How To Practice Self-Care During The Job Search
Finding a new job can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Think about it, you’re oftentimes spending extra time on your outward appearance to “dress up” and look nice for interviews, you may be commuting all over town or even to nearby towns for job opportunities, or doing multiple Zoom interviews a day and being told, “No” can be disheartening after a while.
Practicing some self-care and looking out for number one, aka you, is vital to the job search process. You can’t pour from an empty cup and potential employers will be able to tell if you’re feeling run down and burnt out; that’s not a great look when you’re trying to land a new gig.
So slow down for a minute. Take a breath. You’re going to get through the sometimes grueling life challenge known as job searching.
Here are a few ways you can practice self-care when job searching leaves your cup a little dry.
Be Kind and Fair in How You Talk to Yourself
If you can’t think of anything nice to say about yourself, why would a potential employer have any easier of a time coming up with awesome qualities they see in you? When it comes to job searching, you have to remain your own number one fan throughout the process.
After a long day of applying for jobs, updating your resume and cover letter, and having interviews with prospective employers, take a moment to congratulate yourself on all that hard work! Because it is hard work!
Give yourself a pep talk at the end of the day that will inspire you to move forward with job searching the next day, or write down all of the things you succeeded in that day so you can see how much you’re accomplishing; even if you haven’t landed that dream job yet.
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Take the Night Off
You’ll only end up more burnt out in the job searching process if you spend every waking moment striving towards finding that new gig. It’s one thing to be ambitious and determined; pulling out all the stops to land your next job.
It’s another thing entirely to run yourself ragged and to become obsessed with job hunting. When you’ve done all you can do; you’ve turned in applications, you’ve reached out and returned emails, and you’ve been through rounds of interviews, take a break. You deserve it.
By taking some time for yourself to recharge and reset, you’ll be ready to hit the job trail feeling refreshed and optimistic for what opportunities lie ahead.
Celebrate the Little Wins
It can be easy to get discouraged when going through the job searching process. Maybe you’re struggling to find solid job leads, or being passed over for positions you really wanted. It’s important to keep your chin up and your spirits high. Don’t lose sight of the end goal and landing the job you want, and celebrate the little wins along the way.
If you applied for at least five jobs over the course of the week that are a good fit for you and something that makes you excited, celebrate that win! If you landed an interview, celebrate that win! If you made it to the second round of a multiple-round interview, celebrate that win!
Keep in mind that getting the gig you want could take time, and if you’re only focusing on the losses you’ve acquired, it may be hard to keep a positive mindset and see the bigger picture.
While job searching can take its toll, there are things you can do to counteract the effects. Take care of yourself, stay optimistic, and you’ll find just the right job!
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Meet The Writer!
Allow me to introduce myself! My name’s Katy Duncan and I work as a freelance copywriter. I specialize in topics regarding health and wellness, fitness, and beauty, on my website, www.eudaimoniaeutopia.com. I offer an array of services including blog posts, blog management, social media management, product descriptions, press releases and editing expertise and I can be contacted through my website or on LinkedIn. When I’m not creating engaging, captivating content for my website or clients or contributing to communities of writers, I’m working on producing a fiction novel from the comforts of my quiet nook in the Pacific Northwest, where I reside with my feline friend, Merlin Magoo and many prospering house plants.
