How do you emotionally prepare for a job search?

9 Comments

1. Neetika BhatiaMarch 16,2022 at 3:06PM UTC

   The most important thing that I have learned recently is to think from the other perspective, for ex. if you have been rejected from a job interview then it is many times not because of you. It is just because you are not the right fit for the role, you just did not match their expectations which they have framed out in their minds. You should try to not take it personally, and try to move forward with motivation. Because you would be a good fit somewhere else :)

2. AnonymousMarch 16,2022 at 3:07PM UTC

   Set specific times you plan to do your job search each day. Leave it at the desk, computer, room, etc. when you finish.

   Don't do too many applications in one day, honestly 1-2 should be max for mental health and to help avoid make mistakes.

   Keep a spreadsheet of each job you are applying to and what stage you are it including a copy of the job description and a link to the application. This is helpful in multiple ways but I think for mental and emotional health you know where you stand. How long ago you put you applications in or did your first interview, etc. which allows you to know when you should follow up.

   Do your due diligence - put in the applications, send your thank you emails, and follow ups appropriately. This way you know you did everything you possibly could.

3. RosemaryacMarch 16,2022 at 3:12PM UTC

   For my last job search I decided I would only search for and pursue those opportunities that really grabbed me, that were something I really wanted to do, rather than settling. I was in the position where I had the luxury to do it this way, but it made all the difference for my emotional health. It was so hard to motivate myself when I was going for jobs that I knew were only going to be jobs. I was excited when it was something that really inspired me. I had to go through a few interviews to get there, but even for the jobs I didn't get, I was much more relaxed and felt better about the interviews, too.

4. AnonymousMarch 16,2022 at 3:47PM UTC

   The people before me have had some awesome advice and I do a lot of the things that they do too. One thing I also try to do that other people haven't said, is make sure I'm fulfilled in other aspects of my life.

   It's easy to fall into the trap of defining oneself only by career and job achievements, which makes the rejections even more painful. I've found that leaning into hobbies or volunteer work while looking for jobs, helped me define myself by those things instead of the rejections I was receiving. Sure I was being rejected but in that same day I had also baked some awesome cupcakes, helped at the humane society, was able to exercise for longer than ever before, or had a great chat with some friends/family.

   The rejections still hurt, but since it was a smaller part of the person I defined myself to be, I was able to bounce back from the rejections faster.

5. Tracey MorrisMarch 16,2022 at 3:58PM UTC

   During my most recent job search (pre-pandemic), I made sure I was taking time for mindfulness and self reflection at each step of the process. Rejection can be challenging, but if you can learn from those experiences, you can come out better in the end. Downloading a mindfulness app could be beneficial to help manage this.

6. Chan TumMarch 16,2022 at 4:04PM UTC

   Great question. When I was on the job search, I found it extremely helpful to take a day off between submitting applications. Best of luck on your search!

7. AnonymousMarch 16,2022 at 6:06PM UTC

   I always suggest not doing blanket approach sending out hundreds of resumes over a couple of months.

   I would get real clear about what type of work you are looking for, titles that apply to that work at your level and the culture you thrive in.

   Then be very targeted with your search. Also, don't spend 8 hours a day searching. If your links profile is up to date, and you are targeting only those positions that speak to your search criteria then you should only have a few new prospects per week. Reaching out to your network and follow up with that research and informational I interviews should only take an hour or two per day.

   What you want you do is be highly specific about where you are spending your energy and focus.

   It's easy to get frustrated and burned out if you start spreading yourself too thin and wasting your energy on roles that don't fit.

8. AnonymousMarch 17,2022 at 3:31AM UTC

   I have heard to "treat job searching like a job" but the bottom line is that it's usually not viable to spend hours and hours applying to jobs each day, if you're applying to jobs you'd really want and are tailoring your application package to the job posting. I would budget a certain amount of time each day - no more than three or four hours if you're not working right now and 1-2 hours if you are, to search job boards, put in applications, and do networking - and then stop. For me, it's easy to start getting overly-focused on searching, and then if there's not a lot of response, it starts feeling very stressful.

   Also, remember that in the age of online applications and applicant tracking systems, to a certain degree, getting a new job can be a numbers game. It is a good idea to put out feelers to your network (ex-coworkers, friends, family members, etc.) but since even with a referral so many companies require online applications - just remember that not hearing back or getting rejected may not be about you but about how the company's HR software is programmed. Good luck!

9. AnonymousMarch 17,2022 at 9:12PM UTC

   I totally agree with the comments here. I would add - allow yourself time to grieve the job you lost. I was laid off a few months ago. It was somewhat expected because business was slow but it hurt and left me feeling discouraged. In addition to the job loss, two weeks later my pet passed away. To make a long story short, I had to take some time to process each loss. It has not been easy but taking some personal time to heal has made a huge difference.

   Now that my head is clear, I can really focus on my next career opportunity. I know what I want and hopefully the best opportunity is yet to come.