Job Search Desperation: How to Stay Positive and Productive

Introduction to Stay Positive During Job Search

Looking for employment these days is more or less a daunting task mainly due to the stiff competition that is experienced around the globe. Job seekers often encounter a phase known as job search desperation at which state they are anxious, frustrated and feel helpless.

This in turn results in low morale and therefore the process of searching for that dream job is even more taxing. But it is important to keep a positive outlook as well as be productive during this unproductive time.

In this article, you will learn about the effects of job search desperation and how to keep it from getting the best of you.

Understanding the Impact of Desperation

Job search desperation can manifest in many ways, including:

Overwhelming Anxiety: Panic of the uncertainties and the financial status adds a lot of pressure on your mind.
Loss of Motivation: If the hunt takes a long time, you will become discouraged and may put off the search and disengage.
Negative Self-Talk: Lack of confidence in your skills leads to poor results and poor self-esteem which enhances discouragement.

Being aware of these signs is the first move back to being back in charge of your job search. It is important to be aware of the fact that experiencing desperation is not something unique. But how you come out of these feelings will define your success or failure in those areas of your life.

Strategies to Stay Positive

Shift Your Mindset

View Your Job Search as a Full-Time Job: Searching for a job can be quite stressful but if you follow a routine just as you do when looking for a job, this will help you create a purpose and rhythm. It is advisable to have a specific time for job search activity for the day in an effort to develop a practice..
Create a List of Dream Jobs vs. Acceptable Jobs: List positions that interest you and those which you consider to be okay. This can help bring focus clearing up the goals and lessen the apprehension in the search making it more open and less constricting.

Avoid Negative Language

Be Mindful of Your Words: The choice of words used can influence your attitude in a great way. It is also important not to use words like “need” or “desperate” in a conversation. It is, therefore, essential that you pay much attention to your strengths and what you can present to your employers.
Practice Positive Affirmations: It is recommended to establish positive affirmations for the day to have them repeated regularly. Using optimistic phrases such as: “I am capable,” “I have valuable skills,” and “The right opportunity is waiting for me” will get your brain into the right state.

Building Productive Habits

Establish a Routine

Set Daily and Weekly Goals: Make an outline of goals for each day of the week as well. This might be equal to the number of jobs applied to, number of contacts made with professionals or number of resumes updated.
Create a Dedicated Workspace: Prescribe a zone in your home space that will alone be used for searching for jobs or anything that is related to employment. Having your own space makes it much easier to concentrate; besides, you can easily differentiate if you are on business or for leisure.

Focused Job Search Sessions

Time Blocking: What is good is to divide your job hunting into specific time slots. For instance, dedicate one hour for job applications, next one hour for networking and the subsequent hour for research on the respective companies. This approach can help to make you more efficient.
Eliminate Distractions: Avoid disruptive factors while conducting the job search sessions. Take your phone and mute all the notifications, close any other tabs that are not linked to the assignment and tidy up your surroundings.

Maintaining Motivation

Regular Self-Evaluation

Assess Your Strategies: It is a good idea to review your job search methods at least every three months. Is there a process that has proved to have higher effectiveness as compared to the other? Are there subtle points where you could stand to grow? By assessing your performance up to this point, you are likely to feel quite enthusiastic about the task.
Adapt and Pivot: If some methods are not effective, one should not be afraid to attempt at using the other ones. Conferences or meetings should be attended to acquire new information and learn ways to improve how you operate.

Celebrate Small Wins

Keep a Journal of Accomplishments: Make sure you write down your milestones regardless of how insignificant they are. From filling in a job application form, to getting a good comment on your resume, to actually getting a chance to meet someone in your working niche, these little victories can do wonders for your morale.
Reward Yourself: At some point in the process, make sure that you reward yourself for a hard job done well, take a delicious meal, watch a good movie, or take the entire day off. Giving credit where it is due will help to sustain morale while conducting the job search.

Networking: A Powerful Tool

Networking can be a very instrumental role in changing your perception about job search experience. It does mean getting jobs which are not advertised anywhere in the market. Here are some tips for effective networking:

Leverage LinkedIn: Go and refresh your LinkedIn account and reconnect with all the previous employers, group members and fellow students and industry players. Interact with their posts and repost some of the material to boost your presence.
Attend Industry Events: Search for online or live meetings and seminars, meetings, or exhibitions. Even such social events can be productive meetings and introduce you to people who could be aware of the vacancies.
Informational Interviews: Contact people working in your area of interest and ask for some informational interviews. These discussions can help you to learn about the emerging trends in the industry and may at times result in a recommendation for an interview.

Seek Support

Job search desperation can be isolating, but you do not have to face it alone. It also put a lot of pressure as well as disappointments and was lonely at times, so asking other people for help can often relieve the longing feelings. Consider the following options:

Join Job Search Groups: The best advice for where to find a job search support group can be requested online, or at a local level. These will include advocacy, sharing of useful information and products, and fellowship with people facing the same challenge of job hunt.
Lean on Friends and Family: You should discuss your experiences with close friends and other family members. They are able to offer some encouragement and may well know people who might be able to give you a job.
Consider Professional Help: Temporary feelings of desperation should be addressed by the help of a career counselor or a therapist. They should be able to advise you and maybe suggest ways you could handle the problem that’s ailing you.

Conclusion

Job search desperation is one of the hardest situations any person has to go through and it does not have to be the norm for you. Healing your mindset and boosting productivity in the job search process is possible when using the strategies outlined in this article. Bear in mind that the concepts of the theories per se are good, but avoiding being discouraged is the best thing. Celebrate your achievements, seek support, and stay focused on your goals. The right opportunity is out there waiting for you—keep pushing forward, and you will find it.