Job search tips to reduce the stress and set yourself up for success
Looking for a new job can be exciting, but also overwhelming. There are so many things to consider, and it is easy to become stressed, no matter how many times you have been through it. Stress is not productive and won’t make your search any easier, so use these tips to increase your chances of having a successful job search:
- Plan: break goals down into smaller objectives, this makes the whole process more manageable. You could first set a goal of finding a career coach to help you, then it could be updating your resume, perfecting your LinkedIn profile, and then networking. Set smaller goals and you can feel good about achieving your larger outcome.
- Focus: there are so many elements to a successful search. Instead of being stressed by them, take each application and interview as it comes and if you put the effort into it, you will feel calm and more confident in the process.
- Don’t worry about others: if you are comparing yourself to others, bring yourself back to your overall goal. Think about ways to improve yourself and be the best version of yourself. It might feel like all your friends have landed great jobs, or are already working in them, knowing that it can happen to you too.
- Self-care: you need to prioritize your self-care. While you might feel you have to find a new job immediately and you are spending all your waking hours looking, this is not the most productive way to conduct a search. Balance, dedicate time toward the search, but also make time to exercise, spend time with friends, etc. so that you can feel positive while you are searching.
- Recognize your value: remember your strengths and achievements. Know that you have a lot to offer, and you’ve had success before, whether in school, sports, or your personal life, and you will again. Confidence, not arrogance goes a long way.
