Tips for Staying Motivated and Positive During a Long Job Search

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Staying motivated and in a positive frame of mind during a lengthy job search is not easy. For some people, finding the right job takes a long time. Statistically, it takes about one month for every $10,000 you want to earn, according to The Balance Careers. So if you are needing a $50,000 salary, plan on a 5-month search (at the very minimum).

Why You Need a Positive Attitude During Your Job Search

Whether your job search lasts 3 months, 6 months, or a year, you’ll need a good attitude to help you get through the process.

“Feeling positive will help motivate you to continue with your job search. Also, your positive attitude will come across during interviews and networking opportunities, increasing your chances of making a strong first impression,” wrote Alison Doyle.   

Tips for Staying Positive During a Job Search

Are you struggling to stay motivated as you hunt for the perfect job? If so, these three tips will come in handy:

1. Create a schedule — For many people, a lack of routine can be stressful and depressing. While job searching, it’s more important than ever to create a schedule for yourself. For example, set aside the hours of 9am to 5pm to do all of your job searching activities.

After your “workday” is over, stop thinking about your job search. Setting boundaries around your job search will make the process tolerable and help you feel more upbeat.  

2. Get help from others — Sometimes we try to deal with things on our own when reaching out for help would make our lives much easier. Job searching is an example of something that can be made easier with the help of others.  

“Raise your hand and let the closest and most supportive people around you know you need help. If you need to, contact a professional career coach, or even a therapist. Every one of us needs more than just a pep talk from time to time, and there’s absolutely no shame in that,” wrote a contributor to The Muse.

Looking for a job can feel very solitary and promote isolation. Prevent this by reaching out for help.

3. Reinvent yourself — One good thing about hunting for a job is that you end up with extra time on your hands. Why not spend some of that time reinventing yourself? Do some self-discovery and take inventory of what you like, what you are good at, and what you want your life to look like.

It’s easy to adopt the popular belief that personal change is scary, but nothing could be further from the truth. Change is inevitable and good. You have probably changed since your last job search. Knowing who you are in this season of your life is not only personally uplifting, but it will also help you choose the right company to onboard with.

How Is Your Job Search Affecting You Mentally?

Is your job search having negative effects on your mind and emotions? If so, creating a realistic schedule that sets boundaries around your job search, reaching out to others for help, and using free time to find out who you are and what you want will help you feel more positive during your job hunt, no matter how long it takes.

 

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