It takes a lot of courage to leap into the great unknown and look for the job of your dreams. Because before you find that job, you have to find yourself.
Looking for a new job is scary. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting. It gets difficult to keep a clear sight of what you want for your life when fear messes with your internal compass.
I have been able to get through by relying on the relationships I’ve developed, by keeping a healthy routine, and focusing on the little steps.
The first thing I did when I decided to make the change was to make a list of the people that could potentially help me, and why I thought they could.
The list included people who could aid me professionally, and a sub-list of people I need to help me stay focussed and cope with my anxiety.
Your network will be the strongest tool you have in your job hunt, not solely for finding a job, but for helping you stay your course.
If you’re young, like me, and your network is fledgling, ask the people you know to access their networks for you. Follow up with them, because people’s lives get busy and they may forget to do so.
This isn’t a slight against you, so don’t take it as one. Perservere, phone, send reminders, take them out for coffee to pick their brain about who they might know, and get numbers or email addresses right then and there. Tenacity is an admirable quality if it’s tempered with gratitude.
One of the more difficult things I’ve been experiencing is trying to stay true to what I want. This is where a healthy routine and those little steps become necessary to help you cope with the fear.
Write down where you want to be in a few months’ time – what companies do you really want to be a part of, and why? How much do you want to earn, realistically?
Next, list five or seven daily or weekly actions you need to take in order to get there. Then forget about the big goal. It has a way of stressing us out when we perceive ourselves to not be getting any closer.
Focus on the little steps, have faith in them, and when you look back up, you’ll be amazed by how far you’ve come.
I decided from the start that until I found a new job, I would reduce my nightlife entertainment drastically, I would stick to going to gym everyday, and I would eat healthier.
When our bodies get run down, it becomes more challenging for us to cope with stress and anxiety. Your most vital weapon in sticking to the big dream is to keep your body happy.
Find recruitment agents who specialise in your industry. You may not get many offers, but going to see them is soothing and gives you a sense of accomplishment.
The interviews with them are similar to what you go through with prospective employees, and it gives you good practice. Ask the agents for feedback on how you presented yourself and the facts you chose to give about yourself.
They want you to succeed, if not out of philanthropy then because they make money out of seeing you get hired.
Another small action that has helped me manage my anxiety is editing my CV and cover letter and doing my research. Looking for a new job is scary, but you will not end up homeless. The key to getting through is to keep your soul, body, and mind as ready as possible, to respond in the best way to the stresses and opportunities of change.
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