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Staying Motivated in Your Job Search

Have you seen typical recruitment advertising that usually begins "Seeking hardworking person willing to invest blood, sweat and tears into working alone and unsupervised. No expenses. No benefits. No vacations. Hours: Indefinite. Start Date: Now. End Date: Never Salary: You're lucky we even thought about you."

Looks like a job-ad from Hell? Well, like it or not, that's what most of us face at some point in our (early) careers. The prospect of a job hunt can be quite disheartening. More so, if it follows being laid off or fired. To find a great job while keeping your head above water, personally and financially, is no easy feat. The magic mantra here is to stay motivated. Here are a few pointers that should help make the search easier.

Treat your job search as a full-time job
This does not mean that you are on the task from 9-5 every day without aim or direction. Remember, the results are directly proportional to the inputs. So start by drawing up a plan. This includes researching prospective companies, seeking informational interviews, networking, analysing and (if possible) honing your skills.

Don't neglect your health
Job searching can be stressful. However, it is very important not to let it affect your physical and mental health. Eat well, exercise and practice relaxation and stress management techniques. Turning towards spirituality at this point can be very beneficial.

Rediscover your creativity
Having so much free time on your hands after so long might leave you at a loose end. Use it to get in touch with your creative side. Do all the things you've been putting off for years. Write, sketch, paint, sew...Spend more time with your family and friends. Talk more with your children. You will find that the time you spend not worrying about getting a job will help you realise what you really want out of a job.

Volunteer
A few hours of volunteer work every week will not only make you feel good about yourself, you never know what contacts you might make at your charity or fund-raiser.

Create "to-do" lists by the week
Your "to-do" should include the networking calls you will make that week, the web sites you will review, the time you will spend doing research etc. Once you have completed the items on your list, relax! This way you will be less likely to worry about what you should be doing, knowing that you are systematically working towards your goal.

Build up contacts
Use your family and friends to provide you with networking contacts. As long as you don't expect others to do things for you, there is nothing wrong with seeking their support.

Work part-time
A part-time job is a great way to keep yourself occupied as well as simultaneously value-adding to your skills set. Getting out of the house, working around other people, and being productive will help lift depression. It will also increase your network, show potential supervisors your capabilities and if you are lucky, lead to a permanent job.

It is inevitable that at some point in this process, you will feel run down and need a good boost or pep talk. Always remember that this period of unemployment has a deeper meaning in your life, one which you cannot yet see. Most people come out of the period of unemployment feeling much more positive. In many cases, it gives them a chance to reassess what they really wanted and needed out of life. The time for introspection allows them to make positive changes, and become much more resilient in the face of other crises.

Always keep in mind that jobs are available, so if your job search method is not showing results, change it. Rejection does not make you an unworthy worker or a bad person. It just means that you were unsuitable for that particular job.

Finally, remember not to give up! There is a good job out there for you, in fact, there are several. Just keep your chin up, and plough on relentlessly.

Yagna Balaji
[email protected]

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