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6 Ways to Reboot Your Job Search

Topics: Career Advice

You’ve heard people say that looking for work is the toughest job you’ll ever have. And, if looking for a job has been a major part of your daily routine for more than a couple of weeks, it’s likely you know what they mean by this. The whole process can really start to bring you down after a little while. So, if you’ve hit a bit of a wall with your job search, consider these tips to help you get back on track.

reboot

(Photo Credit: Thomas Lefebvre/Unsplash)

1. Change your routine, or at least your location.

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If you wake up, check your email, check your job search sites, make some breakfast, send out resume and application packets, and then hit the couch for a couple-hour break before starting it all over again – stop doing that.

It doesn’t even matter exactly what you do instead, just that you vary your routine. Try getting out of the house to do your job-search work one in a while. Take a laptop and the rest of your materials down to the local library, or grab a coffee with a friend before starting in on it. Just changing your location could help to change your attitude, which could help you think about this process with fresh eyes and a renewed attitude.

2. Network, network, network.

Some of us might feel a little funny about turning to people we know for help when looking for work, but with so many options and opportunities to do so available, there’s sure to be an option that everyone can get comfortable with.

Try messaging old friends and colleagues and letting them know what you’re up to. It couldn’t hurt for more people to know you’re looking for work, especially if those people already hold you in high regard professionally. Networking can be a powerful tool in your job search process. Why not take it out of the box? If nothing else, it’s a great excuse to get out of the house and meet up with an old friend.

3. Take a break for a couple of days.

Looking for work really is exhausting. Although the situation can feel quite urgent, it’s still important to give yourself a break from it once in a while.

Just take a couple days off. Think of it as a weekend. You’ll have fresh eyes and a clearer more optimistic perspective after giving yourself a little break. During your mini-vacation, consider temporarily unplugging from all of your technology. You’ll feel extra refreshed when you get back to those screens again later to resume your search.

4. You’ve really got to be on LinkedIn.

It’s reported that, these days, 90 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn as their main search tool. So, if you’re not on LinkedIn, you really should be. Think carefully about how you’re marketing yourself via your profile, and get some outside marketing help if you’d like. Utilizing this important tool effectively could make a world of difference in your job-search process.

5. Accept that it could take awhile, and know that this is normal.

It’s common, typical even, for job searches to take quite a while. And, the higher up you’re trying to aim, the longer it could take. Expect to be at this for at least a couple of months, and maybe even closer to half a year. Be patient and remind yourself that this process might be a little lengthier than you might prefer.

6. Keep your confidence up.

One of the worst things about looking for work is that it can kind of chip away at how you feel about yourself. But, projecting confidence is important for your professional advancement, so you want to be very careful not to let this piece slip away during a job search.

Spend time with friends and family, invest more energy and attention into your hobbies since you have the time right now, and bask in the glow of recent accomplishments … just be sure to keep your chin up. Looking for a job really is hard work, don’t allow it to get the best of you.

Tell Us What You Think

How is your job search going? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.


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Stewart
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Stewart

I have been on the job search for roughly 3 months and it has been TOUGH. For me, it hasnt been the rejections that get me down, its the fact that most companies just don’t get back to you, instead of sending a rejection email. So there’s always the hope that they’re still considering you, even 3/4 weeks after your last interview.
Its extremely tough finding a job in today’s market. Good luck to everyone on the search.

Stan
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Stan

Thank you for sharing this article. I find that I’m much more productive at my local coffee shop with my headphones on than I am at home; fewer distractions. The challenge of “it could take awhile” is that awhile becomes a long time and it is frustrating to get shortlisted time and again only to see less qualified (or differently qualified) people selected. Keeping confidence up is probably the hardest when you get several rejections. I try to find the… Read more »

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