The job hunt can feel like a seemingly endless, frustrating, and unproductive process that becomes overwhelming over time. Job hunt fatigue is especially pervasive if you’ve been unemployed for an extended period of time and have considered taking a break from it. Here at Job Mail, we understand the challenges that come with job hunting and want to help you manage your mental health during this process. Here are our tips to help manage your job search and avoid becoming demotivate during the process.

Prepare for rejection

Job hunting is hard work, and no matter how great your CV looks, you’ll probably get rejected along the way. We’ve all been on the receiving end. “No” is the hardest word to hear in business, but it can also be one of the most powerful learning tools. It allows you an opportunity to ask for feedback and to learn from it. Should an employer or recruiter give you comments or advice, you can use it to:

• Review and reflect: There is always room for improvement. Think about all the feedback you have received, reflect on everything, including how you prepared for the interview, your research, and your interactions with the interviewers. What could you have done differently? Where can you improve? 
• Build a personal development plan: A personal development plan can help you structure your thinking and your career. Both are important when job hunting. 
• Refine your job search: Find jobs that are right for you. Job Mail has come up with solutions that make job hunting easy for you. By using our browse tool, you can search for jobs by keywords, title or company. You can even create job alerts and get all positions best suited to you delivered straight to your email inbox. 

Manage your job search

Keep track of all your job searches in one place, including the ones you applied for, the ones you followed up on, and the ones you scheduled interviews for. This comprehensive list will help you feel more in control of the entire process. An Excel sheet in your Google Drive will make it easily accessible no matter where you are as long as you have your phone with you.

You can also create a list of companies you would like to work for and the different kinds of roles you are interested in. Then, set up job alerts on Job Mail to get notified when there is an opening. 

Take time for yourself

If you’re feeling stuck in your job search, it may be time to play to your strengths and do something for yourself. Taking time for yourself can feel indulgent when you’re unemployed, but it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind. Manage your job hunt fatigue by giving yourself a break every now and then helps you stay positive and energised during your search. It is important not to neglect yourself when job hunting. Taking time for yourself is sometimes even more important than getting the next interview.

Set goals

In a job market as competitive as our current one, it’s vital for job seekers to ensure that they’re maximising their opportunities and achieving the best results. That’s where goal setting comes in. Targeted, well-defined goals can be an excellent way to direct your job search and help you to attain the position and career you’re looking for. Perhaps the reason why your applications haven’t been successful yet is because you haven’t found the right position for you or you’re applying for the wrong vacancies. Review your qualifications and work experience, create a list of the different roles that you are qualified or suitable for, and search for opportunities that line up with them. 

Ask for help

If you’ve been job hunting for a while, you’ve no doubt been bombarded with advice and conflicting viewpoints on how and when to ask for help in your job search. If you find yourself struggling to find a job, don’t be afraid to reach out for guidance. The advice, even though sometimes conflicting, can be a much-needed push to aid in your job search. And the best thing about advice and opinions is that you can choose what to use. Getting support from family, friends, and neighbours – even from other job seekers in the same boat – may be the motivation you need and will help prevent job hunt fatigue. Don’t forget to check out the Job Mail blog for job search advice and ways to improve your CV.

Looking for a new job can be extremely stressful. Job hunting is already incredibly challenging, with all the pressure of producing results and dealing with rejection. Just keep going, you will land a job best suited to your skills and qualifications. Whether it’s your first job or you’re looking for something new after many years with the same employer, our tips will help you stay emotionally and mentally strong until you land your new job. Don’t forget to check out our other blog posts for great job hunting advice.