5 tips for maintaining a positive attitude while looking for work
5 tips for maintaining a positive attitude while looking for work
1. Be goal oriented
Try to see this time as an opportunity; if you’ve always wanted to transition into another career, or upskill so you’re a better candidate for promotions, now is the time to start working toward it. There are a range of free online courses to help you upskill, including TAFE, Future Learn, Open University, and Udemy.
It can also be helpful to reflect on your best qualities, skills, and accomplishments by practicing for your interviews and elevator pitches. Elevator pitches are great because they help you focus on condensing who you are and what makes you a fantastic employee into a short 30 second pitch without focusing on your shortcomings. Practicing and remembering what makes you a successful job candidate will help you to boost your confidence.
You can download our free elevator pitch templates here.
2. Don’t take rejection personally
Rejection is hard, especially after you finally make it to the interview stage. There are many factors that could result in a rejection — sometimes they decide to hire internally rather than externally; perhaps your working style wasn’t the right fit for the hiring manager; or maybe the company was looking for a very particular skill set.
It’s also important to that you don’t take it personally and reflect on the experience you have gained from this. For example, ask your interviewer for feedback to find out where your strengths were, what they liked about you, and how you can improve your performance.
When we spoke with CoAct HR Manager Monique Fenner, she said, “We all can improve somewhere. It might not be your application; it might be that the organisation isn’t hiring any more. Maybe the industry is very specific, and you should focus on another more flexible industry.” Try to focus on what you learned from your interview and use that knowledge to your advantage in your next job application.
Monica Fenner, HR Manager from CoAct says: “we all can improve somewhere. It might not be your application; it might be that the organisation isn’t hiring any more. You could also find some helpful insight in applying for other roles. Maybe the industry is very specific, and you should focus on another more flexible industry.”
3. Practice self-care
For job seekers with a mental health condition, it is particularly important that you practice self-care and take extra steps to reducing your stress. Rather than focusing on how many hours you were productive toward your job search, try to maintain a healthy routine instead.
Creating a routine for yourself is a great way to practice self-care because having structure your day can give you a greater sense of purpose and achievement. Try to get outside every day, eat a healthy meal, make some time to work toward your goals, and make sure you spend some time doing something that makes you happy. Surround yourself with positivity and remember that your career isn’t the only thing that defines you.
4. Stay connected
Whether it’s connecting with old employers and colleagues so that they know you’re looking for work, or video chatting with friends and family members for fun, staying connected is vital for maintaining positivity.
Let your closest friends and family know if you’re struggling and need their support — it’s hard to stay positive if you don’t let other people lighten your load. Even though it’s easy to connect with people online, nothing beats a face-to-face catch up over coffee. Just remember to be safe, keep a healthy distance away, and wash your hands.
5. Get help from the expert
It can be difficult to stay positive without direction. The great thing is you don’t have to do this alone. If you’re looking for a supportive employment service provider who understands your individual circumstances and will work with you to build your confidence, get in touch with our friendly team.
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