In a typical year, January and February are the biggest months for hiring.
There are a number of varying reasons for this:
- Organizations are working off of new budgets and are able to allocate resources to making new hires.
- People are more motivated to find a new job at the onset of a new year – possibly due to New Year’s resolutions.
- Due to the holiday season, many companies enact a hiring freeze at the end of the year.
- Employees wait to collect their end-of-year bonuses before quitting. As a result, many positions get posted in the beginning of the year.
Despite the opportunity that exists during these months, however, landing a new job is not guaranteed.
And when job searches begin to drag on, they can become demoralizing.
It’s important, though, to stay in a healthy frame of mind when this happens.
So that’s why, in this blog post, we explain what you need to do to stay positive, motivated, and upbeat during a long job search.
Ways to Stay Positive During a Long Job Search
Keep a Morning Routine
A common piece of advice many remote workers have received over the past few years is to treat each morning like you are going into the office.
That means getting up to an alarm, taking a shower, and getting dressed for the workday.
When on the job hunt, you should keep your morning routine the same as it was when you were employed – and as it will be when you’re working again.
Start each day by searching for new job postings, making alterations to your resume, and keeping up with the latest news in your industry.
By keeping with a routine, it’ll make for an easier transition when you do land your next position.
Engage With Others
Longtime football coach Bum Phillips once said, “There are two kinds of coaches – those who have been fired and those who are going to get fired.”
While it may seem embarrassing to speak about, there’s no shame in being unemployed. Nearly every working person in the world has gone through a period of unemployment.
So if this happens, don’t shy away from speaking with others.
Talk with your acquaintances, alert them of your situation, and use this as a time to strengthen the bonds in your professional network.
Informing others that you’re looking for work is an excellent way to find a new position. According to some estimates, nearly 85% of jobs are found through networking and 70% of jobs are never publicly published.
Collect Testimonials
While speaking with those in your network, ask for testimonials from those who can attest to the type of person and worker you are.
Creating a collection of testimonials about yourself can serve multiple purposes.
For one, they can serve as a reminder of your skills and talents – helping to boost your self-esteem.
Two, you can use them to aid in your job search – especially if you’re utilizing LinkedIn.
When using the LinkedIn platform to search for a new job, endorsements there matter greatly by helping to elevate you and your profile above your competition. They can also increase your chance of getting discovered through the related skills your LinkedIn profile shows.
Work On Your Career
When unemployed and searching for a new position, make use of this new found free time and work on your career.
One of the easiest ways to do so is to pursue professional certifications.
Getting certified will increase your marketability, increase your earning power, improve your reputation, enhance your credibility, validate your knowledge, increase your confidence, and earn you respect from your peers.
It’s also a great answer in a job interview for explaining what you did between positions.
Think Positive Thoughts
Thinking positive thoughts is important because it can have a beneficial impact on both physical and mental well-being.
People who are able to maintain a positive outlook cope better with stress, have better immunity, and have a lower risk of premature death.
Staying positive also helps you welcome new experiences and recognize new opportunities. And when you can see opportunities, hope increases.
