If you are reading this post while you are unemployed, you’re not alone. I completed a master’s degree a couple months ago and have been actively searching for a full-time job. I’ve definitely had some ups and downs throughout my job search and being unemployed really does take a toll on your mental health. Through my own experience of job hunting, I have noticed some things which have helped me remain sane (mostly) and motivated— Hopefully some of these are useful takeaways!
Give yourself a breather during the job search
I know this may sound counterintuitive because like me, you are most likely desperate to have money coming in as soon as possible. However, if you don’t take sufficient breaks or ‘rest days’ you will most likely burnout and quickly lose all motivation. Creating a daily routine helped me stay motivated. My typical routine starts with me going to the gym in the morning and relaxing for maybe an hour after.
In the afternoon I spend maybe 4/5 hours applying to jobs, replying to emails or sometimes prepping for an upcoming interview. In the evening I cook myself a quick dinner and then lose myself in writing, reading or some other leisure activity like watching a TV series. I do this on most days and as you can see, job hunting is just a part of my day rather than being my entire day.
In contrast, at the start of my job pursuit I spent the first two weeks applying for jobs probably for 6/7 hours a day and by the end of two weeks, I had received a couple of rejections and I felt completely exhausted and demotivated. My routine might not work for you but if you don’t already have one, you should try experimenting until you eventually find one that works for you and takes into consideration your physical and mental needs.
Rejection is not the end of the world
If you are a few months into your job search then you have probably received numerous rejections from companies. This is completely normal, I have probably applied to about 500 different jobs in the last three and a half months and half of those were automatic rejections via email. The rejections were from companies that even bothered to update me regarding my application.
My point is, accept the fact that most of the job applications you send are going to end up either being ghosted completely or rejected and a tiny percentage of those applications may result in an interview. That tiny percentage is what we are looking for because we only need one company to seriously consider us for the role. When you get rejected, don’t take it personally, a hundred other candidates probably applied for the same role and shared the same fate. Not becoming too attached to job applications will help keep you motivated in the long-term.
As Christmas was nearing, I took a day off from job applications to review my CV and cover letters because I was puzzled as to why I wasn’t receiving any invitations for interviews. I possessed previous full-time experience, a bachelor’s and a recently completed master’s degree. I subscribed to LinkedIn premium and viewed the jobs I had applied for and I was surprised to see that every single job I applied for had at least another 100 applicants, usually around 40-50% of them had a master’s degree like me and even if the role was an entry-level role, candidates with managerial experience were amongst the applicants.
The qualifications I possessed were not unique at all and now everything made sense, I realised that the job market was extremely competitive and the unemployment rate was high. So before you lose hope and dwell on rejections, it may be worth trying to understand the external factors which are causing you to get rejected and what you can do to change for future applications. Always remember that rejection is not the end of the world, take it on the chin, dust yourself off and move on to the next application!
Maintain your well-being
Mental health and well-being can often become overlooked during unemployment because we are tirelessly working on hopping back into a full-time job. However, just like giving yourself a breather, paying attention to your well-being is extremely significant when you’re trying to land that dream job. Just because you are unemployed doesn’t mean you should not continue doing your hobbies, going to the pub for a drink with your friends or getting involved in other activities.
Well-being is extremely important in your job search because this has an effect on your overall mindset, attitude, perception and motivation. I encountered a brief phase where I neglected my well-being and as a result, I developed a negative attitude toward corporations and job searching. I became unmotivated and didn’t see the point in applying to jobs anymore because I had a preconceived notion that I would get rejected anyway and this displayed a negative image of myself during interviews because I clearly lacked the enthusiasm for the job and didn’t sell myself enough.
Whatever routine you create for yourself, don’t forget to include activities that positively stimulate your well-being because maintaining a positive attitude during this uncertain period is vital to landing you a job. Although some days might be difficult, remember to engage in activities that excite you and help you stay motivated and full of energy.
