Sometimes it seems like job applications get sent into a giant black hole! It can be so frustrating to submit application after application, with little results. It’s no wonder why unsuccessful job hunting attempts can leave candidates feeling down and defeated. It’s easy to get stuck in this draining cycle. But you can revive your motivation by making simple changes to your job-search approach.

Climb out of your motivational slump with these tips.

Take A Break

If you recently came out of a toxic work environment, allow yourself some guilt free time to re-evaluate your career goals before jumping right back into your next role. While you may not be able to take a 6 month sabbatical, even a few days to unplug and seriously contemplate your next move will help make sure you put your efforts into the right direction.

It’s a fact that people don’t make the best decisions while emotionally charged. Taking a break before selecting your next career path will help give you a fresh mindset and perspective before making such an important decision.

Work Out

You may be wondering what this has to do with job searching. Working out is one of the best things that you can do for your mental health. It boosts endorphins and serotonin levels which are the “feel good” chemicals in the brain. Working out will help prevent any unwanted depressive symptoms and will help keep your spirits up in the face of inevitable rejection.

Remind Yourself This Is Temporary

Any normal life includes periods of job transition. While it can be easy to feel like you’ll be unemployed forever, remind yourself that this unemployment is only temporary. You will eventually find the right job if you keep going. Think about how far you’ve come in life and all of the positive character traits that allowed you to do so. Remind yourself that for every “no” you get, you’re one “no” closer to a yes!

Stay Positive

A simple, but highly overlooked job search strategy. If you allow negativity to encroach on your job search, you will not find a job. If you do happen to get an interview, your negativity will permeate the meeting and could jeopardize your chances of securing the job.

To boost your positivity, create a list of everything you accomplished while in your last role. Repeat that to yourself every morning before you start your applications to remind yourself of your successes. When you do secure interviews, make sure you highlight those accomplishments.

Brand Yourself Better

If you’ve been applying to jobs and are not getting the results you were hoping for, perhaps there’s a reason for it. Make sure that your resume looks good, is relevant, and easy to read. Make sure you’re catering your resume towards the jobs you’re applying to. Ideally, you should have a few different versions of your resume which highlight different skills for each type of role you’re applying to. It’s 100% worth the investment of paying a professional resume builder to help you compile a stellar looking professional resume.

Make Job Searching Your New Job

Structure your day as if finding a job, was your job. Make it a full time venture until you land your dream position. Like you would do with any job, map out a plan for your day and set goals for yourself to stay on track. This could include targeting a minimum number of daily job applications, setting a goal for how many interviews you need to secure each week, and spending a set amount of hours on interview role playing.

Get Trained

A career coach can help hone your interviewing skills, make suggestions on your resume to help you get through the door, and increase your confidence levels through role-play. Your chances of nailing an interview go up drastically when you have a professional coach on your side prepping you for the interaction. After 4-5 coaching sessions, your chances of securing a position will drastically increase. This could be the best financial investment you’ll ever make if your new found interviewing skills can land you an $60,000 - $80,000/year job.

Leverage Your Network

The famous saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This is very true when it comes to finding a job. In fact, most positions are filled by internal hires, or referrals from current employees. Many larger companies even have referral incentives for employees who refer their friends to positions! Sometimes these incentives run in the thousands of dollars. If you know any friends who work at any large corporations see if they know of any open positions they may think you’d be a good fit for!

Follow Up

After you complete an interview, it’s very important to follow up afterwards. Send an email or hand written thank you note saying how much you appreciate their time and how excited you are about the opportunity. Something as small as this could be the difference between getting ghosted and getting hired.

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