Getting The Most Out of Your Job Search

When looking for your perfect job, it can seem like a jungle out there. So many companies! So many options! So much competition! It’s so easy to become overwhelmed and get into a panic trying to send out as many applications as possible, and feeling crushed when the refusals start rolling in. And they will. But the good news is that there are loads of ways to take the fear and discouragement out of job searching. 

Managing Your Time Well

When you’re fully employed, this is something you don’t need to worry about because your time is already managed for you. But when you have all that time to yourself, it can be tempting to fritter those hours away watching TV, browsing Pinterest or whatever it is you like to do. This can lead to feelings of guilt and a diminished sense of purpose and fulfilment. But actually, this is your chance to become your own manager! We would recommend using your normal 9-5 working hours to focus on looking for jobs. To make this easier, write down what you would like to accomplish in your job search; for example, which companies you want to research and how many. Set yourself a quota of job applications to complete each week, breaking this down into daily goals. It’s important to keep up a daily and weekly routine and plan in advance for small and manageable goals. This will reduce pressure and prevent overwhelm.

Health and Fitness

Physical well-being is closely connected with your mind and levels of motivation. Keeping up a healthy balanced diet and staying hydrated, as well as exercising regularly will give you the fuel and the energy you need to make good decisions and stay positive while also making space to relax and recharge. Keeping up good habits will maintain your confidence and keep you looking bright and healthy for when interviews start, which can only be good for those first impressions. By maintaining these habits, you are conferring value on yourself, which helps with confidence when those inevitable discouraging moments come along which are inevitable in job searching.

Learn Something New

Employers like to know how you’ve been using any gaps in employment. Have you just been fluffing around watching TV and feeling crap about life, or have you been proactive, learning new skills, growing your hobbies, or taking volunteering opportunities that have kept you active? But before you freak out about this and start signing up for courses purely to fill a gap and impress those fearsome employers, just think about your interests and how it would benefit you to pick up a new hobby, or volunteering opportunity. What have you been meaning to try out or learn for ages, but haven’t gotten around to because of work? Could you start a blog? Help the homeless? Learn a new musical instrument? Learn a new language? Also, check out your local library or community college. There are always plenty of free short courses to choose from. These things are also a good way to make new contacts, which can lead to hearing of an unadvertised job…