How to Stay Motivated And Inspired When Searching For A Job
Trying to maintain a good attitude when you are unemployed can be challenging.. Since your resume is a personal reflection of yourself, it is difficult to maintain a good attitude if it continually gets rejected. It doesn’t take much to fall into the trap of thinking that there is something wrong with you or taking your rejections personally.
What steps can you take to keep a good attitude when searching for a job? Try focusing on the following tips to stay motivated and excited while you search:
1. Take A Goal-Oriented Approach
Researchers at Dominican University found that people were more likely to achieve their goals if they wrote them down. Having the goal of getting offered a job seems like a good idea. In practice, however, it doesn’t do much to motivate you since the decision lies entirely with the company and is out of your control. No matter how perfect your resume is or how well you do in your interview, the final decision is up to the recruiter or person in charge of hiring.
To stay motivated, it is better to set a goal that you can control on your own. For instance, you could set a goal of going to one event where you can network with other people in your industry each month. Another good goal would be to write down 10 businesses that you would like to work for. Something measurable like reaching out to a reference at each of your previous jobs is also a good option since it is totally within your control. These types of goals are far more motivational and can help you beat the feeling of being stuck.
2. Create A Job-Seeking Schedule
Looking for a new job is all about finding balance. You can’t just sit back and wait for a job to come to you. At the same time, you also can’t stress yourself out by spending every spare moment you have looking for a job. In either of these scenarios, you won’t be at your best if you do happen to score an interview. Instead, you should try to find a balance between your regular life and your job-seeking activities. Rather than spending your days laying around your house, get up in the morning like you would if you had a regular job. Spend a predetermined amount of time on your job search each day. Try to keep your time structured, with a definite schedule. Come up with a logical plan. For example, you may want to publish your resume and reach out to your references before actually beginning your job search. This will allow you to have all of your paperwork in order so that you can apply immediately when you find a job that you want.
3. Make Yourself Attractive To Employers
When you are looking for a job, you are essentially marketing yourself to employers. You wouldn’t try to sell a house without first cleaning it up so that potential buyers can see it in the best possible light. You should take the same approach with yourself. Make sure that any licenses or certificates that you have are current. Update your CV, remember achievements are different to responsibilities, focus on these. Keep up-to-date with what is happening in your industry. Take good care of your body and your mind, exercising regularly and making sure to get out of your house. Set up a nutritious diet plan and get enough sleep at night. These simple self-care practices will ensure that you are in the best possible physical and mental shape when you do finally get an interview.
4. Consider If There Is Something Else You Want To Do
Think of your current job situation as an opportunity to reevaluate the course of your life. Are you happy with your current career or would you rather pursue something else? Some of the greatest thinkers of the past including Gloria Steinem have talked about how dreaming is simply another way of planning for your future. If you decide that you want to change course, start taking action to make it happen. While you have some downtime between jobs, you can also spend a little bit more time on your hobbies. Try joining a club or signing up for a class. Oftentimes, you can learn new skills for free or for a very small investment.
5. Create A Positive, Supportive Environment
Don’t surround yourself with negative people. Otherwise, you also will adopt a negative outlook. Instead, try to find people who are positive, motivational, and inspiring to spend time with. While hanging out with friends in person is great, you can also participate in forums online. This is not only good from a networking standpoint but it also helps you build a community of support. This is particularly true if you join forums such as Unemploymentville where other people who are searching for jobs gather. Staying motivated is easier when you have a lot of support. You can also get valuable tips and discover podcasts or blogs that can keep you motivated and inspired.
Try not to get discouraged when you are searching for a job. Even if you have been looking for a long time, your dream job could pop up tomorrow. The key is to keep a good attitude while you search. The tips that are listed above should help. When you do find the perfect position, you can look back on your time as an unemployed individual as a positive time in your life.