Job hunting can be extremely challenging and can take a huge toll on your mental health. The anxiety of interviews and the disappointment of rejection can be overwhelming, especially when facing a lot of uncertainty regarding the future. Moreover, drafting job applications and cover letters daily can be a tedious and an emotionally exhausting task. It is so important to look after yourself during this period of your life and we have some great advice to help you do just that!

Manage Your Time Well

Job hunting can be a full-time job in itself, but it's crucial to establish a healthy work/life balance just like you would in any other role. Creating a schedule that provides sufficient time for job searching activities, breaks and leisure activities such as catching up with friends is an excellent way to maintain a balance. Consider setting achievable targets, such as submitting X amount of job applications by a certain time frame, and rewarding yourself for meeting those goals, by treating yourself to lunch or doing an enjoyable activity. This will help motivate you to reach your targets.

Set Realistic Targets

It's important to set achievable targets that fits in with your schedule. Whether that means applying to one job per month, or one job per day, make sure your goals align with your other responsibilities. Don't be discouraged if you need to adjust your goals along the way, but having benchmarks in place can help you stay focused on what you want to achieve.

Avoid Negative Self-Talk

Job hunting can easily lead to negative self-talk and rumination, causing stress and insecurities to grow. To combat this, it's important to recognise negative self-talk and replace it with comforting thoughts or activities. Avoiding negative self-talk will help you stay focused on your career goals and work towards achieving them.

Be Kind To Yourself

Job hunting can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. It can generate feelings of grief, anxiety, and self-doubt. Setting healthy boundaries, establishing realistic goals, focusing on quality over quantity, allowing yourself to feel low, and being kind to yourself are key ways to take care of your mental health. It's important to empathise with yourself in a difficult situation and to celebrate the small wins to keep your confidence going. Keep yourself motivated - having an upbeat attitude will make all the difference!

Allow Yourself To Feel Low

While it's important to maintain a positive outlook, it's also important to allow yourself to feel low from time to time. This can help you process and work through difficult emotions and ultimately lead to a more authentic and balanced approach to life. Here are some tips for allowing yourself to feel low:

• Acknowledge your emotions: Recognise and accept your feelings without judgement. This can help you process and work through them more effectively.

• Reach out for support: Talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling. This can help you feel less alone and provide you with a fresh perspective.
• Take care of yourself: Practice self-care activities that help you feel better, such as getting enough sleep, exercising, or spending time in nature.

Remember, feeling low is a normal part of the human experience. By allowing yourself to feel these emotions, you can ultimately grow and learn from them.

Everything Temporary

It's worth remembering that everything is temporary -including this period of job hunting. Don't let rejection or setbacks get you down, as they are just temporary roadblocks. Keep a positive mindset and stay motivated, knowing that a new opportunity is just around the corner. This is a chance to reflect on your career goals and priorities, and make any necessary adjustments. Appreciate the journey and the lessons learned along the way, as they will ultimately lead you to where you are meant to be.

You Are Not Alone

Recognise that you are not alone and at some point, nearly everyone has been in the job-searching process and can relate to what a strange and uncertain era it is in life. Try reaching out to others and asking about their experiences with job searching, they might even have some advice for you! You could even join online job search communities or forums where you can share experiences, advice and tips with other job seekers similar to yourself.

Get In Touch

If your job search is getting you down, know that we are here to help! We help people just like you get into employment, and reach their full potential. Our expert career advisers are ready to help you with your job hunt, no matter what stage you're at! They can help you create or update your CV, find opportunities, write cover letters and fill in applications... All for FREE! All you have to do is get in touch and book an appointment!

You can call us on 0345 658 8647, get in touch through our form or message us on Facebook and we can arrange an appointment.