Looking for a job may not be the best feeling in the world, but you can use the experience to your advantage.
To help, here are several pain points in a job search you should be aware of:
1. The pain of realizing it’s time to begin a job search. Looking for a job is like dragging yourself out of bed early in the morning. It may not be a pleasant experience, but you have to face it in order to start building your career. If it’s suddenly time to look for a different job, you’ll have to face the difficulties that go with being unemployed for a period of time.
Since you don’t know what’s out there for you, it can be daunting to look for a new job. However, you can determine how to take control of the situation and lay out a plan for job-search success.
Accept the fact that your feelings of frustration are normal. Every person who has ever been employed outside the home or lost or changed jobs has been in the situation you’re in right now. A job search can be the best time to rediscover yourself and find out what career really fits you.
2. The pain of putting together a resume. This process can be less difficult if you ask for help from your mentor or a friend. Think about all the things you are most proud of, and write them all down. Match those things with the skills that you used to be able to achieve those positive results. (You won’t even notice that you’re drafting your resume.)
3. The pain of interviewing. No one enjoys being in the hot seat, and an interview may be a difficult experience. However, remember that you don’t need canned answers. Take an interview as an opportunity to learn. Each interview, ideally, is an experience that will help you do better in succeeding interviews. Relieve your tension and place yourself in the interviewer’s role. This will help you be more comfortable in the interview, especially if you’ve done enough preparation to face the interviewer.
4. The pain of rejection. Don’t allow yourself to wallow (especially alone) if you were turned down. In the event that you didn’t get the job, use the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, and review other ways you might have handled the interview.
For a variety of reasons, a job search can be especially difficult, depending on current circumstances. If you’re really struggling with negative feelings during your search, your internal dialogue takes a turn for the worse, and you feel more “down” than what’s considered normal during the ups and downs of a job search, you may want to consult a mental health professional. As important as a job search may be, maintaining good health is the first priority.