Wouldn’t it be nice if your dream job offer would just fall in your inbox? If one morning you were skimming through your emails and an offer appeared, along with your dream salary? Though this would be amazing, it’s also highly unlikely. So instead, we have to put in hours of hard work to land the job we want.
The job search can be brutal. I know this from first hand experience. 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 not get discouraged, so here are a few tips to get through it:
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. It’s hard, but will be worth it in the end if you can hold out for the perfect job.
DON’T FOCUS ON THE “NO’S”
You won’t get an interview or a job offer every time you send in your resume. Dwelling on the jobs you didn’t get will only take time away from moving on to the next opportunity. Instead of fixating on why you didn’t get that one job, work on molding yourself in to the perfect candidate for the next one.
TAKE TIME 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.
RE-WORK YOUR RESUME
This doesn’t just mean applying 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.
NETWORK
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, ANYTHING to get in touch with people who can help you in your search. Having a solid resume and cover letter are helpful, but knowing someone who can connect you is one of the most crucial aspects of the job search. One phone call can help bring your resume to the top of the pile and get you the interview.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR APPLICATIONS
Write down keyword searches, application dates, and a contact email. Keep track of as much information about your application as you can so you can follow up. If you realize you haven’t heard back in a few weeks, chances are the job has been filled and you can move on to the next one. This can also help 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 searches can be hard on everyone. As long as you stay focused on the career you want and are working hard every day to get there, you will succeed.