How To Stay Positive During A Long Job Search
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We understand that searching for a job can feel like a full time job in itself! It can be long and tedious, and the endless cycle of editing cover letters and going to interviews can be incredibly stressful for most people.
Typically, it takes roughly 3 to 5 months from beginning to end to find a new job role, sometimes even longer. And the longer this process takes, the easier it is for negativity to creep in.
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we explore some of the best tips to help you stay positive and keep spirits high during a long job search.
So, here are 7 ways you can stay positive during a long job search:
1. Prioritise Quality Over Quantity
As with pretty much everything in life, prioritise quality over quantity. And by this we mean, while you might be tempted to send out as many applications and CV’s as possible, it can actually be counterproductive.
Instead, we highly recommend that you take a good amount of time on each application, ensuring you make them personal and unique to the role in question.
If you rush through these applications, miss out cover letters, or send out the same generic applications to a number of different employers, you’ll be much more likely to make mistakes and less likely to stand out from the crowd. Learn more about common application mistakes to avoid here.
You’re also more likely to feel hopeful about an application if you know you’ve put your all into it.
2. Celebrate the Small Wins
Another way to stay positive during these long, sometimes draining, periods is to make sure you celebrate the small victories.
Many people very easily become obsessed with landing the perfect job, but this fixation can overshadow the positive progress you’re making along the way.
This is why it’s important to appreciate even the smallest wins and achievements, as you’ll create a sense of accomplishment. This could be something so simple as completing a challenging application within the deadline provided, updating your CV, or even reaching out to a potential connection on LinkedIn.
They might be small in the grand scheme of things but each step brings you closer to success, and they are still steps worth celebrating.
This mindset also reinforces a positive outlook throughout the process, which can be really beneficial if you feel like you’re in a bit of a rut with it all.
3. Seek Support if You Think You Need It
Seeking support is a really important, yet sometimes overlooked, tip.
It’s only natural to feel discouraged at times, especially when the job searching process is taking much longer than initially expected. If this sounds familiar and you find yourself feeling pretty low, it’s a good idea to let someone around you know about it.
Support can come from a variety of different people – whether you reach out to a friend, family member, a counsellor, or a charity.
Recruitment agencies, like Yolk Recruitment, can also offer support during a long and challenging job search. These agencies provide job seekers with access to a range of insights, career advice, and opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to find on your own.
Ready to find your dream job with the help from the Yolk Recruitment specialists. Contact us via 02920 220078 or info@yolkrecruitment.com and our experienced recruiters will take the time to understand your skills, experience, and career aspirations, helping you identify the perfect roles available that align with your goals.
4. Don’t Focus On Just the One Job Opportunity
If you’re spending a lot of time searching for job opportunities, it’s very likely that you’ll come across a handful that really jump out at you. And while it’s great to find roles that excite you, remember that there will always be other openings if you get rejected from your ‘ideal’ role.
Yes, we recommend putting a lot of time and effort into your applications, but at the same time it’s important that you don’t dwell on a single response.
Keep your options open by applying for other attractive prospects in the interim.
This brings us nicely onto our fifth point…
5. Remember Rejection Is Not Personal
Rejection is extremely common in the job search process. And in fact, some say that around 95% of people are rejected during the recruitment process. So please don’t take it personally!
When faced with rejection, it’s a great idea to request feedback from the employer or recruiter, as this will provide you with valuable insights into how you can improve your CV or interview answers.
That said, it’s also worth remembering that some rejections might actually be due to factors that are simply out of your control, such as a large number of applicants.
Learn more about seeing rejection as redirection in this blog.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Another important point that’s easily forgotten during these (often) stressful times is to take care of yourself.
Periods of uncertainty and potential setbacks can be emotionally taxing, and can often result in stress, anxiety, or burnout.
How to Practice Self Care
Self care starts with your physical health, as this forms the foundation of overall well-being. You can add regular exercise into your routine, like a short daily walk or stretching session.
You could also consider practicing meditation like deep breathing exercises to reduce stress and maintain a positive outlook.
7. Network as Much as You Can
Another way to help stay positive while job searching is to network, as this can help shift the focus from isolation to connection, naturally creating opportunities to build relationships and uncover hidden potential job leads.
Networking also often leads to opportunities that aren’t even advertised (or advertised yet), giving you access to roles that might be a perfect fit.
How We Can Help
We’d love to work together to help you find your next job. Discover our range of roles here or get in touch with our recruitment specialists to review your CV.
Feel free to check out our other recruitment services on our website, and for more tips and insights, head over to our career advice blog page, including articles such as 'How much do qualifications matter?' & 'Surviving job loss'.