Articles : Dealing With the Job Search Blues

Searching for a job can be extremely frustrating in the best of times and especially during seasonal slowdowns, when opportunities are scarce, or simply when the process itself is drawn out. The job search blues can invade you without warning at any time and can completely drain you of your self-confidence. Before you know it you may find that you have lost your energy, efficiency and effectiveness in the search process.

The job search process has a way of making intelligent, confident people feel like failures. If you start to feel like you are fated to be unemployed forever, immediately raise a red flag. In order to perform an effective search, you must stay optimistic. Realize that you will get a job if you are patient, persistent, and force yourself to keep at it. Here are some ideas to help you hang in there when your optimism plummets.

Break the Process Down Into Achievable Steps 
The job search process is often a long and agonizing exercise. The secret to keeping focused is to break down the process into manageable steps, which you can achieve every day.

Write out a job search schedule that includes what activities you want to do and when you want to do them. Schedule half-day periods each weekday to offer variety to your workweek. Each half-day can then be fully dedicated to one activity. For example, Monday morning could be dedicated to identifying leads from the newspaper and the Internet, the afternoon may be focused on making networking calls.

You can dedicate half-days to a number of activities including scheduling follow ups on prospects, researching companies for interviews, or writing and sending out your “thank-you” letters.

Of course, to add a little spice to your fully scheduled days, a job interview can be inserted at any time.

Make a “To-Do” List
A great approach that you may want to take is to simply write a daily or weekly "to do" list. You can then make a check mark against every item you have completed as you accomplish that goal.

The list provides you with physical and psychological evidence that you are making progress in your job search process. The more you experience progress, the more positive you'll feel and therefore the more motivated you'll be.

Choose Quality over Quantity 
It is important to avoid letting the numbers get you down during your job search. The quantity of jobs for which you apply is not nearly as important as the quality of them. You only want to get one job.

It is demoralizing to go to many interviews when you are ill prepared and unsuitable for the role. What really counts is getting interviews to jobs that are right for you. Concentrate your efforts on applying for jobs that you really want and those for which you can best demonstrate your suitability. You will be more satisfied with a few solid interviews where you can confidently demonstrate your fit.

Join a Networking Group
Networking groups can be a great source of comfort during a long job search process. Consider joining forces with other professionals who are also in the midst of a job search.
Individuals in these support groups generally do not sit around complaining about their predicament. Rather, they brainstorm about each person's next step, share ideas, and provide leads to each other.

This is a great way to keep your self-esteem intact and to overcome the terrible isolation that often accompanies a job search.

Reconnect With Friends and Colleagues
Networking can be a source of the blues if the thought of finding and getting in touch with strangers isn't appealing to you. The most important aspect of networking is nurturing your relationships. The best way to do this is by getting in touch with people you already know. You'll feel more comfortable reaching out to your personal contacts and you will get better results.

You may want to seek out at least a couple of people who you would like to reconnect with and take them out for a “catch up” session at the local coffee shop. Your personal contacts will be able to help you to brainstorm and come up with new ideas in your job search.

Everyone knows someone. Even if your contacts do not work in your industry or field, they may know someone who does. As an extra benefit, employers often prefer to hire a person who has been referred by someone that they know rather than a stranger.

Talk to Recruiters on the Phone
It is important to be proactive in your job search in order to continue to stay optimistic. No matter how hard it is to take the first step, you must pick up the phone and contact recruitment firms directly. Candidates with initiative do not wait by the telephone. Rather, they create their own opportunities.

Many recruitment firms specialize in certain areas. For example, a firm may specialize in executive level positions. Another firm may specialize in temporary or contract work. Some firms specialize in an industry or field such as high technology.

Do not get discouraged if a recruiter does not have a suitable job available at the time of your call. Recruiters always want to be prepared so that they are well equipped to present a qualified candidate like you when the right job order comes along!

Write Your Personal Success Story
The job search process can be a roller coaster ride with constant highs and lows. If the blues are starting to creep back into your life once again, try taking some time to writing a short “Personal Success Story”.

Probe into your history and uncover an accomplishment. An accomplishment is a circumstance or event that gave you a sense of achievement. It is something that you enjoyed doing, did well and felt good about.

You can use the “SAR” format to write your personal success story. Describe the situation you encountered and the problems that needed to be resolved. Explain in some detail the action that you took to resolve the situation. Finally, outline the result and benefit of your actions. When you are finished, take the time to read and enjoy your story.
During your next interview, you will have a great new personal success story to relate to your interviewer!

Catch Up on Your Thank-You Letters
If you have not been diligent in sending “Thank-You” letters to all the people who interviewed you, this is the time to catch up.

Unbelievably, most job applicants fail to send a simple “thank-you” after their interview. So few job applicants send thank-you letters that you automatically stand out if you do.

Never burn your bridges. Even if you have not had your best interview, it always makes good business sense to send a thank you card or letter.

By sending a thank-you letter, you are imparting the message that you are gracious. In addition, you are one again raising your name in the mind of the interviewer.

Know That You Are Not Alone
Everyone going through a job search process encounters setbacks from time to time.

At any one time, millions of others are riding the job search roller coaster with you. These individuals are doing many of the same activities that you are doing each day and going through the same highs and lows as you are. They get calls from potential employers either to set up an interview or to give them the bad news that they will not be advancing in the process.

It is important to make sure that you do not let undesirable incidents dissuade you from continuing the search. Being turned down is a normal part of the process in the real world. It is a common experience and expected to occur in the job search process. 

Learn to Cope With Rejection
Rejection after rejection in your job search campaign can be traumatic. Rejections can crush your confidence and seriously impact your job search. Try to adopt a defence strategy for dealing with rejection. Work hard on keeping a positive attitude on a regular basis by reading the items that you have completed on your “to do” lists, reviewing the accomplishments that you have listed in your resume, reading your personal success stories, and giving yourself pep talks often.

Try to take rejection in stride by realizing that each experience can be a learning opportunity. If you give it your very best shot, then you should be able to cope with the rejection well because you know it was not due to any big mistake on your part. 

Remember that every “no” means that you are one step closer to a “yes”.

Ask For Help
Everybody needs help from time to time. If you feel your confidence slipping, ask for help. Be honest and explain how you are feeling. Sometimes, all it takes is an understanding person to listen to your concerns, provide you with support and help you to regain your momentum.

Don’t Quit
Do not ever let the rejection become so demoralizing that you’re ready to drop out of the job search process. A wave of self-pity is a normal reaction after a rejection, but it is a grave error to give up.

Do not hide inside your home watching television until days roll into months. This will only hurt you because hiring managers would likely question the gap in your employment history.

The rhythm of a successful search includes a conscious commitment to stick with it for as long as it takes. Even when you have had a great interview, do not stop the search. In order to ensure that you always have something to look forward to, you must persist. Never give up on the process. It will happen!

Sharon Graham is a certified professional resume writer, employment interview strategist, and author of Best Canadian Resumes. She assists job seekers though her consulting firm Graham Management Group, www.GrahamManagement.com and is executive director of Career Professionals of Canada. You can reach Sharon by e-mailing info@GrahamManagement.com