Stay Motivated and Engaged In Your Job Search
You may have heard of people being "burnt out" in their careers. However, it's not limited to established professionals. Burnouts happen to job seekers as well. When you're burnt out, it may feel like your job search is going nowhere and that there's no end in sight. Overall, it can be depressing and rob you of your drive.
With that said, here are some ways to fight job search blues and stay motivated. Staying consistent and steady in your job search will provide better results!
Have a Strategy
A strategy gives structure to your job search. It reminds you that half of the job search is under your control. To clarify, you decide what jobs to apply for, when to apply, what you write in your resume and cover letter, etc. If you have set time-measurable goals, it helps bring some order to the chaos so you can approach job searching more calmly. It also helps to set a routine for your job search by setting dates and times for when you want to do certain tasks.1
When thinking out your strategy, be sure to set S.M.A.R.T. goals. SMART is an acronym for five traits your goals should have: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. In short, your goals should be to the point, challenging but doable, and it should be easy to tell if you have reached that goal. For example, you may set a goal to write five cover letters or reach out to three networking contacts this week. If you write all five cover letters or reach out to three contacts by the end of the week, it is clear that you achieved the goal. This goal isn't overwhelming or out of reach. It may require some effort, but it is attainable and easily measured. Overall, setting goals like this one can make your job search seem less intimidating by breaking the large goal into smaller, more manageable goals.
These goals can be anything you feel is manageable. Goal setting is very customizable by the goal setter. However, whatever goal you set, it is important to follow through on it. Once you've set a goal, commit to it, and practice action before motivation. This means "just doing it" instead of waiting until you feel like it. Completing a goal gives a sense of satisfaction that can't be matched. It gives you the drive to complete other goals. It can be tempting to wait until you feel like doing something. But sometimes, you just have to say "I'm doing it."
Read more about creating a strategy in Illinois workNet's Prepare to Find a Job Guide.
Stay Positive and Celebrate Your Wins!
It can be really difficult to stay positive during a job search due to the uncertainties of the search. There is one thing that is certain, however. Worrying does not produce progress. Check out some of the ways you can use your energy efficiently by staying positive and celebrating your wins (no matter the size)!
Minimize Your Exposure to Negativity[i]
Whether it is negative people, negative news reports, or even toxic social media content, steer clear of it! Continuously exposing yourself to negativity will only make you feel worse. Positivity is a much higher grade of fuel than negativity. Pick the best fuel for your job search!
Focus on What You Can Control[ii]
The reason a job search can be so stressful is because it involves more than just the job seeker. Employers have to read through applications and resumes, conduct interviews, meet with their hiring teams to make decisions, and complete many more tasks before calling back the candidate they choose!
You can only do your part. After you have perfected your resume*, updated your cover letter, and finished the application, celebrate your win(s) and leave the rest to the employer. You cannot change their hiring process or speed it up. Try to occupy your wait time with other activities that will help you achieve your goals.
*For more information and tips on writing your resume, check out the Illinois workNet Resume Writing Guide!
Celebrate Your Wins!
When you finish a super long application, finally get that cover letter just right, or even just keep up a routine of awesome job searching, it is super important to celebrate that win. The job search is a tough task. Pushing through that difficulty and making progress anyway deserves recognition. Congratulate yourself for your hard work, treat yourself with things you like to do, and keep collecting those wins!
Find Some Emotional Support
When trying to stay positive during your job search, it helps to develop a support system to lean on when the search gets tough. This support system can include friends, family, coaches, mentors, or anyone else that motivates or inspires you to keep up the good work. In other words, someone who understands you, who you feel comfortable talking to and can give you guidance.
Think of someone you really look up to and have a strong connection with, and consider making them a part of your support system.
Take Breaks[iii]
In the fast-paced, "workaholic" culture of the U.S., it can be easy to fall into the trap of not taking time off. The same applies to your job search. After all, the modern job search has almost become a job itself. This may seem counter-intuitive, but it is important! You should pace yourself during any job search. Never sacrifice your physical and mental health in the name of job searching.
You might be constantly checking your email and notifications in fear of missing an opportunity. Take a deep breath and take comfort in the fact that the majority of job offers do not expire if you do not respond within thirty seconds. Employers understand that job seekers are busy too. Checking your email daily will be more than enough to keep up with job offers or next steps to the hiring process!
Sometimes, job searching feels like a pointless "grind," and it can easily become overwhelming. Taking time off from your job search every once in a while lets you physically and mentally rest from the stresses it can cause. In the long run, this is good for your health, which is in turn good for staying motivated in your job search. It helps reduce stress and anxiety while also helping to avoid a "burnout."
Don't forget to take a mental break as well. Free your mind of the job search when you are away from it. Keeping it present in your mind constantly will only increase your stress around the job search
Keep your breaks reasonable, though, as you don't want to risk losing your job search motivation!
Exercise[iv]
The job search can be extremely stressful. When you need a break, try exercising! Exercising is not only great for your physical health, but has some benefits to your mental health as well!
Exercise releases a variety of chemicals in your brain. These chemicals send positive messages to your brain and get you pumped up and excited. It also causes your body to increase blood flow to the brain. This can make you more alert and mentally "sharp."
In addition to those benefits, exercise is a healthy way to physically work out the stress stored in your body. During a job search, your stress level is probably higher than normal. Exercise can help level you out.
Regular exercise also helps you sleep at night. Increased rest is a major asset to your job search as it allows you to bring your best self to your search every day.
Finally, exercise can battle those feelings of defeat and worthlessness. Earlier in this article, we mentioned setting reasonable goals. You can apply this concept to exercise, too! Meeting your exercise goals is a major win! Collecting those wins makes it easier to get back after your job search goals and turn them into more wins!
Use Setbacks as Learning Experiences
Not getting a job you really wanted can be a big blow to your confidence. After the disappointment of being rejected, it's easy to lose your "drive." The "I can't" and "what if" thoughts may worm their way into your brain.
However, the best thing to do is to keep moving forward. Remember that you can learn from each experience. Check in with yourself after each experience, especially the ones that did not go your way. Some questions you can ask to evaluate the experience are:
- What are three things I did right?
- What are three things I could work on for next time?
- Was I dressed appropriately for the interview?
- Was I on time?
- Did I effectively highlight my experiences and skills that would benefit this employer?
- And many more!
The average person very rarely succeeds the first time at trying something. Be patient with yourself as you learn the best ways to apply and interview for jobs. You may have not gotten that job, but you are now prepared with an individualized strategy, positive attitude, and emotional support to continue the job search until you find the right fit for you!
References
[ii] https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-tips-for-staying-positive-while-job-searching-2062215
[iii] https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-ways-to-keep-going-when-the-job-search-is-getting-you-down