CHAPTER 2
15 WAYS TO STAY MOTIVATED DURING YOUR JOB SEARCH

No feeling beats the one you have when you first start searching for a new job after college. You are excited for the future, willing to take on new challenges, and highly motivated to impress potential employers. However, when you find out that your job search is taking longer than you expected, these feelings of optimism diminish, and you begin to feel like looking for a job is a daunting task or chore. You begin to doubt your skill set with each rejection, and you also begin to question whether you're even doing the right thing. These feelings can be frustrating. The ability to stay motivated during these times is one of the most critical skills for anyone seeking a job. You have to push these feelings aside; these tips will help you do that.

1. Be realistic about the job search time frame.

You have to be realistic about the time frame of your job search. Prepare yourself for speed bumps which are inevitable. For instance, don't expect to get an interview invite within the first week or two of starting your search.

2. Believe in yourself.

Just like a successful salesperson, you must have a strong conviction that what you are selling has value. When job hunting, you are essentially selling yourself and your skills. So, believe that you have whatever it is that the companies are looking for and need.

3. Remember why you want a job.

When you started searching for a new job, you had aspirations and things that spurred you on. After weeks of unsuccessful job searching, it is easy to lose sight of your primary motivation and focus. Maybe you wanted to pursue a career in a particular field, or you wanted new challenges. Whatever your motivation for finding a new job, don't lose sight of it. Always keep the original things that motivated you in mind and remind yourself that the dream job will eventually come, providing you don't relent and continue to work towards it. You also need to write down your career goals and even a career bucket list, if possible. You can always return to these during tough times when you are about to give up.

4. Deal with rejection constructively.

Getting rejected for a job you so desperately wanted can be frustrating, especially when you felt that the interview went well. It is natural to feel disheartened, but one thing you need to remember is never take the rejection personally. Instead, use it as an opportunity to improve yourself. Seek to know why you were rejected from the company; take what they say into serious consideration and make all the necessary amends.

5. Take time off from the job search.

The job search can sometimes seem like a job itself with all the time spent on looking for positions, completing applications and preparing for interviews. Take some time off, take a week, and focus on other aspects of your life. You can even use the time to learn a skill that will greatly add to your CV. After a short time off, you'll have renewed vigor and motivation for your job search.

6. Lean on your support network.

Do not keep your job search to yourself. Talking to friends, family and other members of your community about the progress of your job search can give you an avenue to work out your frustrations and help you see things from a different prospective. Friends and even mentors can help advise you on the jobs they feel aren't meant for you and even give you tips on how to land jobs in the future. So, open up conversations with them about your search.

7. Use online resources to keep your head in the game.

You can find your lost inspiration by just seeking online resources that are at your disposal. This could be a Ted Talk featuring someone that you look up to. By listening to them, you will let yourself be picked up by their inspirational words.

8. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Count your past achievements and remember how capable you are. In particular, remind yourself how academically sound you were in college, the skills you've been able to acquire and the amount of knowledge you have. Doing this will help you stay motivated and realize what an invaluable asset you will be to the right company.

9. Take a project-management approach.

Break down the job search process into a series of goals spread out over a period of time. For instance, you can give yourself a week to draft a resume and cover letter and another week to master interview questions and tips.

10. Keep your mind, body, and soul together.

The state of your body while job hunting can have a serious impact on your level of productivity in finding your desired job. Make sure you eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. These activities will help keep your body, mind, and soul together throughout this period.

11. Evaluate your progress.

Take some time out once in a while to assess how your job search is going. Take note of the activities you've been doing and the ones you need to start doing. Also, check to see if any of these things have been working. Improve on the activities that are working and remove those things that are not working.

12. Learn something new.

Make a conscious effort to learn something new. It can be something related to your field or just anything for fun. Learning new things has a way of stretching your brain and brightens your outlook. You can try your hand at musical instruments, like learning how to strum a few guitar chords, or you can learn a new sport.

13. Help Others.

You can take on some volunteer jobs in a company related to your field or even at a non-governmental organization (NGO). You might even make some great new contacts.

14. Read Biographies of Successful People.

Reading biographies of successful people will help you realize that every successful person encountered failures and setbacks along the way. Their stories will greatly assist you in picking yourself up and continuing your job search.

15. Get a Mentor.

If you already have a mentor, you can still get a second. You can have as many mentors as you want. These mentors will offer advice, perspective, and encouragement during your down times.

Set Up a Job Search Schedule (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)

You need to set up a job search schedule to help keep you on track in your job hunting. If you don't do this, your job hunting will only be on days you feel good, an attitude that will significantly destroy your motivation in the long run. You need to make changes to accommodate the needs of your job search. Each day you need to plan out your next day, and each week you need to plan out your next week. Make a base schedule for every day of the week, and on weekends squeeze out time to research new jobs so that on Mondays you'll have your targets ready. Your schedule should be placed on a daily calendar. Cross out each task as you complete it. You are expected to be more aggressive in the first few weeks of your job search since you are going to have more research and job listings to review. At about the third week, you should see a pattern in your routine. Below is a sample schedule.

• Start your day at the same time each morning - 6:30 am will give your day a good start and keep you structured.
• 45 minutes daily - every morning you need to take a shower and get dressed. And not in sweat pants; you need to put on real clothing, not sleepwear. This will keep you from lying on the couch or in bed. Remember that you have to appear smart, it will make you feel good and keep you motivated.
• 15-30 minutes daily - eat breakfast. This is the most important meal of the day and will keep your energy levels on track.
• 60 minutes daily - engage in fitness training. If you usually go to the gym whether in the morning, lunch time or evenings, keep to it. Do not draw back on your fitness routine. You can take long walks or do speed walking if you don't have a fitness routine or even seek out playing your favorite sport. All these can do wonders for your fitness. Engage in workouts you can do at home; jump rope, lift weights, practice yoga and/or do sit ups. Remember to consult your fitness expert with any fitness routine you start.
• 30 minutes daily - review any new job listings from online search engines. Prepare a list of the jobs with their descriptions and web links.
• 20 minutes daily - review the classified ads and circle jobs you want to apply for.
• 30 minutes daily - work on your list of companies and organizations you desire to work for. Pick out a few of these companies and get the contact information of their human resource managers for the position you are applying for.
• 20 minutes daily - organize your list of recruiters you need to contact.
• 30-60 minutes daily - review your networking: leads, contacts, and LinkedIn. Make a list of jobs or companies you want to apply for. Take part in LinkedIn group discussions. Review who recently viewed your profile and try to get their contacts.
• 60 minutes daily - take a tea break.
• 20 minutes twice daily - take a 20-minute break twice daily on top of 30-60 minutes for lunch. Walk around and have snacks in-between.
• 3-4 hours daily - from the above list you compiled, write your cover letters and make any changes to your resume to suit each of the jobs you are applying for. Send out resumes and cover letters by mail or email and complete any online...