Five Tips for Overcoming the Stresses of Job Hunting
Hunting for a job can be difficult and there are lots of factors that can make it especially stressful. For instance, if you’re looking for a new role because you’re unhappy in your current position, or because you’re unemployed. If the process starts to drag on, this stress can really wear you down. It’s important to take care and look after your mental health throughout your job search, to stay healthy and ensure you’re putting your best foot forward with prospective new employers.
At The People Pod, we know how difficult it can be when you’re caught in a cycle of searches, applications and rejections. Here, we’ve provided some suggestions on how you can manage the stress, stay proactive and keep moving towards that dream career.
Set realistic goals and expectations
Managing expectations and goals is a practical way to improve your job search overall. There’s nothing wrong with shooting for the moon and applying for your absolute dream job. Even if you don’t have the experience or the qualifications you need, passion and talent can take you a long way. But make sure you set realistic expectations about your chances of success.
If you don’t get it, don’t get too upset. The opportunity in front of you won’t be the only chance you get to do something you love, and there are many different ways to climb the ladder to where you want to get to. By planning several steps ahead, you can think realistically about what you need to do right now to get where you want to go.
Accept rejection
It can be hard to accept rejection. It’s never a nice feeling, but you should also remember that it’s not usually your fault. In most cases, it’s impossible to know for certain why you weren’t chosen, but if you’re someone who obsesses over small mistakes in the interview or a spelling mistake in your cover letter, take comfort in the fact that they almost certainly had no impact on the decision.
Usually, if you lose out, it will be because another candidate had more experience, or a complementary skillset. In some cases, if that candidate doesn’t work out, you might get invited to try again. While there aren’t usually prizes for second place, you won’t usually find out how close you came, so there’s no harm in believing you almost had it if that motivates you to go after the next opportunity with the same passion.
Get help
Reaching out to someone for help is a great way to gain a boost, and some support, whether moral or practical. It’s easy to fall into the habit of questioning yourself and your suitability for the jobs you want if it’s been taking a while to make any progress. Having a friend read over your CV, share any job hunting tips that have helped them, or even suggest job opportunities if they know anyone who is hiring, can take some of the responsibility off your shoulders.
It can also remind and reassure you that your application is strong, and that your CV accurately reflects your strengths. If there are problems with it, you can address them, and if nothing else, it’s good to talk about the difficulties you’re having and get them off your chest. Everyone has been through the process of job hunting at one time or another, and this can help you to feel less alone and motivate you to push through the stress.
Stay organised
Having a plan and working through it is a great way to beat stress. If you miss out on an opportunity, it can be difficult to stay motivated; but it’s much more difficult if that’s the only possibility you have lined up. If you’ve got a list of suitable openings, calendar notes with application deadlines, and a schedule that tells you when to check emails and chase up opportunities, you won’t have much time for wallowing.
Structuring your application process can help to remind you that no matter how invested you are in a particular opportunity, there will be others that are right for you later down the line. Keeping busy won’t only help you to beat the stress of applying - it will also help you to get a job, because it will enable you to apply for more opportunities, and you will seem far more proactive and interested to businesses that are looking for those exact qualities.
Work with a recruiter
Working with a recruiter means that a lot of the harder parts of applying for a job are taken care of for you. They’ll assess your skills, match you to suitable roles, and in some cases, even coach you on interview preparation or help you to understand the opportunity in more detail than you’d get from a job listing.
It also means you’ll have someone on your side who can help to support you through what can be a difficult process. If you are searching for a job and you want the support of a specialist recruiter with years of experience, give The People Pod a call on 01204 589 555 or visit our new jobs section to see what great roles are available.