With redundancies at record levels last year, and the number of applications for each role soaring through the roof, the job market is a challenging environment right now. Unfortunately, more applicants mean more unsuccessful candidates. As a result, recruiters and hiring managers don’t have the time to feedback to everyone, leaving people assuming they just weren’t good enough.
Disappointment can turn to feeling discouraged, which can eventually turn into despondency and feeling like you will never find a new job. This can quickly erode self-confidence and self-esteem. I know this situation is tough, so I’ve put together my seven top tips to help you find the confidence and motivation you need to get back on track with your job search.
1.Try not to wallow
Experiencing disappointment that you didn’t get invited for an interview or land a role is to be expected, and it’s absolutely fine to react in this way. Be mindful of wallowing over these feelings for too long though. If you were able to get some feedback, that’s great. Take any comments you receive on board and work out how you can use them to improve your chances in the future.
If you couldn’t get any feedback, think about whether there was anything glaringly obvious you could have done differently. For more tips and advice on writing your CV and cover letter, or navigating your way through the world of Applicant Tracking Systems, please visit my previous blogs.
2. Focus your energy on things you can control
It’s easy to get sucked into a downward spiral of rumination and kicking yourself over what-ifs. Take a step back and ask yourself, “how is this thinking helping me?” The answer is, it’s not! Those things are in the past now and you can’t change them. It’s so much more productive to focus your energy and attention on things you can control going forward.
3. Every job search journey starts with a small step
If you’ve been job hunting for some time and despondency is beginning to set in, it’s easy to start putting things off and to lose motivation. Setting yourself daily or weekly goals and recording successes, no matter how small, is an excellent way of keeping yourself productive.
4. Have a positive mindset
Another advantage of setting yourself goals and tracking your achievements is that you’re naturally going to feel a bit more optimistic about life. What about also jotting down things you’re grateful for, and listing professional situations where you have positively impacted a team or project? Not only does this build self-esteem, but it’s also great prep for job applications and interviews.
As well as making you feel better in the short-term, a positive mindset should also shine through into your cover letters and interviews, helping you perform and impress!
5. Don’t fear rejection
You may have experienced several knock-backs in the last few months, and this is naturally going to affect your confidence. You may be reluctant to put yourself forward for roles because you already fear rejection. I understand this, but remember you miss 100% of the shots you never take! Continue your job search with vigour, and remember that every role you apply for is an opportunity to practice and hone your application and interview techniques. There are always lessons to be learnt to help us grow professionally.
6. Boost your self-esteem with personal projects
Searching for a job can be a full-time job in itself. Why not give yourself something else to focus on occasionally, and work on some personal projects? It could be something around the house like DIY or decluttering, something creative or a completely new hobby.
7. Don’t shut yourself away
Finally, please don’t go through this alone. Find friends, family or colleagues to share your frustrations with and to help boost your confidence. You’ll probably find that they are more than happy to share their previous job hunting or redundancy challenges with you, and you never know; you might just learn some useful hints and tips.
You could also ask colleagues for feedback to make sure you are capturing all your key skills and most significant attributes. Sometimes it isn’t easy to see these things in ourselves! Make sure you don’t neglect your professional networks too. Reach out and let people know that you are actively searching for a new role. You never know what opportunities you may unearth!
Would you like some more help with your job search?
I really hope that you found this blog useful. If you’d like to find out more about how I can help you with your job search, please contact me to book a free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation. It would also be great to connect with you on LinkedIn!
