All too often, the circumstances aren't the best--you're worried about money, trying to get settled in a new town, or juggling the search with an existing full-time job, as just a few examples. While there are plenty of practical things you need to do in order to have a successful job hunt, it's also important to have the right mindset. The tips below can help you with that mindset.
Keep Your Expenses Down
If you're unemployed during your search, you may be worried about money. Even if you have some savings, you don't want to blow through them, so being more frugal is important. This is a good time to look for ways to save money. In addition to spending less on things such as clothes and going out with friends, you may want to look at other ways to lower your expenses, such as student loan refinancing. If you refinance your current loans into a new loan, you might have lower monthly payments, and this can take some of the pressure off while you're job hunting.
Have a Routine
It's good to have a routine while you're job hunting for a couple of reasons. One is that without one, you can quickly become overwhelmed with everything you have to do. Should you work on your resume, search for job postings, or email those who might be able to help you find work? The other reason is that it can help you put boundaries around your job search. If you aren't careful, you can find yourself devoting all of your time to this, and you still need down time. If you are unemployed, one good way to have a routine is to treat looking for work like a regular job, putting in hours from 9 to 5 and taking the evening off.
Get Out in Person
It can be discouraging to spend all day, every day on your computer sending out resumes, trying to connect with recruiters and searching for work. Make a point of getting out at least once on most days and connecting with other people. Try to have coffee or lunch with a contact, or schedule some volunteer activities.
Celebrate Small Victories
Sometimes, looking for work can just seem like an endless slog. It helps if you are able to celebrate accomplishments and goals that you reach along the way. This could be something such as getting an interview, but you should also make a point of celebrating things that are within your control, such as applying for a certain number of jobs.
Positive Self-Talk
Job hunting can be discouraging. It can be easy to find yourself thinking such things as no one is ever going to hire you, but it's also important to look after your mental health and turn that negative self-talk around. A steady litany of hearing about how bad things are can bring you down, even if it's only happening in your head. When you notice that you are thinking negative things, make a point of turning it into something positive.