Wouldn’t it be nice if your dream job offer just fell into your inbox? Like, what if one morning you were scrolling through your emails and it suddenly appeared along with your dream salary? While this would be amazing, it’s also highly unlikely. This means instead, we have to put in hours of hard work to land the job we want.
The job search can be brutal. Between adjusting your resume for different job titles, typing up creative cover letters that will get you noticed, and figuring out the best way to write a cold-email, the search is time consuming and monotonous. It can be difficult to stay focused and positive throughout your job search, but have no fear – here are a few tips to help you get through it!
1. Be patient.
We live in world where everyone wants instant gratification. We want what we want, and we want it now. It would be great if this worked in the job search, but it doesn’t. The right opportunity will come along if you are patient. If you settle for the first offer that comes along, you may find yourself in the job search again a few months down the road.
2. Don’t focus on the “no’s”.
You won’t get an interview every time you send in your resume and apply. That’s a fact. Dwelling on the jobs you didn’t get contacted about will only take time away from moving on to the next opportunity. Stop fixating on why you didn’t get phone calls and work on molding yourself in to the perfect candidate for the next jobs you apply to.
3. Take time – every day – to forget about the search entirely.
Go out with friends, go to yoga, or take a long weekend trip somewhere. Spend time doing things that make you completely forget about the endless job search and relax.
4. Give your resume a boost.
This doesn’t just mean using a new font or re-writing some of your past job descriptions. Take an online class, get certified in something you haven’t yet mastered, or do some freelance work. This will help build your resume and show employers that you’re taking initiative to learn new skills and become a better employee.
5. Network with literally everyone.
Tell friends you’re looking for a new job, message an old college friend who works in the industry you’re hoping to get in to, go to networking events, do ANYTHING to get in touch with people who might be able to help you in your job search. Having a solid resume and cover letter is helpful, but knowing someone who can connect your resume to the right people can be one of the most crucial points in your job search.
6. Keep track of your searches and applications.
In a spreadsheet or notebook, write down the jobs you apply for, application dates, and a contact email. Keep track of as much information about your application process so you know how many jobs you’ve applied to, which ones you might want to follow up with, and which ones you don’t want to re-apply to. This can also help you keep perspective on how long you have actually been waiting to hear back since a couple days can feel like a lifetime in the job search.
The key takeaways here are to be patient, persistent, and don’t give up. Job searching can end up being a full time job in itself. As long as you stay focused on the career you want and are working hard every day to get there, you will succeed.
