It’s never the best feeling in the world when you lose a job and have a hard time finding a new one. However, that doesn’t mean it’s time to give up. In fact, it means that now is the time to work harder than ever. Here’s how to effectively stay motivated when you’re unable to find a new job.
Focus on Your Future
You never want to be constantly dwelling on the past, and the “what you could have done” loop. Instead, you should be focusing on your future and what you plan to do. This way, you can start planning on how you’re going to bring in money now and how you’re going to get your next job. Focusing on the future will help you get a new job much faster than concentrating on the past and any mistakes you may have made.
Ask for Support from Your Friends and Family
Unemployment doesn’t affect just you, it affects your entire family as well. Instead of keeping the problem to yourself, ask for support from your friends and family members. Keeping your unemployment a secret will only hurt the ones you love. Your support group will help you get through this awful part of your career and propel you forward. Remember, keep everyone in your life updates with your status and tell them how else they can support you.
Don’t let Unemployment Define You
Although unemployment feels the worst, you shouldn’t take the job loss too personally or you may lose all motivation to get a new job. Only you can define who you are, not where you work, or whether you’re employed or not. Plus, potential employers are more likely to employ someone that’s positive, even after a job loss.
Stay Positive
Instead of allowing yourself to feel negatively about your job loss, stay positive! You can. do this by listing everything you did well at your recent job and use it to keep yourself positive while looking for a new job. This can help boost your confidence and feel even better going into your next job.
Make Job Searching Your New Job
If you need it, you can give yourself a week or two to relax before jumping into the job search. However, you don’t want to wait too long, otherwise, it will be hard to get back into your regular routine. Try to structure your day and treat your job search like your new job. Plan out your day and set goals for yourself to stay on track with your goals.
Update Your Resume and Branding
Before you can begin applying for jobs, you will need to update your resume and improve your personal branding. Include your most recent work experience on your resume and update your skills and responsibilities. Be sure to tailor your resume to the new position you are looking for. You should also work on improving your LinkedIn profile, which is crucial to your personal and professional branding. An optimized LinkedIn profile will improve your credibility and boost visibility. All this combined can help you to quickly land a job that meets your needs.
Use Your Professional Network
When you’re unemployed, the strength of your professional network can make a huge difference in your job search. In today’s time, most open positions are filled by people tapping their network, not searching on job boards. In fact, most jobs are not advertised at all and are filled by word of mouth. The more people you know who know you are looking for a new job, the better off you will be. Reach out to people you know and people you used to work with and let them know about your job search. You never know who may be able to help you out.
Follow Up
This is an important and often forgotten part of the job search process. After you update your resume, submit your application, and go to the interview, you must follow up afterward. Send an email or thank you note saying how much you enjoyed meeting with them and thanking them for the opportunity. This will let them know that you are serious about the position and you are invested in the company.
It’s important to stay motivated when you’re unable to find a job. Being unemployed isn’t an ideal way to live, but sooner rather than later, you’re going to be employed to a new, great job and stream of income. Losing a job can impact people in different ways, but it’s important to keep your tips and stay motivated when searching for a new job.
Brent Frayser is a media relations representative for DiversityInc. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. In his spare time, he enjoys: reading, writing, coaching various sports, and spending time with friends and family.
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