help with grief. Setting daily goals and tasks for yourself will give you a sense of reason and accomplishment. Make a habit of getting out of bed at the same time every morning, taking a shower, and getting dressed for the day. Make time for job-search activities such as customizing your resume, writing a cover letter, and updating your online profile.
Set daily targets.
Setting minor, measurable goals will keep you motivated in your job hunt even if things aren’t progressing as quickly as you’d like. Set weekly or daily goals, but make them precise so you can monitor your progress. These objectives can help you avoid distress by keeping you on track and feeling productive.
For example, you could make a list of businesses you’d like to work for and then set a goal of researching and applying for one new position every day. If you want to broaden your network, set a goal of connecting with a new, different person in your industry each week.
Make a list of your accomplishments.
When the job search doesn’t go as planned, your self-esteem can suffer. You begin to doubt and second-guess yourself and your choices. Give yourself some “you” time. If you’re on a tight budget, you can still treat yourself to a homemade pamper session, go for a walk in the sunshine, or meet a friend for coffee. You can also keep a brag file, which is a collection of compliments from colleagues, bosses, and mentors. It could be a text from a friend, an email from a coworker, or even a performance review quote. You can create a list of your major career accomplishments, ranging from actual issues you solved at work to major projects you helped with. As an added benefit, having all of your professional accomplishments organized can make it easier to include your most outstanding work experience on your resume and discuss your career achievements during job interviews. While some people will make a brag file to share with others during the job search, that is not the primary goal. When you’re feeling down, go through your collection to remind yourself of all of your abilities.
Look for volunteer opportunities.
Doing something for free should not prevent you from gaining more knowledge. This will not only keep you occupied until you find a new job, but it will also look great on your resume and provide you with something new to discuss in job interviews. Internships are another great way to gain experience and expand your skill set while also providing valuable networking opportunities. Any work experience can provide you with the opportunity to continue honing your skills and networking, and being part of a team can help you stay motivated.
Concentrate on what you can control.
When looking for a new job, there are some factors over which you have no control, such as the job market, economic system, industry changes, or even your location. To maintain your job-search motivation, try to reduce your stress about things you can’t control and instead concentrate on what you can do to improve your situation. Among these are improving your resume, reinforcing your presence online, and acquiring new skills.
Take rejections constructively.
It’s heartbreaking to be turned down for a job you wanted desperately, especially when the interview went well. It’s natural to be discouraged, but make sure you don’t take rejection personally and instead use it to grow. Please don’t think it’s just you. Take solace in knowing that everyone else is experiencing similar feelings of fear, anxiety, and distress. Everyone has been turned down for a role, lost a high paying promotion to an office rival, or been ghosted after a seemingly perfect interview. Improve your mental tenacity. When you do this, you can face the challenges, disappointments, and difficulties head on. Because social media has taken over our culture, we falsely think that everyone else is having a great time while you are struggling. Ignore other people’s social media facades; otherwise, you’re trying to compare yourself to something manufactured and unreal. If possible, ask for feedback from the company on why you didn’t get the job, and use their suggestions to help you improve for a future opportunity.
Engage with others and expand your network.
When you are facing professional challenges, it is important to connect with others. You must inform others of your situation; they may have answers or leads on new opportunities for you. They may have traveled the same path and have some wisdom to share. Sharing with others allows you to get things off your chest. The online community is also an excellent resource for learning about available jobs and how to apply for them. It’s a great opportunity to meet other people who share your concerns and will make you realize you’re not alone. Professional networking sites will match your listed skills to available jobs and make related suggestions, saving you time.
I hope these 7 tips for staying motivated during your job search was helpful. For more tips check out this article.