You may have spent every second of your free time screening through piles and piles of job postings. You may have written so many cover letters and follow-up emails that you started to develop a smooth and polite writing pattern. You may have even aced (at least you think you aced) a number of interviews, yet you still don’t have a job. It is easy to feel frustrated or disheartened during a job search, especially if you’ve been unemployed or job hunting for an extended period of time. However, we all know that being mentally strong and emotionally positive is crucial in life, whether it’s for business, family life, or your career. Feeling positive will help motivate you to continue with your job search. Also, your positive attitude will come across during interviews and networking opportunities, increasing your chances of making a strong first impression. Today, we gathered a few tips to help you stay positive and enthusiastic through a long, challenging job search!
Remember, There Are Tons Of Others Experiencing The Same Thing As You
You may feel like you’re the only person in the whole universe without a job sometimes, but trust me on this, you’re not the only one! While some days it may feel like the universe has stranded you on a deserted island where all your talents are not appreciated, keep in mind that there are millions of other people in the same position as you right now. And sadly, some of them had it much worse.
When you feel alone and frustrated, talk to peers in similar situations and see how they are surviving this. Try to connect with people who have been in similar situation as you before; they might be able to offer helpful advice as to how you can speed up your search. Also, there are many career support groups that provide excellent assistance in resume writing, interviewing, and job hunting. You can find these groups on career networks such as LinkedIn, Monster, or amongst your friends, acquaintances, and within your local community. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. Listen to what others are saying, their advice may change your prospective on job search and lead you to new opportunities.
Leave the laptop behind and take a stab at one of the most popular career-driven social activity, networking. Whether you choose to attend an interesting conference, have a chat with an industry insider for a cup of coffee, join a workshop to learn popular industry-specified skills, or volunteer your time for a cause you’re passionate about, it never hurts to put a new entry to your resume and add a new contact to your network. You never know who you’ll meet who might be hiring, or who could provide valuable information to guide your job search. Be humble with everyone you meet. Socializing with new people, and reconnecting with former co-workers and friends can always bring fresh prospective and enthusiasm to your life.
Focus Only On Things You Can Control
You can’t guarantee that your resume will pass through the employer’s resume scanning software. You can’t force a recruiter or hiring manager to call you back for an interview. You can’t predict the number of qualified candidates that apply for the job you like. There are many things during the job search process that you simply don’t have control over. Therefore, why waste your time dwelling on them?
“Do your best” may sound a little cliché, but focusing your energy only on what you can do is the only solution to job search happiness. Maybe you decide to call the person at your dream company who your friend knows. Maybe you figure out how to use LinkedIn to your advantage. Maybe you take an online course to obtain a required skill. By thoughtfully considering what you can control, and then acting on these things, you can get out of self-loathing and make moves that can actually be helpful.
Find Time To Not Think About Your Job Search
It’s a common habit for many job-seekers to always have the idea of job search in the back of their minds. However, excessive worry about your job search only increases your stress and keeps you from enjoying other aspects of your life. Set aside time each day to forget about your job search and do something you enjoy, like volunteering at church, going to the gym, or watching a movie with friends.
If most of your day is not occupied with a job, why not use some of your free time to exercise? It’s okay to take some time for yourself and your health while you’re out of work. Plus, getting in shape will help you stay positive by releasing endorphins in your brain, which act as a natural antidepressant and can boost your daily mood.
As the largest career college in Canada with 50 campuses across the country, Academy of Learning College attributes the growth in our success to identifying the gap between the formal education available and the realities of the working world. We fulfill the needs of learners by developing customized programs for each student, while meeting the requirements for convenient and effective training at an affordable cost. Browse our program list by province and find the best program that suits your needs!