For many, today’s job market is brutal.
Too many well qualified job seekers are chasing too few jobs. The hiring process is often lengthy, obscure, and confusing. And candidates are debating if being rejected or being ghosted is worse.
Of course your mental health is shot.
But unlike other activities, you can’t abandon your job search just because it’s getting you down.
You need an approach to job searching that will protect your mental health while being efficient and effective. The key will be narrowing your focus to minimize overwhelm and distraction and find ways to keep your motivation and spirits high.
Here are seven ways to keep your job-search efforts from getting derailed.
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Give some thought to what you want.
Job-search strategy starts with planning. Give some thought to what you want. If what you want is a new job, detail the kind of positions you’d prefer, the industry, target companies, etc. By being specific, you can narrow your focus to only the activities that support those targets.
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Identify contacts that can help you get there.
With each target company or position, find people in and around that space. These may be contacts you know well or unknown influencers. The key is to identify people who will help you get to your target. For example, you may find that your neighbor works at one of your selected companies. Or you can research and identify three mutual connection contacts at your target companies.
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Make a plan and stick with it.
Make a job-search plan for each day. Use time-blocking to dedicate a specific amount of time to each activity. For example, one hour for company research and one hour for contact outreach. This will make your days predictable and the activities doable because there is a defined start and end.
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Stay off the LinkedIn feed.
Your job search will likely involve interacting with LinkedIn. It’s important to use it as a research tool instead of a social-media outlet. Consuming the feed increases your chances of being whipsawed by emotionally-charged posts about others’ job searches. Without the discipline to avoid or time-block interacting with the feed, it will steal hours of productive time and make you feel bad in the process.
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Reach out to former colleagues and get reacquainted.
If you’re unemployed, one of the hardest parts of job searching is the isolation. It’s important to find your community or your moral support. This can be former colleagues, other job seekers, or friends and family. Building a collection of supportive contacts reminds you that you’re not alone in your job search and that others are rooting for your success.
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Find your mantra to keep going.
During a job search you will have good days and bad days. To get through the bad days, it’s helpful to have a mantra you can turn to for perspective. Mantras are simple sayings that reinforce a belief. They will help steel your resolve and help you push on until good days return. Some mantras that helped me were: “Nothing lasts forever,” “I am not alone in this,” and “I am doing the best I can.”
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Have non-job-search activities to turn to.
Your job search should not consume your life. Despite the pressure you may feel to get a job, nonstop job searching will wear you down. Aim to have some balance of relaxation with the job-search work. Try to get outside every day, move your body, engage in your hobbies, and talk with family or friends. Having these kinds of rewards will keep your motivation high and your outlook healthy.
Wrap-up
There’s no doubt that job searching these days is an exercise in mental fortitude. You will get through it. But while you’re in it, make sure you have structure, discipline, and community to keep your motivation high and your mental health intact.