Although there are many skills you can develop to make your job search easier, it can still be something of a numbers game. Even highly skilled and in-demand professionals sometimes need to practice patience for longer than they expect. When rejection comes, as it inevitably will at some point, it’s easy to take it personally.
Job hunting can be, in a word, scary!
Experts such as Artisan Creative’s a.team can help your search by sharing insight about a company and the nuances of a specific role and what the hiring manager is looking for.
Fortunately, there are few steps you can take to lessen the fear of encountering that job hunt terror, and maybe even find some excitement and optimism in this challenge most of us face at least a few times in our lives. Here are a few of our favorite ways to make your job hunt less scary.
1. Know What You Want
To find opportunities you can get excited about, you must first understand, in detail, what you are looking for. Talk to one of the professionals at Artisan Creative, ask friends who have jobs they enjoy, and do some serious introspection.
Do you love agency life, or would you rather work for an in-house team? What sorts of projects do you love to tackle? Is your ideal environment clean-cut and corporate, or do you work better with a dog curled up at your feet now and then?
2. Structure Your Search
Some websites will let you apply for dozens of opportunities, and indicating your interest in a role is only a small part of your job search. You should also follow up, tweak, and perfect your resume and portfolio and do the right research.
In The Muse, Richard Moy describes a job-hunting process broken down by days of the week, designed to keep him time with his family and allow plenty of breathing room. Experiment with a structure like this, making sure to respect your personal priorities. You’ll probably have more success in your search if you are practicing self-care and living the best life you can.
3. Manage Your Emotions
Sometimes the lack of rewarding work can feel like an existential threat. You may worry about what might happen if your job search takes too long. When you’re in the throes of a stressful search, it can be easy to take professional rejection as a personal attack. You may get overly excited about one opportunity, only to be disappointed when it doesn’t come through. It can get harder to maintain self-esteem and personal well being.
Paradoxically, when you get emotionally caught up in the highs and lows of the job hunt, you may find it harder to present yourself as the calm and competent professional you know you can be. Then it gets even scarier!
Although the job hunt can be an emotionally intense experience, it can also be an excellent teacher. When you face challenges, you can learn to broaden your perspective and practice emotional control. Learn a simple mindfulness practice to manage your stress levels.
4. Keep It Confidential
If you are starting a new job search while employed, you can start by reaching out privately to recruiters, former colleagues, or anyone else who may be able to help, without drawing too much attention to yourself online. Your search will seem less scary if you have others helping you out.
5. Ask For Help When You Need It
To paraphrase the Rolling Stones’ anthem, you can’t always get what you want, but you can usually get what you need. When you’re scared or in need of help, guidance, or just sympathy, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
If you need specific help, try reaching out to your professional tribe through social media, or send a thoughtful email to a mentor you trust. Make sure you have a partner or close friend who will help talk you through your anxieties about job-hunting.
You can also talk to the experts at Artisan. We have years of experience helping creative professionals find great opportunity and turn fear into fortune. Contact us today to learn more. We hope you enjoy the 448th issue of our weekly a.blog.