Attitude
A job search can be very draining,
particularly when the labor market is tight. To succeed, you must
keep a positive attitude. That is easier said than done, and here
are some tips to help you stay on course.
Set realistic, consistent goals and
write them down.
Assuming that you already have your
tools (resume, cover letter, etc), define what you can realistically
do in terms of quality job
applications each day or week. Write this down. Heck, make a
calendar and post it on the wall. Check off successful days with a
green marker,and reward yourself in some small way. If you live with
others, they may use this to encourage you too. The mechanism
doesn't matter. The point is to set, write down, and check progress
toward your goals.
Take
and give yourself a break.
A job
search is a stressful grind. Don't get so wrapped up that you forget
to live life. Work is an important part of life, but it shouldn't be
all that there is to
life. Even if finances are limited, find a reasonable amount of time
to do something enjoyable. The job search will go better if you are
not exhausted.
Also,
give yourself a break. Many long-term job seekers feel guilt about
why they are out of work, or view themselves as a damaged product.
“If I had worked harder, they wouldn't have laid me off.”
“Nobody will hire me because I'm too _________ (Fill in the blank).
“If I had only (Fill in the blank), I wouldn't be in this mess.”
. In reasonable doses, guilt and shame can be great learning and
behavior improvement tools. Excessive (or undeserved guilt) can be
corrosive and destructive. Be kind to yourself.
Take
care of your health.
Eat
right, exercise, get the proper sleep (in a normal routine), don't
use alcohol or other substances as a crutch, and do the things you
know that you should. Take care of yourself.
Get
support.
Human
beings are social creatures. In an ideal world, we support and help
each other. This is important when we reach stress points, such as a
job search. Reaching out to loved ones, friends former co-workers
and others can be difficult. Do it anyway. If nothing else, it is a
good way to network. If you think that you may need professional
help with issues like stress, depression, or finances, there is a
very simple diagnostic tool: Ask a professional. Please don't be
afraid to reach out for help if you think you need it.
Look
on the bright side.
I
know it' an old, trite idea, but problems can often be opportunities.
I have worked with many consumers who worked through a career
problem, and later said “Getting fired was the best thing that ever
happened to me.” Since I am using hackneyed phrases, there is a
silver lining to every cloud. Be determined to succeed, and you
will.
Be
ready for rejection.
Many
of the folks I work with last sought jobs during the 'Roaring '90's”.
Employers competed for potential talent, or even just a warm body.
They offered fabulous benefits, and would be very accepting of many
things. The applicant ruled. Those days are gone. This is likely
going to be a difficult marathon for you. This is not about you, except in the sense that you have to out-compete many others. Do your best.
Last
but not least, decide to have a good attitude.
Often,
we are not in control of circumstances. You may not have controlled
the decisions that caused your former employer to close. You are
certainly not in charge of the economy. However, you are
in control of how you act (and to a certain extent how you feel) in
response to events. You are in charge of yourself. I hope that you
choose to take a positive, hopeful, determined approach to what may
be a bad situation.
Good luck and best wishes,
Chris
Links to my
work, “Beyond a Career Crisis”:
Kindle Edition
Paperback Edition
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