It’s very difficult to stay motivated when you’re looking for work, whether you’ve been made redundant or are looking while still employed. These 8 great tips will help you through your job search.
Maintain a Routine
It’s very important to maintain a routine while you’re job hunting. For example, in the mornings take the dog for a walk or do a work out and aim to be sitting at your desk at home by 10am scanning recruitment websites.
Put on a Happy Face
It’s hard to keep it all in perspective sometimes, but keeping a positive outlook is crucial. The last thing you want is to go into an interview feeling down and irritable.
Phone a friend
Speak to a friend on a regular basis, suggests Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Take Yourself to the Top. Tell him or her about your search and what kind of feedback you’ve gotten. Make sure you have a designated time, whether at the end of the day or once a week, to talk with your trusted advisor.
Keep Notes
Staying organised about where and when you’ve sent your CV will make the follow-up easier. Keep notes of all phone calls and correspondence as well as your research.
Set aside time
Be realistic about how much time you need to spend on your job search so you won’t overestimate what you can get done or get discouraged when you never finish your to-do list. Schedule website job searches in your appointment book, says Fortgang. By telling yourself it’s important to spend two hours a night, five days a week, on the search, you’ll feel good about accomplishing that task.
Establish objectives
What motivates us is achievement, so keep your goals realistic and stick to them, suggests DeAnne Rosenberg, author of A Manager’s Guide to Hiring the Best Person for Every Job. For example, avoid planning 27 calls in one day – you’ll get depressed if you don’t achieve that goal. Instead, set realistic objectives, make lists and take a red pen and draw a line through every goal you reach during the day.
Strengthen your confidence
Don’t put your life on hold during this transition time. If a new suit, an indulgent dessert or a massage keeps you feeling good, don’t deny yourself. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money, says Rosenberg, but do what it takes to feel good about yourself. You’ll walk into interviews that much more confident and at ease.
Socialise
Get together with friends once a week or once a month to update each other on your job search and cheer each other on. This doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. Anyway you should have money in the bank, so you don’t just take the first thing that comes to you. And remember, looking for a job may be a full-time job but remember that no one can job search 24-7.
Debbie O’Halloran
