Searching for a new job can bring excitement over the prospect of starting something new, taking the next step in your career, or re-entering the workforce after some time away. But don’t be discouraged if looking for a job brings about stress because that’s common too. No matter your job-search scenario, keep the anxiety at bay with these 5 steps.
- Keep Things in Perspective – It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the process that comes with job searching, but keep a clear head. Although it seems like it might be lasting forever, the act of looking for a job is only temporary. It will end at some point, and you will find a job as long as you stick with it. Patience will get you through it, even if being patient isn’t a skill you would find on your resume.
- Do Your Research – An effective job search doesn’t begin by just throwing a job title in a search bar and pressing return. Prepare by thinking analytically about what you really want to do and what the next best move for you would be. Consider your career path and also the effect any job decision would have on your personal life. What type of work environment do you thrive in? Think about the culture that suits you best and find companies that offer that. Also, if there are certain benefits you desire, seek those out by finding out who offers what and where.
- Stay Organized – Come up with a plan of attack for your job search. Think about what you can offer a future employer and update your resume, CV, and LinkedIn profiles accordingly. What is your end goal? Figure that out and break it into bite-sized accomplishments. From there, create a strategy that gets you there. As you get into your job search, keep a log of what jobs you’ve applied to. Also, notate any correspondence that occurs and where you are in the process for each.
- Talk Yourself Up – Be your own hype man by remembering the accomplishments you’ve earned and the talent you bring to a future employer. It’s easy to slip into a negative mindset when you haven’t experienced much success while looking for a job, but don’t do it. Negative self-talk doesn’t do much except hamper your performance. Whereas talking to yourself positively helps to increase motivation and general mood. Looking for a job takes time. Finding a job takes even longer. Go in knowing that and pump yourself up throughout the process. Telling yourself, “I’m going to rock this interview,” is a good place to start.
- Take a Breath – Looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself. Add on the other responsibilities you have, whether that’s your current job, your family, your friends, or your community involvement, and that can be a recipe for an exhausted disaster. It’s good to know when you need to take a break and what that looks like for you. Is it taking a day off, catching up on some rest, going for a run, or hanging out with loved ones? Do whatever it is you need to recharge. And don’t feel like you need to apologize for it. As long as you are dedicated to the job search, taking a day to decompress and unwind isn’t going to impact it negatively. If anything, it’s only going to make it better as you hit the ground running refreshed the next day.
What other tips do you have for keeping your stress at a minimum during a job search? Join the conversation on LinkedIn and check out Avoid These 8 Terms on Your Resume.
