Searching for a job is a mammoth task. You spend a lot of time researching & networking. Landing up with an interview can take months. Most online job applications take 30 minutes to 2 hours to get filled. As applications pile up, so does the rejection letters. Applying for numerous jobs & getting doors slammed on your face can dishearten you. So how do you cope up with job search frustration? Here are some tips:
- You are not alone: Feeling of frustration & defeat are common among job seekers who have spent months searching for that job & ends up with no success. They feel trapped in this sandunes of dead-end job & hence feel discouraged. Job takes more than 60% of our daily lives & adding an bad & incompetent boss & lower than expected compensation gives no room to build a base for career advancement. Lack of opportunities, a dreaded long day & experiencing sad thoughts about life are indications that your job is making you depressed. It is hard to realize that searching for a suitable job takes from 4 to 10 months depending upon your strategy, resources & industry. To cut back the job search time, tap into your network. Reconnect with former colleagues/co-workers & register with industry related events & seminars. Let your connections know you are looking out.
- Enhance your personal brand: Stand out ! Be seen! These are words & phrases used by career professionals however very few of them guide on how to execute personal branding strategy. Professionals often face problems in articulating how they are different from their counterparts having similar qualifications & experience. You must take inventory of what sets you apart & articulate that in a very exceptional way. Employers prefer comparing apple to apple. Take concerted efforts to make them aware how your apple is more juicer. If you cannot communicate your worth compared to lower priced candidates, employers will go for the bargain. Here you should go ahead & do self promotion & personal branding. Nothing is more important & impactful in helping you land your dream job than confidence & networking. Please remember referrals have more weightage than your credentials. Let potential employers feel that they are clearly giving up a competitive edge if they are considering other fellow candidates over you.
- Goal setting: Set SMART goals for your job search. Fix up target of say contacting 10 employers & networking with 7 people every week. Successful job seekers spend time & resources in their careers. If you are not able to stick to your goals, take professional help. Consider hiring a resume writing expert & career coach who can articulate a job search strategy for you & can reduce your stress around your job search. Sometimes the issues are beyond the purview of your career coach. Hiding behind the social media while your dying from inside will do more harm to your mental well being. Rejection notifications are hard to accept especially when you have that expertise & capability of doing that job efficiently. Seek guidance in finding positivity in your approach to land your dream job.
Sign up here for our career coaching services which includes:
- Crafting high-quality career documents (résumé and cover letter) to highlight your unique value offerings
- Creating a tailor made LinkedIn profile so as to clearly showcase a specific value, & how you solve problems better than other job candidates.
- Devising a job search strategy based on your preferred sector/geography/function
