Keeping motivated throughout the job hunt
Looking for work can be a long and tedious process of trawling through the job websites, local newspapers and your little book of business contacts that might be able to help you.
When hunting for a new job, it’s easy lose motivation and fall into a slump of backwards sleeping patterns, daytime television and not getting dressed. Rejection emails, bad interviews and employers not getting back to you don’t exactly fill you with excitement at the prospect of filling in another application form.
From editorial assistant openings to insurance jobs to bar work, the job market is currently competitive at its best. To keep you on the road to successfully landing the job you deserve, here are three tips to keep you on track when job hunting.
Use your network
Remember those business cards that you’ve been collecting in your desk drawer for the past 12 months? Well this is the best time to get them out and start dialling. Don’t ask your contacts for a job, just make them aware of your new situation and that you’re looking for a new project.
Social media is also a great tool when job hunting – especially if you are already well established in the world of Twitter and LinkedIn. When tweeting, optimise your bio so you’re easy to find and be proactive about how your job hunt is going. Network with Twitter users in the job field you’re looking at, ask questions and keep in contact with those who may prove useful to your search.
Remember that LinkedIn is based on professional networking and is an active, online CV. Keep it professional, but post links to your blog, update your status and sell yourself to potential employers. It’s worth researching company websites so you can reflect their needs and the tone of their professional language in your profile.
With a little digging, you can find out a lot about what an employer likes and doesn’t like. Most businesses will have exhaustive sites dedicated to potential employees, like RBS Insurance’s www.joininsurance.co.uk, dedicated to information about insurance jobs UK-wide.
Don’t take job rejection personally
While it’s never something anyone likes to admit, sometimes there are people out there who are more qualified and better suited to the job than you are. Don’t let a rejection email or phone call put you off searching for the next job. Instead, use it as a learning tool about what you could do differently next time. Ask for feedback on the areas you can work on and use this information to improve yourself in the next interview.
Sometimes, however, employers just have a certain image of who they want to employ – it has even been proven that the state of the weather can influence first impressions and whether or not you get the job. Keep a positive attitude and don’t let the big men in suits get you down.
Do things you enjoy
Relaxing and clearing your mind is as important as concentrating on cover letters and job applications. Make time for things you enjoy to break up the time you spend job hunting. Go for a walk in the park or along the beach, learn the guitar or go out for drinks with your friends.
If you haven’t got a part-time job to keep you on top of your funds whilst looking for that important career break, try being creative in your recreational activities. Free is always better when money is low, but staying at home alone is not always the best option when things get tough. Try giving yourself some photography lessons or playing football with your friends – there’s always something fun out there to do for free.
