39 Perseverance in Your Job Search
The job search process can feel like you are riding an emotional rollercoaster.
These feelings can result from a lack of responses, failing to meet your expectations for yourself or the expectations that you feel others had for you, or the weight of being continually rejected.
When you experience negative feelings associated with your job search, you become less productive, and negativity can seep into your interactions with employers. Fortunately, you can use some useful strategies to maintain your motivation and better manage your stress throughout your search.
Motivation Strategies
Set Short-Term Goals
It can be difficult to maintain momentum in your job search. To ensure that you stay motivated, consider setting daily and weekly goals. Set goals for different job searching efforts, for example, “I will aim to submit two online job applications per day” or “I will make two to four new connections on LinkedIn each week.” Setting and meeting daily goals will help you believe that you can find a job, and breaking down tasks will help you feel less overwhelmed.
Schedule Regular Job Search Time
Additionally, it can also be helpful to create a job search routine by scheduling specific times during your day or week that are dedicated specifically to searching for work. You should focus on the hours of the day when you have the most energy and the least distractions. While you do want to commit yourself to a reasonable block of time, avoid staring at the computer for too long or you may notice your productivity declining.
Stay Organized
Document your job search efforts as you go. Write down the jobs you’ve applied to, and the dates on which you applied, and save a print or electronic copy of the job postings in case you need to refer to them in the future. Similarly, when attending job fairs or networking events, gather the names and contact information of those you spoke with. It is often helpful to use a spreadsheet to track the details of all of the information so that you can follow up. Not only is it good as a point of reference, but it creates a level of accountability. By tracking your efforts, you will notice that you’ve done a lot of work, making you feel proud and fueling your motivation. On the other hand, it might also give you an indication that you haven’t been doing as much as you should and make you more responsible in getting back on track.
Keep track of your online applications in spreadsheet or document with the following headings
- Job Title
- Company Name
- Contact
- Date Submitted
- Phone #
- Date Submitted
- How Submitted
- Application Deadline
- Status of Application
Create a similar spreadsheet or other document to record your networking contacts with the following headings
- Name
- Job title
- Contact information
- Date contacted
- Comments
Troubleshoot and Seek Advice
People often spend months job searching and wonder why they aren’t receiving a response. If you’re not generating responses, there is probably something about your current strategy that isn’t working. Evaluating your strategy and trying something different might be the answer you are looking for. Ask those around you for constructive criticism, identify where you are struggling, and improve it. Take advantage of your resources; book an appointment with the Conestoga Career Centre to discuss and evaluate your current approach.
Practice Self-Care
Looking for a job can be draining. Make sure you maintain a healthy diet and get enough rest to maintain your drive. You will reduce your stress and increase your positivity by making time for things you like to do, whether this is playing sports, reading a book, watching a movie, or anything else that keeps you motivated.
Seek Emotional Support
When you’re feeling really defeated, don’t bottle up your job search stress. Instead, share your experiences with a close friend or family member. Chances are they have been in a position where they can relate to your experience. Sometimes a trusted friend can help you challenge your negative beliefs by offering encouragement and support, which can boost your confidence in yourself and the job search process.
Download Tracking Logs [opens an Excel file (.xlsx)]
