It’s a tough job market out there. If you have been looking for a job, chances are that you have had to deal with disappointment again and again. That’s just the nature of the market right now.
My husband is dealing with his own disappointments right now as he searches for a job. He hasn’t been very rigorous in his efforts thus far; just an application here and there.
However, come fall, he’s going to get serious about the job search, since he won’t have as many classes to teach as an adjunct.
If you are looking for a job, here are 5 tips you can apply to help keep you going, even through all the disappointments:
1. Have Dedicated Job Search Time
After a few weeks, you become less motivated to look for a job. Even worse is how you might put off looking in the first place, content to just relax for a week or two before you get started.
No matter your situation, you need to dedicate some job search time. Even if it’s just two or three hours a day, you need to figure out a set period of time in which you will look for a job. Get in the habit of looking for jobs, tweaking your cover letter and resume to fit each job you apply for, and improving your interview skills. Make it a part of the routine, and you’ll be able to stick with it better.
2. Volunteer
A long employment gap on your resume can be a red flag to some employers. Make sure you spend some time volunteering. If you help out in some capacity — particularly in a way that is related to your preferred career field — you can show that you haven’t been spending your time idly. It’s much better to tell an interviewer that you have been volunteering your time than it is to try and explain why you’ve been sitting on your couch for eight months.
3. Network
Now is not the time to neglect your network. While you probably reached out to your network at the beginning of your job search, networking has probably fallen to the wayside in recent weeks. Reconnect with your network. Attend local events that can help you meet people who might be able to aid your job search. Sometimes, it really is about who you know, as well as when you know of a job opening. Networking can help you find better jobs at just the right time, through the right connections.
4. Take Care of Yourself
If you want to ward of anxiety over your job search, and help keep in a positive frame of mind, you need to take care of yourself. This means getting exercise, eating right, and getting adequate sleep. Take some time to relax and enjoy yourself each day.
When you are healthy, you are better able to deal with the disappointments of life. You will also have more energy to keep up with your job search, and you will present yourself in a more pleasing manner when you do have interview opportunities.
It’s not easy to stay on top of your job search — especially after you get a few weeks in. But it’s important to do what you can to stay motivated.
What are your best tips for staying on top of your job search?
Image: kate hiscock via Flickr
