The events of the last year have put thousands of experienced promotional product professionals out of work. They face a tough job market and are unsure what the future holds. We don’t have a crystal ball, but here are ten steps that you can take to stay positive and productive during your job search.
Settle Into a Daily Routine
We all find comfort in our daily routines. When on the job search, create daily habits built around consistency. Get up at the same time every day, get dressed for work, and designate a daily job search schedule.
Set Measurable Goals
When searching for a new job, you’ll encounter many more losses than wins. Rejection is a part of the process, and you need to be ready for it. Set yourself up for success by setting small, measurable goals for your daily activities. These goals will help keep you motivated and productive.
Make a List of Your Achievements
Confidence is a huge part of your job search. It’s a tremendous asset but one that will be tested often. To bolster your confidence, make a list of your career and personal achievements. Awards, problems solved, and major projects should make your list into a positive reinforcement tool when the going gets tough.
It’s a Full-Time Job
When you’re unemployed, you still have a job. Your job is to work as hard as possible to get employed. You need to consistently work toward your goal and treat your efforts like a full-time job.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Around 55 million Americans have filed for unemployment due to COVID-19. Realize that you are not alone in this. Millions of experienced, valuable professionals like you are in the same boat. Don’t let stress or frustration get to you. Simply focus on productive activity and take it one day at a time. The job search is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s Not Personal
You are valuable and important. You’re in this lousy situation due to bad luck, not bad performance. Work on your mental toughness. The obstacles and setbacks that you encounter are just a part of the process. It’s nothing personal.
Keep Busy
A big key to being productive is staying busy. You don’t need to be in job search mode 24/7 but try to keep your days full. Exercise, enjoy hobbies, volunteer, and spend time with your family. Stay active, and don’t let the ups and downs of the job search drag you down.
Practice Interviewing Skills
Do your due diligence. Opportunities will present themselves, and you need to be ready to capitalize on them. Research potential employers, improve your interviewing skills, and sell yourself every chance you get.
Engage With People
There’s a heavy stigma around being unemployed. Because of this, your natural reaction may be to withdraw. This is the exact opposite of what you need to do. When you’re facing career challenges, you need to engage fully with your friends and contacts. You need to let others know what’s happening; they may have some answers for you or leads on new opportunities. Making new connections and revisiting old ones is a great way to generate some forward momentum for your job search.
Focus on What You Can Control
Many variables will have an impact on your job search. Sometimes it comes down to something as arbitrary as the mood of a hiring manager. Most of these variables can’t be controlled. Recognize these and let them go. Job market trends, the state of the economy, and your geographic location are completely out of your hands. Spend your time improving your resume, enhancing your LinkedIn presence, and learning new skills. Control everything that you can and hope for the best.
Taking these ten steps will put you in a positive mindset and ensure success in your job search.