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When you set out on your job search, it's rarely possible to guess how long it will go on for. As time passes, the rejections mount up and the budgets get tighter, it's easy to become disheartened.
However, this is exactly the time when you need to dust yourself off and put in more hard work than ever. One of the main attributes of a successful job seeker is persistence. Here's a few tips to help you stay positive:
- Start as you mean to go on - The first 30 minutes of your day are golden. The thoughts you think and the actions you take during this critical time affect your performance levels for the rest of the day. Instead getting up late, set your alarm as if you were going to work, have a shower and take a walk to get some fresh air in your lungs.
- Set daily goals - If you don't have anything concrete to work towards, you have nothing to focus on and will find yourself achieving very little. Goals will keep your mind focused on the things that are important and keep you feeling positive about your future. make your goals SMART (
specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) and remember to celebrate when you achieve a landmark.
- Set up the right environment - There's a lot to be said for being neat, tidy and organized. Make an area in your home where you can run your job search with a phone, computer and everything else you might find in an office. It will help you stay focused on the target. You might also want to change your environment occasionally by working from a coffee shop or renting space in a local office.
- Eat right - Your environment also includes what you put into your body. make sure you eat lots of fruit and vegetables, stay away from fatty foods and try to limit your alcohol intake. A healthy body generally leads to a healthy mind.
- Create a support network - Forming an alliance with other job seekers will help you share experiences, get advice and give you an outlet for you inner feelings. Try to meet at lease once a week with your team and share strategies.
- Remember the law of averages. The more calls you make, the more networking events you go to and the more applications you make, the greater your chances are of finding the job of your dreams. However resist the urge to blanket bomb every recruiter out there. You need to tailor your CV for each job. Sooner or later, you'll hit the right mark.
- Enjoy the process - Job hunting is a time of transition and change and it can also be a very important time for self-development. Use this period to reassess your goals, find out what you really want to do and engross yourself in making yourself the best you can be.
At every stage of your job search, you should look to get feedback. If you're not getting asked for interviews then get someone to have a look through your CV. If you're getting to the interview, but being rejected there you should find out what you're doing wrong. Fix these, and you'll find yourself in a job in no time.