Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!
A job search can be an extremely stressful venture, especially when it feels like the search has been dragging on and on with no end in sight. It’s easy to become discouraged during a long job hunt, but keeping your head up and staying positive is vital to your success.
The more positive you are, the more confident you will come across in interviews and the more likely you are to land a job. Here are some tips to help renew your vigor and keep you on the right track to landing your next gig.
Set Weekly Goals For Yourself
While your ultimate goal is to land a job, setting easily attainable goals for yourself each week is a great way to motivate yourself and move forward in your job search. At the start of each week, make a list of what you want to get accomplished during the week, such as fill out ten applications, do at least two hours of networking, call your list of dream companies, or take an online course to learn a new skill in your field.
Follow a Daily Schedule
During a job search, especially if you are unemployed, it can be tempting to spend the day in your pajamas watching TV. While this behavior may feel satisfying in the moment, it is only going to make you feel worse in the long run and does nothing to help you with your job search. Instead, approach your job search like it is a real job by getting up at the same time you normally would, showering, and getting dressed. Spend the day focused on making progress toward your end goal – landing a job.
Having a normal daily schedule can also help keep your job search from consuming all of your waking hours. Be sure to schedule time for a lunch break and downtime in the evenings to spend doing the things you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, and working on hobbies.
Focus on The Future
It can be easy to fall into the trap of constantly going over what went wrong at your last job or obsessing about how you have been wronged by a former employer, but spending your time and energy dwelling on the past isn’t productive to your job search. Instead, vow to look toward the future and put your energy into finding a rewarding situation for yourself now.
Also try to avoid keeping a tally of how many days or weeks you have been looking for a job. This sort of thought pattern can hurt your spirits and is energy better spent on working to secure yourself a happy future.
Consider Volunteering
Now that you have a more flexible schedule, consider donating some of your time and energy to a good cause. Volunteering is a great way to stay active and productive while keeping your spirits high.
Volunteering can also be a good way to keep your skills sharpened, make new networking contacts, and fill in employment gaps. Giving back to your community can not only help you in your job search, but it can also help you realize that what you have to offer is needed and valuable.