Job hunting can be a stressful and unpleasant time. You may be unemployed or stuck in a job you dislike. However there are ways of reducing the pain of finding a new job.
Here are some tips on what NOT to do when job hunting:
Blaming others and passing on the responsibility may make you feel better, but it does not help. It is your responsibility to find yourself a new job, regardless of the reasons you are in the situation you are in.
2. Be negative
In order to find, and get, a job you need to be positive. Quit focusing on the interviews and jobs that you missed out – focus on what you can do today. And what you are doing tomorrow.
3. Make job hunting your sole activity
Of course finding a new job will probably be one of your highest priorities, but it is still important to maintain a level of physical and mental health. Spend proper time with your family, go to the cinema, play sport, go out with friends.
4. See rejection as personal
Unless you are a massive exception, you will experience rejection when finding a new job. It comes with the territory – it is part of it, it’s normal. Get over it – ask for feedback, learn, change, and move on. If you don’t get (meaningful) feedback review your own performance – properly – not with sympathetic friends and family persuading you you were fine and blaming the other people.
5. Search for jobs in only one place
Scrolling through the same jobs website everyday can become monotonous. By broadening your search you have a better chance of finding the right job.
6. Apply for every job you find
By going for every job in your area you may lose focus. It is important to remember what sort of job you want and why you want it. Have you done that exercise by the way?
7. Think that times haven’t changed
It may have been a number of years since you have needed to find a new job and things will have changed. In fact – just take it from me – they have changed in the last 2-3 years. New practises such as phone interviews and online applications and competency tests are now standard.
8. Misuse social media
Social media can be a great thing when job hunting – when used correctly. Start your job search by updating your social media profiles. Do not use it to rant about your previous employer.
Image courtesy of Luigi Diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net