Whether it’s a 9-5 or a new freelance gig, many people find the prospect of searching for a new job daunting. This trepidation can make it easy to stay in an unsuitable position, company or career for far longer than they have to. But job hunting can be an easeful experience, if you follow these simple steps.
Change your mindset
Perhaps one of the hardest parts of job hunting is the self-confidence. Feelings of self-doubt and thoughts such as: ‘Am I good enough?’ ‘What if I don’t make the interview stage?’ ‘Am I qualified enough for this role?’ may bubble to the surface.
If you’re having these thoughts then stop right now, you’re not alone. But, also understand that this mindset is self-defeating. You have to believe in yourself before others will believe in you.
Also remember that finding a new job is as much about you finding a new position and a company that you want to work for, as it is about the company finding an employee that meets their needs - it’s a two-way conversation. Once you realize that you have a lot to offer, the game shifts in your favor. Instead of thinking about the job hunting process as one big spotlight on you and your skillset, turn it around and think of it as you finding the right role and right company to meet your needs.
Learn how to deal with rejection
Rejection is another part of the job-hunting process that can be very hard for to deal with and simple shift in your mindset can help with this area.
Remember that the company’s rejection of your resume is not a rejection of you as a person. A great way to deal with rejection is to think of it as happening for a reason. When one door closes, another door will open. A door that was a better fit for your skills, your experience, your needs and your desires. Each rejection brings you a step closer to your dream role.
Polish your resume
Now that we’ve addressed some of the most common mental aspects of the job-hunting process, let’s look a the actionable steps you can take such as polishing your resume. Whether you’re fresh out of university or have been in a position for a while and are now seeking a new opportunity, the chances are you have a lot to update on your resume. One practice I have is to update my LinkedIn profile and various resumes on the first of every month. This way my information is always up to date.
Your resume is often the first and only thing that a future employer has to base your character, skill and fit for the role on, so make it count. Don’t be afraid to add some personality to your CV. Creativity and flair in your professional presentation is a lovely way to let your true gifts shine through and allow you to stand out in the crowd. Keep in mind that the style should not overtake the substance, but should be viewed as an added bonus.
Hunt in the right places
Searching for possible positions is another difficult part of job hunting and at times it can seem like a process which is stacked against you. The key here is to search in the right places. Although there’s no harm in searching through the big job sites these can be like finding a needle in a haystack and instead it is often better to go niche. Most industries have career-specific job boards such as Practice Match, which specialized in matching physicians to medical facilities,. This makes it much easier for you to find a career in your chosen field without having to sift through hundreds of irrelevant roles. Another option is Create and Cultivate or Girlboss, which have job postings related to design and marketing positions. Another way to make the hunting process easier is to set up job alerts and let algorithms do the searching for you. Sites that use these algorithms, such as LinkedIn, will drop a nice little email into your inbox when they’ve found a role that matches your needs.
Accept that things can take time
Finally, accept that things can take time. We live in a world where we have become accustomed to instant gratification. A world where we can have our shopping delivered within 24 hours of us placing an order, we can put food in a microwave and eat dinner in minutes, and we can take a photo and share it with friends and family on social media and have likes and comments in seconds. But finding a job doesn’t always work like that. It can happen quickly, but it’s best to adopt the mindset that this may take time to find an opportunity that is truly a good fit. Finding the job that’s right for you and that’s also right for your future employer can take time. As my mom always says, patience is a virtue and in the job hunting world patience is the key to ensuring that you don’t rush into the first position that becomes available to you resulting in another unhappy placement. Accept that things can take time and try to let go of any expectations of finding a role quickly.