Searching for a job can be a long and emotional process. In a crowded and competitive job market, it has become standard to expect that you may need to devote several months to finding the best job for you. Each person’s situation is different. You may be unemployed, underemployed or wanting to leave a stressful position. It’s important to understand that landing a gig in your field or one that suits your interests is likely to require a great deal of time and effort. It’s normal for job search fatigue to set in, leading you to lose confidence and feel helpless at times. If you allow yourself to give in to this burnout, pressing forward toward your goal will begin to seem nearly impossible. Here are some of the best ways to avoid job search fatigue.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
In order to lead an effective search, it’s important to understand that looking for a job can be a job in and of itself. Therefore, you should treat it as such. Set up a regular routine to tackle some aspect of career hunting each day. Make a schedule and stick to it. Block out time on your calendar and commit to using it strictly for moving toward finding a great gig. In addition, group similar activities together in order to maintain efficiency. For example, you may want to set aside one chunk of time for reaching out to recruiters and another for scouring job postings. Doing things in this manner lets you focus more clearly on similar tasks and saves time because you’ll have all of your needed materials on hand. Don’t forget to incorporate tools such as networking apps and websites to help you streamline your search activities. It’s important to avoid job search fatigue.
Set Goals and Keep Track
Along with creating a job search routine, it’s wise to set time-measured goals and to regularly assess them. Create an overall plan for your job search that includes tasks like identifying positions for which to apply, networking, sending out application materials and following up with leads. Then break those activities down into weekly and daily goals. For example, decide how many new job leads you wish to discover each week and how many contacts you want to engage. Keep track of your activities and check your progress weekly. Doing so will confirm that you are being productive during those times when it feels like you’re getting nowhere. This kind of reality check is beneficial in keeping you focused and motivated.
Take Time to Grow
It might help to take some time to add to your skill set or show what you know in order to add to your marketability. Personal growth and exploration is always good, especially during this time of emotional burnout. You may wonder how you can manage to overcome the job fatigue in order to pursue something new. A good strategy is to choose something you’ve been wanting to do, anyway. For example, if you enjoy writing, starting a blog is a great way to showcase your knowledge and to utilize your writing skills. If a blog seems too daunting, consider writing a guest post for submission to a well-known site or even an article for a journal in your industry.
Set Limits
Setting limits is important when you’re looking for a job. This can be particularly true if you’re currently unemployed. In such cases, friends and family may see you as having tons of free time to spend with them or to help them out. Understand that it’s in your best interest to just say no. Explain that you need to spend your time wisely on pursuing activities that will improve your chances of finding employment. If you’re currently working while looking for a better position, you may need to set limits on your social contacts and other leisure activities.
Take Breaks
Though it is essential to stay focused during this time, one of the biggest factors leading to job search fatigue is stress. Don’t focus so much time and energy on the search that you burn yourself out. This will take a toll on your mental health and your relationships. Be sure to take some downtime to enjoy leisure activities and activities with your support network. Even if it’s just reading a good book or taking a walk in the park. Taking time to renew and refresh is one of the best ways to keep a positive outlook during this stressful time.
Avoid Job Search Fatigue
You know that looking for a job can feel overwhelming. Taking these steps will go far in helping you to avoid job search fatigue.
Can you think of any other ways to avoid fatigue during your job search? Comment below and share your tips, I’d love to get your thoughts as well!
If you need any assistance with getting your job search on the right track, reach out to connect.