Part of the Career Collective monthly posts. See end of this post.
Launching a job search campaign when you are unemployed can be worrisome. Yet, as unrealistic as this may sound, when you are out of work--try and calm down so you become more pragmatic and are able to steer a successful job hunt.
It really is in your best interest to worry less. You can induce this more composed feeling by defining what a successful job search is to you, staying busy, and nurturing a positive attitude.
A Few Things You Can Undertake Right Now To Feel Better!
First, define what job search success means to you. Does it have to be “the” job or could it be transitional employment? Envisioning what YOUR success is, both short- and long-term will help you target it and actualize it!
Second, maintain similar routines as those during your employment. For example, get dressed every morning! Yes, I know that being in your pajamas most of the day while you are unemployed seems like a good idea (and awfully comfortable) but, really, get dressed; even if you are conducting your job search that morning from home. A psychological empowerment switch is triggered when you “lace up your shoes!”
Third, stay busy and positive by reading motivational books, networking, including fun activities into your daily life, and enjoying quality time with your loves ones.
Also, perceive your job hunt from a successful position. You can more easily recognize the glass as half full by tracking your job search progress-- no matter how slow the pace. Sometimes the best way to measure advancement, especially when it comes in small increments, is to write events/improvements down and revisit them when you are feeling as if your job search is moving nowhere.
Fourth, sieve your information processing. Reduce or avoid exposure to negative reports/news. Do not mingle with others who often only focus on the negatives in life; it really is true that misery loves company. It is too costly to keep "lady misery" company.
Keep your chin up, remember to count your blessings, recall what really matters most in your vida, and don’t sweat the job search (too much).
Rosa Elizabeth Vargas
www.creatingprints.com
When in doubt, listen (watch) a really great and upbeat song. Here is one for the road (I won't tell if you get up and dance a bit):
Career Collective Blog Posts: Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers
Please visit all the posts below, which are addressing the same topic by members of the career collective. Follow our hash tag on Twitter #careercollective
@MartinBuckland, Job Search Made Positive
@GayleHoward, Job Search: When It All Turns Sour
@chandlee, Strategy for Getting “Unstuck” and Feeling Better: Watch Lemonade
@heathermundell, Help for the Job Search Blues
@heatherhuhman, 10 Ways to Turn You Job Search Frown Upside-Down
@KCCareerCoach, You Can Beat the Job Search Blues: 5 + 3 Tips to Get Re-Energized
@WalterAkana, Light at the End of the Tunnel
@LaurieBerenson, Ways to Keep Your Glass Half Full
@resumeservice, Don’t Sweat the Job Search
@careersherpa, Mind Over Matter: Moving Your Stalled Search Forward
@WorkWithIllness, Finding Opportunity in Quicksand
@KatCareerGal, Job-Hunting in a Weak Job Market: 5 Strategies for Staying Upbeat (and Improving Your Chances of Success)
@ErinKennedyCPRW, Dancing in the Rain–Kicking the Job Search Blues
@keppie_careers, What do do when you are discouraged with your job search
@DawnBugni, It’s the little things
@ValueIntoWords, Restoring Your Joy in Job Search
@jobhuntorg, Just SO VERY Discouraged
@barbarasafani Making Job Search Fun (Yeah, That’s Right!)
@GLHoffman, How to Overcome the Job Search Negativity
@ExpatCoachMegan, Dealing With Job Search Stress: Getting to the Source of the Problem
