The essentials of a proper preparation for a job search includes certainty about the job you are applying for, a brilliant résumé, and ready responses to probable mentally-tasking interview questions. However, setbacks await virtually everyone at some point regardless of the kind of employment market.
According to an executive director with Robert Half, Paul McDonald, the process of searching for a job and getting the job can sometimes be harder than performing on the job. McDonald added that searching and getting a job requires a high level of fortitude to remain encouraged.
However, even if the kind of obstacles you will encounter is beyond your control, your reaction to such obstacles isn’t. It is therefore important above everything else that you remain resilient until you get the offer that suits you. Some tips to help you remain dogged and resilient includes:
1. Take a break
This isn’t telling you to stop your job search, it is simply that you should devote time to attend to yourself. You have probably spent a couple of weeks connecting with networks, handing out your résumés and attending interviews all with little or no result. The first thing that probably comes to your mind is to keep working harder or to push further until you achieve the success you desire.
However, such persistence may end up yielding nothing. According to Tasha Eurich, an organizational psychologist, if you discover that you cannot breathe, eat or sleep because of the job search, then you need to take time and get away. Eurich noted the importance of getting away because refusing to take care and rather beat up one’s self could lead to a negative spiral.
Maynard Brusman, psychologist and Working Resources founder noted that in such cases, one should take out time to care for one’s self. He suggested that meditation or mindfulness for the purpose of reflections and restoration of energy is important to maintaining a resilient spirit.
meditation or mindfulness for the purpose of reflections and restoration of energy is important to maintaining a resilient spiritHe added that it shouldn’t be a one-time thing, but should rather be regularly practiced. McDonald also highlighted that one way to maintain a healthy emotional health is by exercising.
2. Get Honest Feedbacks From People You Consider Trustworthy
Now that you have taken a break and had time to defog your mind, reach out to those you trust to give you a honest feedback. There are so many things you probably never notice which others might when you give room for constructive criticism.
This may above all help you discover the causes of the challenges you have been encountering. Brusman stated that everyone needs to help irrespective of the extent of our competence. Brusman also highlighted the importance of having a solid support system rather than going through the process as a lone ranger.
For instance, you can reach out to your family or friends to help you evaluate your LinkedIn profile, cover letters, and résumé. By having a different eye look through your credentials, they’ll be able to point out whether or not your qualifications are clearly defined and whether the documents are error-free.
Furthermore, try to get an opinion on your skills for storytelling by having mock interviews with your mentor. According to McDonald, people expect your best in interviews but someone who has been unemployed for a long time may have become negative.
Thus, practicing with a mentor can assist you in becoming more aware of the perception of hiring managers and that can help boost your confidence and preparedness. McDonald highlighted the importance of having a mentor, adding that those who currently have none should get one.
3. Be Intentional About Changing Your Perspective
Having a clear mind and getting honest feedback is truly helpful in boosting your resilient spirit. However, to be productive with the job search, you need to be optimistic. According to Eurich, a job seeker should choose how to see the process of seeking for a job, i.e. whether to run away from it or make the experience help him or her get better.
In order to change your mindset, you need to be conscious of your thinking. Brusman advised that you find out what your specific thoughts are, i.e. whether they are optimistic and helpful.
Eurich noted that people who are resilient and self-aware tend to ask more questions about what is happening to them rather than why it is happening to them. When a person can control his/her inner monologue, it becomes easier to have a shift in perspective which contributes to increased clarity.