Job search got you down? Whether you've been at it for six days or six months,
the job search blues can creep in and sap you of all efficiency, effectiveness
and self-confidence. The secret to getting over the doldrums, no matter how
many times they threaten your optimism, is to continually chalk up the
successes in your search. Here are four ideas to help you hang in there when
your positivity plummets.
Break the Process into Identifiable Steps
First, realize that job search success can come in many forms, so you'll need
to define what it means to you. Of course, the ultimate success is to get a
great-paying job doing what you love, but you'll be doomed to experiencing
failure over and over again if you don't broaden your definition. Feeling
victorious during your pursuit is as easy as breaking down the process into
manageable parts. Write out a job search plan that includes what job search
activities you want to do and when you want to do them. For example, maybe
week-end will be dedicated to identifying leads from the newspaper and the
Internet; Other days to research and follow up.
An alternate approach might be to simply write daily, monthly, or weekly "to
do" lists, on which you can make a check mark for every goal you accomplish.
This will be physical (and psychological) evidence that you are making
progress. The more you experience progress, the more positive you'll feel and
therefore the more motivated you'll be. Look at Employment Numbers over Time
Another way to stay motivated in your pursuit for employment is to avoid letting
the numbers get you down. Employment statistics and reports tend to present a
gloom and doom picture of the job market and therefore frustrate many job
seekers. However, unemployment rates are not indicators of how easy or
difficult it will be for you to get a job, so don't base your individual
potential on them. Instead compare employment statistics historically and
consistently. For example, look at how the current unemployment rate measures
up to those of previous years and projections for future years to determine
whether in general there is growth or decline in certain fields, geographical
locations, industries, and demographic groups. Choose Quality over Quantity
Also, the quantity of jobs for which you apply is not nearly as important as the
quality of them. Concentrate your efforts on applying for jobs you really want
and those for which you can best demonstrate your suitability. The fact of it
is: you don't want to get a lot of jobs, you only want one of them. Talk to
People You Know
Networking is also a source of the blues for job hunters because the thought of
finding and getting in touch with strangers who will talk with you about job
openings isn't appealing or motivating. So then, get in touch with people you
know. You'll feel more comfortable reaching out to personal contacts plus,
you'll get better results. Even if they do not work in your career field, they
might know someone who does.
The most important aspect of networking is nurturing the relationships and
frankly, it's easier to nurture old relationships than new ones. And, if that's
not motivating enough, you should know that when it comes to hiring, a
qualified personal referral will almost always get the job before a qualified
stranger will. Happy Hunting!
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