How to Stay Positive When Job Hunting is Negative
By Roger Berry, Co-founder at Berry Coaching + Consulting
It would be disingenuous of me to sugar-coat it by simply declaring that a few tricks will land you a new job quickly. Whether you are looking for a job while employed or unemployed, the process sucks because it’s draining and time-consuming. What’s the worst part about it? It’s very unpredictable. No one can tell you with certainty when you will land your next position. No matter how highly qualified you are or how many achievements you have under your belt, taking the plunge and leaving your current job without lining something up in advance can be pretty scary.
The old cliché holds so much wisdom “searching for a job is a full time job”, and many of our clients are living proof of this. The job market is stagnant and extremely competitive particularly in big cities with one job posting easily eliciting the interest of tens or even hundreds of applicants. How do you stand out in an overly crowded pool of hopefuls? How do you ascertain that you are not aimlessly sending a plethora or applications that will fall into a black hole?
It’s not only daunting to be out of a job due to practical financial reasons, but your self-esteem can be deeply wounded when months go by and figuratively speaking, there is no rain. Not a single drop. You can begin questioning your experience and education and this can really be damaging to your self-image, especially when you finally secure an interview, and then the hiring manager ghosts you, leaving you wondering why you aren’t advancing. What can you do about it?
Preparing in advance and knowing that it will probably be a wild ride helps to mitigate the pressure and pains of searching for a job. Here are a few ideas:
1- If you are getting ready to jump ship and leave your job, take stock of trainings and skills that are transferable to your next ideal position. Make sure your resume is up to date and worded in a way that is not a laundry lists of tasks, but a reflection of your accomplishments.
2- Networking never stops. Even after you have landed your dream job, keep attending events, expanding your network and getting to know professionals in key areas. It will become handy to already have a robust network when you decide it’s time for a new job or career, as opposed to starting from scratch then.
3-Think about those areas of professional and personal development that you would like to develop. A long time ago I realized that I wanted to become a public speaker and be able to confidently speak to anyone, so I joined Toastmasters and have not regretted it.
4- Stay positive when the going gets tough. Find your tribe or those around you who can be a support system when you are hitting a low point. Surround yourself with people who will inspire you and motivate you to be successful, and remember that many others are also having difficulties in their professional journey. Do not take it personally.
5- Structure your day accordingly. Set some time to do your search and connect with others, but also dedicate sometime for self-care to reenergize yourself and create mental space for creativity. Spending your waking hours solely thinking about your job search can become a downward spiral which leads to frustration.
6- Enlist the help of a career coach. Career coaches are experienced professional who can give you a neutral and fresh perspective on the road head. They can also be inspirational and highlight any blind spots that are difficult to see.
Staying positive and knowing you have resources to guide you through the process is extremely crucial. Once you have landed your ideal position, do not forget to lend a helping hand to those in need and share your story with them. What helped you to stay positive during the job search process? What success stories and pitfalls did you encounter?