Keeping a Positive Attitude During a Demanding Job Search Olive Branch MS

One of the hardest things to do is to maintain positive and proactive during an especially challenging job search. It can be totally disheartening to apply for positions and hear nothing except the crickets chirping in the clear night. Why isn’t anyone responding? There are some things that you need to consider, seriously, as you dig in and get busy to get the interviews. Here are some tips to getting the interviews and also keeping it in perspective:

The power of positive thinking: First, people want to be around others that are engaging and happy. Behaving and sounding like Eeyeore who ‘lost his tail’ – you know, the pessimistic, miserable, depressed friend of Winnie the Pooh will not help the situation. You want to be Tigger, or at least Owl. A great way to be positive is to think positive. This has a way of rubbing off on the people that you encounter; much like Eeyore-like behavior has the same effect.

Workin’ it Like Donna Summer: I think it has become abundantly clear that putting your feet up on your desk and waiting for the calls to come in from your online submissions is simply not going to happen. You need to put some skin in the game. This means that you will work – and work hard to generate interest in your background. You should be leveraging your network, including friends, family members, friends of friends, former co-workers, and people that you meet in the frozen food section at your local grocery store. It has been my experience that you never can tell when you will meet someone who has either information or a contact to help you. You might be able to help them as well.

Emotional Rollercoaster: It is not uncommon to feel a variety of emotions when you are looking: disappointment, anger, confusion, self-doubt. You should also consider the positive side: new beginnings, excitement, and empowerment. You need to let go of the past and embrace what the future holds. This is your chance to make a change and steer yourself toward something that will challenge and fill you with a sense of purpose.

Volunteering and Networking Groups: A great way to meet new people and allow you to improve your social skills is through putting yourself in situations where you don’t know anyone. You can share ideas with the new people you encounter. You never know what might happen. It will also allow you to help someone else.

Project Management: Treat your job search as a project. Establish short-term goals and reward yourself when you attain them. You will feel a sense of accomplishment when you achieve a goal; it will also help you to keep going and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed with “GETTING A JOB.”

Continuing Education: If you have the time and resources, consider enrolling in some continuing education classes or pursuing an advanced degree. The training will stimulate you and possibly provide you with new ideas as you consider your professional future. Take a look at these blogs on continuing education. ( http...