You’re probably ready and eager to get a job to put your new certificate or degree to use. Maybe you’ll be lucky and find a job you’ll love quickly. But most of the time, the job hunt takes some time and effort. And no matter how long you have been looking for a job, it’s important to stay positive and focused.
Here’s how to keep motivated while you’re on the hunt for a job:
Set Mini Goals
Your ultimate goal is to land a new position. But you can feel productive and successful on the path there if you set and meet mini goals throughout your job search. For example, make goals to apply for 10 jobs a week or to make one new LinkedIn connection a day. When you do, check those tasks off your to-do list, and give yourself a pat on the back.
Create a Routine
Create a routine from the start of how and when you’ll look for work. Give yourself a window of time each and every day to search and apply for jobs. It can be in the morning when you first wake up or after you get home from school or work in the evening. If you make it a habit, you’ll be more likely to keep it up. It’ll feel a little like a part-time job—because it is. Right now, it’s the most important job you have!
Make the Best Use of Your Time
If you know you’re sharpest first thing in the morning, do your job-hunting work that requires the most brainpower then. If you’re a night owl, maybe evening is a better time for you. There will be parts of the job hunt you won’t love, like writing cover letters, for example. If that’s the case, make sure to save those tasks for the time of day when you feel your best.
Be strategic about how you use your time overall too. For example, you could polish your resume and write cover letters after business hours, and network or follow up on applications during the business day.
Celebrate Small Victories
Give yourself credit when your hard work pays off and you get an interview or have a successful meeting with a new networking contact. Even if it’s a phone interview and you don’t get called back for an in-person interview, celebrate that you at least had that interview opportunity and think about how you could learn from it. Every forward movement is a good thing and you should be proud of that!
Give Yourself a Break
You might really need to find a new job, but you can get burnt out on the search. It’s hard work to send in all those applications! To keep up your mental clarity and positivity, make sure you take time away from the computer and recharge. Go for a walk, get lunch with a friend, or get in a workout. You might be surprised at how much better you can focus after you take a break.
Gain New Skills
A lot of industries like healthcare and information technology constantly change as new technology and regulations shape them. Has it been awhile since you got started in your industry or would you like to do something different? A great decision for you could be to go back to school and get a new certification or degree. This can help freshen up your experience and resume, even while you search for a job.
Grow Your Network
From LinkedIn to industry associations to job leads groups, there are a lot of opportunities for you to network and make new connections. Seek out these opportunities and people you’d like to get to know. You never know who you might meet who could have the perfect opportunity for you now or down the road.
Control What You Can and Move On
It is frustrating to have an interview but not get a call back or to be one of the final candidates for a job but not get hired. But the best way to get over that frustration and rejection is to take control and quickly move past it. You can’t control who calls you for an interview, but you can control how many applications you send. The quicker you take action and move on, the more quickly you can get past the sting of rejection.