How do you stay motivated during a job search?
I’ve been searching for a job for months since the company i worked for went out of business. And Im just getting to a point where Im ready to just give up.
I’ve had my resume professionally reviewed several times. I’ve spent hours writing cover letters. I’ve spent time talking to career counselors, networking, and researching opportunities. And month after month of this I feel like I’ve gotten absolutely nowhere.
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It’s crucial to have a great resume, it is worth taking the time to create something that looks superb and does the job correctly. The site in the box below has plenty of information on resumes and help with alternative careers.
Job hunting can be hectic. You just have to stay motivated and keep applying for jobs. The companies might not be hiring currently in your field but eventually you will land the job. Have you tried changing your career or going back to school? There are lots of government programs that help you through the hard times like this. Try looking for government assistance.
Make your job search your job. Set schedules. Get up and get out of the house. Don’t be at home to hear the phone not ring.
Volunteer, it gives you a sense of purpose and self-worth. It also gives you the possibility of meeting some network contacts. The right kind of volunteer work could keep your skills sharp. It also gives you something to answer with when they ask at the interview, “So, what have you been doing for the past X months?” I didn’t sit on my butt. I took my talents and gave back to the community!
Get a temp job. It too, will get you out of your pajamas and into some work clothes. It too, may help keep up your skills while putting some money in your wallet. It is also another place where you might meet that critical network contact. Also many companies use temp-to-perm as their hiring process. I started my current job as a temp and I am NOT working the job I was originally hired for. So it may be low paying and “not your thing,” but it could lead to something else.
Use the time to sharpen your saw. Take a course. If you can’t afford to do that, take some free online tutorials. I learned a lot about MS-Access while I was out of work. I needed a contact management program and couldn’t find one I liked, so I wrote my own.
Try to keep yourself so busy that you will look forward to taking a vacation from the job search – yes, you do have to do that every now and then.