How to Stay Motivated During Your Job Search

When you start your job search, there’s no means of knowing how long it will go on.

Will you be the lucky one who scores a great job straight away, or the one who becomes increasingly demoralised by false starts and rejections?

Whatever happens, you need to approach the job hunt with a clear head and determined spirit if you want to stay focused on achieving your goal.

Here are some tips to help you remain motivated when the going gets tough.

Set yourself goals

Rather than spending days aimlessly scanning your computer for new jobs, set yourself daily targets.

Consider making two new LinkedIn connections or applying for a new job each day.

As well as keeping you focused, this will give you a real sense of moving forward in your search.

Be realistic about your options

Don’t waste time applying for jobs that are obviously above your level of experience and skill – the inevitable rejections will dent your self-esteem.

Match your experience, skills and attributes realistically to available roles, and go for those jobs you stand a genuine chance of gaining.

Don’t go the other way, however, and play it too safe. Applying for a lower paid job that doesn’t necessarily interest you, just because you think you are more likely to get it, can also be demoralising.

It’s fine to go for jobs which challenge you a little. Without getting out of our comfort zone, we never get a chance to gain new skills and grow.

Treat interviews as a learning process

Don’t get disheartened if you have a negative job interview – treat it as a chance to learn new tricks and polish up your presentation.

Interviews are a great opportunity to test yourself in unfamiliar situations and prove to yourself that you can overcome challenges.

If you notice you answered a question poorly or failed to mention a relevant job scenario or achievement, you can remedy the situation for next time.

Research the application process

Break up your job applications with some useful homework on improving your job applications, resume content and interview technique.

Always address the specific requirements of the advertised job, picking out keywords to use in your application.

Tailor your resume and cover letter for each individual job, matching your competencies – skills, experience, qualifications and attributes – to meet the job brief.

Taking a customised approach to job hunting keeps your mind sharp as well as increasing your chances of winning the role.

Use social media to job search

Don’t confine your search to online job boards – scour company Facebook sites for new intakes and recruitment news.

Reading social posts can also give you an idea of the company culture, and whether you would fit in well.

Keep making new LinkedIn connections, and reaching out to people who might be in a position to help you achieve your goals.

Consult a recruitment agency

If it all gets too hard, we have years of experience placing professional workers to industry jobs and can take the headache out of multiple job applications, ensuring you are put forward for jobs you have a realistic chance of getting – with established organisations who are clear about the candidates they need.

We can also give your advice about interview presentation, industry news and the availability of current positions. Please contact one of our dedicated consultants to discuss further.