How to Stay Positive During Your Job Search: 9 Simple Tips
Distribute My Resume6 min read. Updated on April 16, 2020
Table of contents
Table of contents
Table of contents
Table of contents
Maintain your motivation by learning how to stay positive during a job search
Most job seekers understand that looking for a new job can be an exciting experience. However, it’s also easy for candidates to get frustrated, especially if they’re not seeing the positive results they expect. One of the most important things you can do to stay motivated is to learn how to stay positive during a job search.
Don't let your job search drag you down. Instead, make a conscious decision to stay positive and thankful for what you have, and the rest will fall into place. Here's how!
Why is it important to stay positive during your job search?
A positive mindset can benefit you as you seek your next job. Negative emotions, feeling overwhelmed, and anxiety can weigh heavily when your job search efforts seem to be going the wrong way.
Any type of negative emotion can create harmful stress that unfavorably impacts your mental, emotional, and physical health. These feelings cause you to be overwhelmed and lead to a sense of helplessness, which can lead to anxiety and even depression. Maintaining a positive mindset can help stimulate your nervous system in a good way, alleviate stress, and keep you focused on your job search efforts.
Once you learn how to stay positive during a job search, your chances of receiving a positive response from employers will dramatically improve. The reality is that employers can often tell whether a job candidate has a good attitude and outlook on life.
If you can create and sustain a positive mindset, you enhance your odds of making a great first impression on those employers.
How to stay positive during a job search
If the goal is to stay positive, you first may need to know how to inject positivity into what’s going on around you.
1. Learn to view everything as a learning experience and opportunity
Most job seekers understand that the job search process is like a rollercoaster, with plenty of ups and downs until you reach your destination. It’s easy to get distracted by long response times, a lack of interviews, and resume rejections.
The important thing to remember is that each step in your job search journey can offer lessons and opportunities that you can use to become an even stronger candidate.
For example, when you interview for a position, pay attention to how well you’re doing with your responses. Try to learn from the experience so that you are better prepared for the next encounter. It’s a good idea to take notes right after the interview so that you can identify any weaknesses in your performance and provide better answers in the future.
2. Actively resist negative thoughts
Learn to identify negative thoughts as they’re forming in your mind. Just because something negative pops into your head, doesn’t mean you have to believe it or give those negative thoughts a safe harbor in your mind.
By learning to recognize negative thoughts as soon as they appear, you can actively resist them with positive affirmations, breathing techniques, exercise, or even a short walk around the block.
3. Keep your eye on your goal
One of the easiest ways to learn how to stay positive during your job search is to stay focused on your goal of finding and landing the perfect job. Make sure that you revisit your goal on a regular basis so you don’t get distracted with negativity. It helps to have a written plan that you can review each day, with clear career goals that are both realistic and attainable.
4. Be thankful for what you have
Think about all of the good things in your life – your health, family, pets, and friends. By being thankful, you can help keep negative thoughts at bay. Take some time to craft a list of everything that you’re grateful for and revisit that list daily. As you learn to be more thankful, that positive mindset will make you more attractive to employers.
5. Focus on your successes
Instead of dwelling on rejection and resume failure, learn to identify the successes that you encounter each day. Take note of two or three good things that happen and celebrate those victories – no matter how small they may seem right now.
Some examples of these small successes can include:
Updating your resume and submitting it to one or more prospective employers
Expanding your network or catching up with old contacts
Contacting companies to inquire about potential job openings
Spending time with a friend you haven’t spoken with in a while
Helping your children with their homework
6. Try to give back
One of the best ways to stay positive during your job search is to find some way to give back to your community. There are a whole host of volunteer opportunities out there! If you choose to volunteer at a food bank or other charitable organization, you’re likely to enjoy improved spirits and an even greater sense of gratitude!
7. Take care of yourself
As you focus on your mental health and emotional well-being, don’t forget to take care of your physical health, too. If you allow your health to suffer, you’ll probably struggle to maintain a positive outlook on life or your job search.
Make healthy dietary choices whenever possible. Proper nutrition can help to bolster your energy levels, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve your general sense of well-being.
Get some regular exercise to keep your body active and in shape. That’s especially important when so much of the job search takes place in the digital space instead of the real world. Try to visit the gym, play with your pets, or go for a short walk to get your body in motion.
Get plenty of rest each day so that you give your body and mind time to recover and recharge. That will help you avoid burnout and depression that can overtake anyone who’s engaged in a lengthy job search.
8. Practice visualization
A great way to stay positive during your job search is to add visualization to your daily routine. Many successful people use visualization techniques to help them achieve their goals.
For example, visualize yourself in the position you’re seeking. If you’re looking for a managerial role, spend time each day picturing yourself in that job. Imagine yourself leading a team of employees and directing their actions. This can help you develop the mindset you’ll need to succeed in that role.
9. Treat your job search like a job
Make sure you stay organized as you search for a job and treat the process in much the same way you approach employment.
Get out of bed in the morning and start your day as you would if you were leaving for the job site.
Have a daily plan that outlines your duties and responsibilities.
Set clear expectations for what you hope to achieve.
In short, make your job search your job. Hold yourself accountable for the actions you take and try to avoid procrastination. This can help you stay focused on your mission, avoid unnecessary distractions, and maintain positive momentum toward your job search goals.
Stay positive during your job search to win interviews
While any job search can be tedious and frustrating, there are things you can do to keep your mind focused on the positives. When you learn how to stay positive during your job search, you can avoid much of the stress and negativity that many job seekers often experience. Best of all, your new and sustained positive mindset can help you leave an even better impression on prospective employers.
Want more information about how to stay positive during your job search – or need help assessing your resume? Get in touch with our resume experts today and receive your free resume review!
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