Tips on Handling a Longer-Than-Expected Job Search

Even the most talented and motivated job seekers may have a difficult time finding a job these days. Many job seekers have had to spend months, or even more than a year, trying to secure work. And this delay can have a really devastating effect on a job seeker's motivation and self-confidence--both of which are are characteristics that are critical to a successful job search.

Writer, coach, and corporate trainer Jean Baur, the author of the recently released book "Eliminated! Now What: Finding Your Way from Job-Loss Crisis to Career Resilience," has advice on how job seekers in this position can stay motivated. She says that one of the best things people can do when they begin to feel stuck in their search is to take a critical look at which methods are producing some results and which aren't--and then make appropriate adjustments.

And, she adds, job seekers need to take care of themselves: "You can better cope with the feelings associated with a long-term career transition if you're not worn out, and take care of yourself through therapy, physical exercise, and even volunteering. A new project or hobby can be another way to go," she says.

"The real issue here is self-care," Baur says. "The obstacle that many people have to get over to do this is a false sense that this is wrong--that they’re selfish if they take care of themselves. Job seekers need to realize that balancing the demands of finding a new job with smart ways of caring for themselves will make them more successful."

Baur offers these additional dos and don'ts for persevering through a long transition:

Do:

1. Create contingency plans so that if your search goes on longer than expected, you know what you'll do.

2. Take care of yourself during this demanding process. Find the things that restore you so that your search doesn't become drudgery.

3. Work hard on your search, but don't let it eclipse your whole life. Positive results come from short breaks and rewards.

4. Research opportunities for training, whether in your existing area of expertise or something new. Adding new job skills will broaden your market and give you an area where you can see immediate results.

5. Use volunteering as a way to expand your network. This effort keeps you connected to others and ensures you’re doing something productive besides looking for work.

Don’t:

1. Become a job-search machine. You'll wear yourself out and won’t be presenting your best self to others.

2. Assume you know how and when you’ll discover your next opportunity.

3. Get stuck. If one method isn't working, try another.

4. Tell your network that there are no jobs out there. This is a depressing message.

5. Be unwilling to compromise. Sometimes you might have to take a small step back to move forward.

 

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