Searching for a job can be exhausting, whether you are in-between jobs or looking for your first job. Sometimes you may feel as if the search is meaningless and scrolling through multiple listings can be tiring.

How is it possible to stay optimistic and productive while doing such a draining task? Sit back, have your resume ready, and take notes: here are some tips to keep your job search more engaging, less strenuous, and more importantly, fruitful.

Keep a Schedule

Job searching is, unfortunately, like a job itself and treating it like one is not a bad idea. Setting a schedule makes the job search more effective by dedicating your attention on the task, without exhausting yourself.

There is no one set way of setting a schedule. Perhaps dedicating a different goal to each day of the week will work for you and splitting up the job search into smaller periods is a better fit for someone else. Someone can spend their Monday revising their resume, while someone else can spend their Monday networking.

Job searching is different for everyone. Provided that the schedule allows individuals some sort of structure alongside breaks, it should help in the quest to find a job.

Build Up New Skills

While searching for a job, do not be afraid to add some new skills to your resume. The more cards at your disposal, the more opportunities for employment.

There are two categories of skills that employers are looking for: soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills deal with a person’s ability to function in the workplace, with skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Hard skills are skills that are specialized knowledge, such as in a specific field of work.

For example, someone can have the soft skill of being a good leader and have the hard skill of being a good programmer. For any job, a combination of both soft and hard skills is needed. Show off a good mix of both skills to impress employers.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to fulfill the tips above, keeping a schedule and building up new skills, in one place! Alongside keeping yourself occupied with some sort of work, it is a chance to network and display your dedication to causes.

Much like a job search, volunteering is especially beneficial if you treat it like a job. Volunteering may be unpaid work, but it is still an opportunity to showcase what kind of worker you are.

It is still an area that deserves to be treated with professionalism. A successful volunteering experience can culminate into a great reference on your resume!

Be Kind to Yourself

As mentioned earlier, searching for a job can be exhausting. You can even experience “job search depression”: depression linked to trying to find a job. Depression can accumulate from the stress, anger, and anxiety that job searching can cause. Taking breaks help ease the mind from these worries, at least for a little while.

Job searching is no easy feat, and every self-perceived setback can be disheartening. If a job application gets rejected, see it as an opportunity to keep improving. With every cover letter you write and every resume revision you finish, your profile becomes more polished.

Resilience is key. Spending time to revise your resume, volunteer, or focus on your mental health is not time wasted. If you are actively trying to pursue the goal that you have in mind, your efforts will not go to waste.

Sources:

Doyle, Alison. “How to Stay Positive While Job Hunting.” The Balance Careers, 17 Mar. 2021, https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-tips-for-staying-positive-while-job-searching-2062215. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022.

Doyle, Alison. “Top Skills and Attributes Employers Look For.” The Balance Careers, 16 July 2021, https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-skills-employers-want-2062481. Accessed 7 Mar. 2022.

Gross, Elana Lyn. “Stay Positive and Productive When You’re in between Jobs.” Monster, https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/stay-positive-and-productive-between-jobs-0417. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022.

Wooll, Maggie. “Job Search Depression Is Real: Here’s How to Overcome It.” BetterUp, 16 Aug. 2021, https://www.betterup.com/blog/job-search-depression. Accessed 4 Mar. 2022.