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Published by Programme B
Job hunting is one of the most unpredictable things you participate in as an adult. Because you never know how things are going to turn out. Thanks to different variables like the number of people that apply for the same position, the timing, the CV, and even some luck, job hunting is going to remain a gamble at best. The problem is that it can start to eat away at you in a very negative way. In fact, it can make you downright depressed for extended periods of time.
But you can opt to fight against the negativity if you want to. Just because you are not starting a new job tomorrow does not mean you can’t be happy. Nobody saying it’s going to be easy. But if you break a problem down into manageable sections, you’ll be surprised about what you can achieve in life.
Here are some suggestions and strategies to stay motivated and confident during the search for a job.
- Productivity Breeds Productivity
If you have been dealing with a consistent rejection rate from potential employers, most people can understand your frustration and negative outlook. It’s a feeling that just makes you want to crawl into bed and stay there for the rest of the week. The only problem is that sulking will likely worsen the situation. In other words, you are not doing yourself any favors by letting the negativity break your motivation.
Always remember that productivity breeds productivity, so get into a productive routine. What exactly are you supposed to do without a job? Start by taking care of yourself. Now that you have more time, pay more attention to what you eat and try to get in some exercise. You can even take some courses that might look good on your resume, but stay active and productive in healthy ways. At the same time, prioritize some time for updating your CV and sending it out.
- Get Realistic With Your Goals
One of the reasons you could be struggling with getting a job could be related to your goals. For instance, if you want to be a top journalist, it is not going to happen overnight. Just like most other careers, there is a certain path you have to follow. And if you try to skip any of the fundamental steps, you are likely to be greeted with failure.
The point is to set realistic goals you can achieve right now. More importantly, do not limit yourself to a single career. Consider other careers you might enjoy and broaden your search. You could surprise yourself.
- Start Listing Those Achievements
When we feel emotionally drained and negative, it is easy to let the self-criticism take over. But you can avoid this by reminding yourself of what you have accomplished thus far says Irene McConnell from Arielle Executive. Take a pen and paper, and start listing the achievements you accomplished. It could be special training or specific events at work where your skills came in very handy, it doesn’t really matter.
As long as you write positive things about yourself, you can keep that negative voice in the back of your mind at bay. Plus, you can use some of the things you write down to highlight areas of your resume.
- Offer To Do Some Volunteer Work
A reward does not always have to come in the shape of a dollar. Just helping out because you have the time and patience can be almost more rewarding. If only good feelings could help to pay the rent. And maybe they can?
By doing volunteer work, you also put yourself in a position to network. In other words, you get to meet new people that can potentially guide you in the right direction. But even if you don’t run into people with potential job offers, you are sticking to the first tip of being productive.
- Give Extra Attention To Elements You Can Control
Another way to prevent your negative emotions from taking over is by focusing more on the things you are able to control. For instance, you can look up ways to improve your CV. And research the employers where you hand out your credentials. More importantly, follow up on places where you have applied while keeping a single number and email available. Sometimes, they can call you months after you applied.
- Take A Breathe
While it feels like the odds are against you right now, you are not making it better by putting more pressure on yourself. If you are doing everything you can, it could be time to step back and take a breather. Do something to relax and get some perspective.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. You are getting a job somewhere down the line. In the meantime, keep your hopes up and stay productive.
Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels