Staying positive when searching for a job can be one of the most difficult things that you will ever do; that sounds rather over dramatic, but at TheEmployable we know it isn’t.  The level of stress and strain that job seeking can have on a person is immense, particularly if you are experiencing a sustained period of unemployment.  Fear, frustration, low self-esteem, disappointment, repeated failures and the job search blues can all begin to erode away your motivation and begin a vicious cycle that can be very difficult to escape from.  How can you stay motivated when job seeking?

One of the major problems with looking for a job is that unlike other activities which usually have a predetermined end date, job searching is unsettlingly open ended. This kind of uncertainty can add another layer of frustration to the process, meaning that waning motivation can become a real issue.

At TheEmployable we have made it our mission to support and encourage you through every step of the job hunting process, and so have compiled 4 of our favourite ways to give your motivation a boost when you need it most.

Stay motivated with some of these tips

Become more organised to stay motivated

We don’t know about you, but the very thought of setting to work in a disorganised and chaotic environment makes our teeth hurt, and what’s more can actually destroy whatever motivation we have to get started.  It’s really worthwhile to take some time to ensure that your job search is as well organised as possible.  Not only will you be able to work more efficiently but you will also find that motivation is in greater supply when you have a clear plan of action and a well organised work environment.

We find that keeping a written record of all of the jobs you apply for can give you a sense of accomplishment, and also serves as a handy point of reference when reviewing your applications.

Set goals to stay motivated

The work involved in searching for a job is so staggering that it can be very easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks that you have to complete.  To put some perspective on the seemingly never-ending parade of work, it can be a really good idea to set yourself some goals to achieve on a daily and weekly basis.  As well as helping to give you a sense of accomplishment and a boost to your self esteem, this can help you to keep track of the things that you are actually achieving and make sure that you are being as robust as possible in your efforts.

List your aims to stay motivated

Whilst you might be in need of a job, it is important to remember that ‘finding a job’ is not the single, solitary aim of your efforts.  In most cases you will be looking for a job which is as close to your dream job as possible, so it’s important that you understand the kind of things that you would like in a job.

This can be a nice exercise to complete, especially if you have been searching for a job a long time, because it gives you the opportunity to take a step back from your work and re-evaluate the reasons for your efforts.  It will also hopefully allow you to gain a more focused perspective on the type of roles that you should be applying for i.e. those which meet most of the criteria you are looking for.

Reward yourself to stay motivated

All work and no play, made Jack try to slaughter his family… Okay, so maybe jack was a little unhinged to begin with, but the point is certainly a valid one.  As human beings we operate on a programme of effort = reward, when job seeking, the reward element of this equation is often delayed to an extent that can reduce our motivation to continue putting in the work.  This is of course a natural reaction when putting in the effort doesn’t seem to deliver any discernable rewards, and so in order to sure up your motivation, it is vital that you provide positive reinforcement by rewarding yourself for the work that you do.  It’s not about results, it’s about what you do to get them.

This reward could be something as simple as treating yourself to a day off, or doing something that you love to do, just make sure that you have worked hard enough to deserve it.