In any job search, you are in control of your actions, but not in control of the outcome. You can only influence proceedings to a certain point until you have to hand the power of deciding your future over to another person. You feel that you are putting in tons of work, but somewhere out there, someone else is getting that lucky break. Here are a few tips on how to cope:
It isn’t going to be quick. A job search nearly always takes longer than you anticipate. When you start a job search, you need to have a firm contingency plan in your head. Ie if it lasts a certain length of time then you will look for an interim position, if you don’t have a certain amount of success, then you need to change your strategy.
No one returns your calls. Don’t wait for the phone to ring. People are busy, and you have to be organized in terms of proactively staying in touch with both recruiters and hiring managers. There is no law that they must call you once they have received your CV – in fact very few will. Move yourself to the front of the queue. Make sure that they know who you are and what you can offer. Building a good relationship with a reputable recruiter in your sector will pay dividends.
Uncertainty and rejection. 75% of job applications are rejected by an ATS program – that’s pretty scary isn’t it, but it is the new world we live in. Have you had lots of interviews, but no offers yet? Don’t be so hard on yourself. Sometimes it is a lottery. This is a new normal in the job market and shouldn’t leave job seekers down on themselves. After all, it’s not that they’re not into you… it’s that they’re not into almost everybody.
Telling people you are still looking. People around you care about you, and they feel that they have to ask every time they see you. “How is the job search going?” Sometimes, this can be a good opportunity to share your frustrations and often people can give you some sage advice, so this is sometimes a fruitful conversation. However, if you are getting a little sick of repeating yourself, then it is ok to ask people kindly not to mention it so much.
Move on from bad feelings. During a job search, people experience the whole range of bad feelings – frustration, guilt, anger, fear and many others. It is important to recognize why you are feeling this way and try to deal with the source. Once this has been done, however, try to move on to a more positive train of thought. Dwelling on negativity never helped anyone, and it will be picked up by recruiters and hiring managers alike.
You just see the negatives. Instead of being negative during your job search, focus on the positives and be grateful for what you’ve experienced already. Just because you haven’t secured an interview yet doesn’t mean no one wants to hire you. All you have to do is focus on your strongest qualities and how you can better market them to employers.
You feel overwhelmed. When your job search becomes overwhelmingly stressful, it’s important that you try to relax a little. Whether you decide to relax with a good book or go out for dinner with a friend, don’t hesitate to treat yourself during your job search. Taking a break from your job search will ease your frustration and will help you regain focus.
Don’t check your email 24/7. When you’re always checking your email, you’re distracting yourself from having a productive day. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll check it once in the morning, afternoon, and evening. By doing this, you’ll put an end to driving yourself crazy during your job search.
A job search can be a marathon, and you need to retain your sanity for those flurries of activity when you need it most. Don’t let all the frustrations get you down as when you need to be at your most energetic at the interview, sometimes it can affect you more than you think.
Be positive, think positive and things will work out fine!
