6 tips to help you in your job-search journey

If you’ve had a friend job searching or you’ve been looking for a job yourself, you know that it can be a never-ending exercise.

However, we must do what we must.

Here are some helpful pointers to navigate the search when it gets difficult.

Adopt the right mindset

Job-hunting is a process. It may take several weeks, months, or longer. Knowing and reminding yourself that job searching takes time prepares you psychologically for the journey.

A helpful mindset does not seek immediate rewards.

Some organizations include a timeline for shortlisting in the job advert.

It may range anywhere between two weeks to a month or more. After short-listing, there are interviews to be conducted. Time.

Sometimes, several interviews are necessary. That’s even more time without an answer. Do you see? It’s in your best interest to prepare your mind.

Have a plan for handling rejection

Rejections will come. Create a plan to deal with it.

Such a plan can be to follow up with the recruiter checking where they had concerns about your application.

Recruiting organizations often send regret emails to applicants that did not make the shortlist. All you need to do is reply to that email and ask for the recruiter’s input.

Another plan can be to talk to someone you’re close to. Job searching can be a solitary endeavor. However, being intentional about building a community of support around you can make all the difference.

They provide an avenue where you can voice your frustration and express the emotions you’re going through without judgment. They also can examine the situation without bias and help you create better outcomes the next time.

The law of large numbers is a concept that has helped me deal with rejection. It is the idea that you obtain an accurate set of results when you use a large population or test the same phenomenon many times.

Whenever I begin to get frustrated, I push myself into thinking, well how many times have you tried this? Is it enough times to give an accurate assessment?

It is counterintuitive but it works.

Take up a new activity/learn

The biggest motivator for inspiring action is doing something. Begin a new project. Attend a class for something you’ve always wanted to learn. Do something.

There are numerous courses you can take online for free. You can even obtain certification for a given amount on some websites. Find a course that aligns with your career goals and get started on it.

ALX Africa has programs such as data science, software engineering, and virtual assistant among others that you can enroll in at no cost. Be consistent in attending your classes. Achieving the activity you choose to do will inspire further action.

Pursue a new skill and celebrate your wins to keep you motivated.

Schedule and manage your time while job searching

Create a weekly plan to guide your job search.

You can break this down into the number of daily applications you need to make. Put into consideration the time of day when you are most productive to work with minimal distractions.

Sticking to a given schedule makes use the best use of your time. It prevents burnout that would come as a result of making constant job applications.

It also frees up time for healthy pursuits such as exercising or learning which keep you alert and motivated.

Take time to rest

The job search can be draining; browsing through job boards, customizing your resumes, drafting cover letters, and operating without any feedback takes its toll.

Factor in time to rest while conducting your job search. Resting has numerous benefits including re-energizing, reducing stress, and enabling higher productivity.

Research also indicates that rest improves an individual’s mental health state.

Moving on

Take stock after unsuccessful applications and interviews and refocus your effort onward.

One thing that can help you do this is journaling. Take your notebook and pen and write your frustrations down.

At the very least, you vent out the negative emotions that may stop you from taking action in the future.

At best, the process helps you think through your job search process, figure out what works and adjust as necessary.

If you adopt the tips that work for you, the job search process will be significantly easier because you know what to expect, and how to cope with the challenges.