A Guest Post by Lisa Hagrid
We’ve all been there. After tirelessly applying for jobs day after day, we barely get any calls from those we’ve been applying for.
Sometimes, we’re not even given the time of day for a rejection letter and simply ignored entirely.
This is an all-too-common scenario that happens even to the best of us, and honestly, it can be quite demotivating. Even more so the longer you go on without any potential prospects. No one goes to a job wanting to be rejected, after all. It’s quite a waste of time on your end especially.
But all hope is not lost yet. Even when you’re at your low point, this doesn’t mean that it’s an impossibility to find a job that suits you. Why do I say this? Because a job should be treated like a marathon, something that you’re working for long-term, rather than a sprint. Unless your situation is really dire, getting a job shouldn’t just be your goal, but getting a job that fits you.
Here are some tips that can help you get right back on track:
Take a break
First thing’s first, you might want to take a step back from the job hunt. It can hurt the psyche to experience rejection after rejection, but you may very well end up burning yourself out long before you even get your job if you keep this up. There is really no need for you to let your job hunt consume your life.
For now, try to relax. Get your mind off of job hunting and do something else. Keep your mind and body healthy first and foremost, and your job hunts will go much more smoothly in the future.
This can mean something as simple as standing up and simply indulging yourself: Eating your favorite snacks, taking a nice nap, playing video games, going out for a walk, etc.
This isn’t a one-time thing only either. The next time you go job hunting and think that you might be going at it a bit too far with no results yet, take a moment to unwind your stress. It’ll make things a lot easier, trust me.
Don’t check your emails all the time
It can be anxiety-inducing to wonder about whether or not you’ll get the job, but don’t let it get to you. You have other ways to spend your time, and there are better ways to be more productive than to wait around all day for an email that may never come.
Change your strategy every once in a while
If you find that you are unsuccessful in the way you are pursuing a job, it might be a good idea to shift gears and change, such as the way you present yourself, your resume, or the jobs you are going for.
Experience your feelings from rejections – but don’t dwell on them
There’s nothing wrong with feeling angry or frustrated about being rejected from a job offer multiple times. That is valid, and everyone feels those as well.
But don’t let it cloud your mind entirely and keep striving forward. It only ends when you choose to give up in doing so.
Think long and hard about the type of job you really want
While you’re taking a break from going job hunting, this is also the perfect time to reflect on the type of job you are looking for.
Are the jobs you are applying for really the ones that you think will fit you?
Or are you applying to fit for your job?
Now, there is no one-size-fits-all job. Some people just enjoy working for a multitude of reasons (Co-workers, environment, just the act of being productive), while others would rather minimize it for their own reasons as well (Prefers to have more free time to spend elsewhere, doesn’t like the working environment, etc.).
Whatever the case, it just goes to show that you really need to make sure that the job you’re going for is really something you know you can handle or even love, and not just something you’re choosing for the sake of having a job.
Why do I say this? Because even if you manage to get a job in the end, if it does not “click” with you, you may find yourself becoming unhappy very quickly, especially if you don’t get an employer that treats you well.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
It might be difficult to even think about asking for help from other people like your parents or a friend, especially as an unemployed adult, but remember that humanity only got this far from asking help from its fellow humans.
There is no shame in asking help from the people you know who care about you and might have experience in the job process, and who knows, they might even be able to give you a helping hand.
Connect with others via networking
Yes, introverts and shy people, it might be difficult, but this really helps. Knowing a lot of people and getting recommended to a job position by them, especially if they are under the company you are aiming to apply for, really helps. Companies are much more likely to trust the word of a trusted employee than gamble on an interviewee that they know nothing about.
Consider a part-time job or become a freelancer
If you are not able to find a full-time job yet, then you might want to consider other options like a part-time job or even freelancing. That way, you are still able to earn money on the side while you search for a job that can fit you.
You may not earn as much as a full-time job might offer, but money is still money, and you will have much more time for yourself too. Besides, getting more experience via part-time jobs will make your resume look good too.
Consider a remote job
If you’ve been simply looking on the ground for a job you can get into, there is an entirely different job type that you may not have taken advantage of yet: a remote job.
Instead of showing up to work, you simply need to stay at home and have a desktop, a camera, and a good internet connection at the minimum.
The perks of this include not having to worry about the commute or driving, and usually have a much more flexible schedule as a result.
If this kind of work sounds appealing, then you’re in luck, because there are plenty of websites out there that offer remote jobs.
As an added bonus, more people are turning to remote jobs because of the pandemic, and it is more than likely that this culture will be here to stay even long after the pandemic passes.
Don’t stop looking
Jobs will never stop appearing, whether online or in person. That is why as mentioned before, take a break when you can and gather your bearings. There is always a next time and more opportunities for you to find.
Taking a break is a good thing but giving up entirely is not. Go get them!
