How to stay motivated when job hunting

Unfortunately, job hunting can be a lengthy process. The longer it takes the more difficult it becomes to keep your motivation up. Especially, when receiving a lot of sorry letters or, even worse, no feedback at all, everyone’s motivation can take a nosedive.

This is normal and nothing to worry about. The important thing is that you keep going and that you keep your motivation up long term when job hunting.

So follow these four tips to stay motivated when job hunting:

Mix up your routine

If you have been job hunting for a while, chances are that you might get stuck in a kind of treadmill. The constant cycle of skimming job ads, preparing applications and hoping for an interview can bore you and drain your mental energy.

Break up this routine to stay motivated, change viewpoint, and get your creative juices flowing again.

If you wonder how to do this, read more on how to mix up your application game in your daily life.

Take a break

Take a break from job hunting. Ideally, you do this before losing your motivation. Depending on your current situation and how long you have been job hunting, take a break for a couple of days or weeks. Get your mind off the topic, and start again with a fresh mind.

Talk to others

Talk to others about the obstacles and challenges you are facing in you pursuit for a job. At times, it can feel like you are the only person in the world dealing with this. Opening up to others takes a bit of courage, especially since others seem to be more successful and have fantastic careers.

But, after talking to others about it, you will find that they have or had similar struggles, too. This makes you feel less like a failure.

It helped me a lot when I found out that a super successful family member failed to get in their university of choice.

I felt better about myself when I heard that an aspiring manager started her career by working for a staffing agency (read more about the pros and cons of working for a staffing agency) .

I gained new motivation when I learned that a member of the leadership team of a big company was unemployed for a while.

Look at what you have achieved already

Take stock of your past successes and review your achievements. When reading job adds, it is easy to concentrate too much on the skills and qualifications listed that you are lacking. After scouring a ton of job adds all those shortcomings can pile up in your mind.

From time to time, look at your CV and marvel at what you have achieved already. Also, make a (mental) list of all the successes, professional and private, you are proud of.

Doing this is also a great preparation for your next interview.