44 www.blackeoejournal.com Black EOE Journal
CAREERS
W
hether you're looking for your first job or planning to go back to work, one of the smartest things you can do is recognize that inding your place in the workforce can take time. In previous issues, weve written about how to prepare for the search. Today, we want to focus on how to make the most of the time before you land that job.
Stay motivated
Unless youre among the most fortunate job seekers, your search for the right job will likely take weeks or even months. Thats typical, and its not personal. Staying motivated in the face of silence or even rejection is a skill worth mastering. Many factors go into a hiring deci- sion. There may be internal candidates who have priority; there could be a lot of qualified candidates or the job may be eliminated before it's filled. The point is: it doesn't always have something to do with you.
When you pick and achieve milestones that will help you progress toward your goal of getting a job, you also gain a sense of accomplishment that can keep you motivated."
Managing a Long Job Search
for a job is a full-time job. Yes, its valuable to create a schedule to conduct your search. Having that discipline will pay off. However, its just as important to block out time for the other things in your life that you would ordinarily do. Remember, the dog still needs to be fed, the beds still need to be made and the kids still have homework. But its not just chores. Save time for social activities and your hobbies as well. Finally, make sure you continue to spend time with family and friends. Now is not the time to go it alone. The energy and support of those closest to you can boost your spirits when the job search seems to be taking too long.
Give yourself time to think
Along with all the activities involved in just living your life, see if you can schedule 30 minutes of quiet time a couple of days a week to think about how you can make the future you're seeking actually happen. For example, if you want a specific job, have you done everything you can to achieve it? Many peo- ple spend hours tweaking and rewriting their resumes and cover letters when they would benefit much more from sitting down to think deeply about who might be able to help or pro- vide valuable information. Or you might want to ask yourself if theres something more you could do to be prepared for that job. Are there online courses you could take? Volunteer organizations in that particu- lar field that could use your help? Temporary agencies that service that industry? These are just examples. The idea is to challenge your- self to reflect on what you really want and what you can do to get it.
The Tortoise and the Hare
Remember that fable whose moral was slow and steady wins the race? For most of us, finding the right job requires persistence and patience. You might get discouraged along the way, but if you know what you want and take every step you can to achieve it, chances are very good you can make it happen.
Source: Ticket to Work
One way to remain positive is to set some milestones for yourself. Decide what success looks like on a daily or weekly basis. For example, how many applications do you want to send out? How many networking contacts do you want to make? Focus on the present time and what youre doing today to create your desired experience. When you pick and achieve milestones that will help you progress toward your goal of getting a job, you also gain a sense of accomplishment that can keep you motivated.
Keep a daily rhythm
When youre looking for work, its tempt- ing to spend every waking hour searching job boards, filling out applications and writing cover letters. After all, everyone says looking
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