Print From vacancies to companies, and even your own social network; you can find everything online these days. This makes the job search easily accessible. However, at the same time, all the possibilities can be overwhelming. You enter a world of job search websites, CV’s, job interviews and rejections. Applying can be a full-time job in itself and the process requires a lot of attention. During the process you may run into obstacles. Here are some practical tips to help you on your way:
- Apply Some Structure to Your Job Search: When you are not working, you can miss the structure and daily rhythm. By scheduling fixed activities, you can create some structure and also find time for the fun things in between applying for a job. It is important to find time to relax in addition to your job search, because applying for a job also costs energy. By setting yourself ‘work hours’, it can also help you to let go or ‘switch off’ from the job search.
- Set Goals for Yourself: For example, updating your resume, expanding your network via LinkedIn, writing a good letter or making a list of interesting vacancies or companies. The ultimate goal is to find a job. To keep you motivated, it is good to not only focus on the final goal, but also on interim goals. This will give you the feeling that you are busy, and making progress in the right direction. This sense of satisfaction will motivate you during the application process! In addition, you can link the achievement of interim goals to a reward, which can give you that little extra bit of motivation.
- Provide an Up-to-Date, Clear and Well-Arranged Curriculum Vitae (CV): On the internet you will find many example CVs and tips that can help you. Presenting yourself well is important, because you are often judged on your CV. It is also advisable to adapt your CV to the vacancy you are applying for. For example, are you applying for a vacancy where experience in management is an advantage and have you (ever) had experience in this? Make sure that this is clearly reflected in your CV so that it is immediately clear that you are suitable for the position.
- Build a Digital Network via LinkedIn: Make sure your LinkedIn is as complete as possible: let someone else write a recommendation about you, write down your skills and follow interesting companies.
- Stimulate Your (Offline) Network: Let your family and friends know what you are looking for. Word of mouth can be a very successful way to find a job because people already know you!
- Give Yourself Time to Explore: Just after becoming unemployed, it can be helpful to take some space and think about new opportunities. First look at vacancies; what opportunities are there for you in the labor market? What do you enjoy? Why? A strong direction will help you to find something that fits you! This intrinsic motivation can go a long way.
- Adjust Your Expectations: Look for something that gives you positive energy. That may very well be a lower position than the one you had before. Don’t focus on titles, look for something you enjoy. It’s not just about the work itself, but also everything around it, such as the work culture and colleagues. When you see a vacancy, ask yourself: who will my colleagues be? How old is the average employee? Do they do a lot of company outings? What is the company’s vision? Is there room to develop yourself in this company, for example through training? And does this align with your goals?
- Learn to Deal with Rejections: Applying for a job is (often) accompanied by being rejected. Especially after getting rejection after rejection, it can affect your self-confidence. Gera Noordzij indicates in her dissertation Motivating and Counseling the Unemployed that those who are applying for jobs constantly feel a sense of failure because they are constantly told that they are not good enough for a job. The focus is on what you can’t do, not on what you can do. Below you can find some tips to help you with this:
- Rejection often feels personal, but it doesn’t have to be. You can also see them as informative. If you really want something, what skills do you need to get there?
- After a rejection, you can also ask if they are able to help you further, for example if they have a tip or can provide feedback.
- As mentioned before, it is good to do fun things in addition to applying for a job. Try to focus on things that give you positive energy such as volunteering or sports.
Source:
Gera Noordzij. Motivating and Counseling the Unemployed.
