10 Suggestions for Managing the Stress of Your Job Search

10 Suggestions for Managing the Stress of Your Job Search

  • Realize it is OK to be “between jobs” – Believe in yourself.  Measure your search through the progress you have made.  Even if turned down for 3 jobs after having 3 different interviews, remind yourself you had 3 interviews and can get 3 more.
  • Stay in touch with colleagues – Stay in touch with past work colleagues who are friends and believe in you. They can provide positive reinforcement on down days and remind you of your past achievements.
  • Treat your job search like a job – Create a new daily routine. Provide yourself with the day-to-day structure with which you are familiar to help you keep your sanity and get going in your job search faster.
  • Stay healthy – Regular physical exercise and a healthy diet help reduce tension and stress. Go to the gym if you can afford it. If not, a half-hour walk every day will certainly help.
  • Enjoy the change of pace – Being freed from a nine-to-five grind means you have time to slow down and take stock of what you really want to achieve in your life. This can be a time to plot course corrections.
  • Avoid negative news – Stay away from the news, especially headlines about massive layoffs. Surround yourself b supportive, positive people.
  • Feel free to vent – If you are angry, frustrated or feeling betrayed find people to talk to about it. A support group where you can discuss your problems with people who are feeling the same pains you are is beneficial.
  • Approach unemployment like a business problem – Set your objective. Develop your business strategy for achieving it. Identify people who are in a position that need your services, offer proposals to meet their needs. Look to turn those discussions into offers.
  • Celebrate short term successes – Set up achievable goals to reach each day so you can end the day with a sense of accomplishment. The goals you set must be completely under your control, (such as make 8 follow-up phone calls, write and send out 5 targeted letters, etc.)
  • Have fun – Set a fun activity to do each week that gets you away from the job search and do it. Have that activity take up at least 3 to 4 hours of your time.