Staying Motivated During Your Job Search

Job seekers are still struggling to find work. According to the Labor Department, new jobless claims rose for the first time in three weeks this week. Staying motivated during the job search is hard especially if you have been searching for a long time.

Despite this gloomy economy, talented and hard working people are getting hired every day. Having motivation is the key to your success.  Here are some tips to help you stay motivated.

1) Maintain a Positive Attitude
Negativity is a big motivation killer.  When negative thoughts or doubt creeps into your mind, visualize your success and yourself at your new job. Inspirational quotes and stories of successful people you admire can also help you to stay positive.

2) Build a Support Network
Job searching in a poor economy is not an easy task. You need a few personal cheerleaders to encourage you and help you maintain a positive attitude. Find a friend or family member that you can talk to when you are feeling down. They can  give you advice or help you think of new job search strategies. You can also join a job search support group or start one.

3) Learn How to Handle Rejection
Not receiving any job offers or getting any interviews can make you feel like you are nothing, but everybody gets rejected at some point in life. Do not take it personal. Recruiters have a specific person in mind for a job. If you are rejected, then that job was not for you and there is a better job out there for you. Use rejection as an opportunity to get feedback on how you can improve your job applications.

4) Set a Schedule
Looking for jobs nonstop will leave you burned out. Set aside a few hours at a time where you look for new job leads, make follow-up calls, send e-mails, apply for jobs, and connect with people in your network. Take breaks in between activities. Make sure you conduct part of your search during normal business hours.

5) Network.
Attend networking events. Do not limit yourself to events that are in your field. You never know what people or job leads  individuals in other fields may know. Connect with people in your network by going to lunch with them or doing informational interviews. They can offer you advice and share their job leads.

6) Learn a New Skill
Learning a new skill keeps you busy and makes you more marketable in the job market. Seek out classes, attend workshops, or simply read books. Volunteering is also another way you can learn a new skill. Offer your services to a nonprofit organization or a small business owner that could use your help.

7) Manage Stress and Enjoy Life.
Have fun to relieve stress. Do activities you enjoy. Spend time with family and friends. Exercising is also a good way to manage stress.

Remember, you are not defined by your job or occupation. You are defined by your character.

Merry Christmas Class of 2010

Congratulations December 2010 graduates! You finally joined the college graduate club. As you probably know, it's rough out here especially during Christmas time. It took a lot for me to get in the Christmas spirit because I was feeling depressed about my job situation. While things get hard, you have to keep going. So, here are my tips for surviving out here in the real world.

1)  Have an Open Mind. Because of this economy, it will be difficult to find something in your field. (Trust me, I know this.) Since they are so many  people out here like you competing for the same jobs, it may take a while to find your ideal job. Search for opportunities outside of your field along with jobs in your field. It's not where you start, it's where you end up. You also need to earn money to support yourself and pay bills. Don't be ashamed to take a job in food service or retail if you have to. It's only temporary and you will eventually find something in your field.

2) Work your plan. If there is a project or something you want to do, now is the best time to start it. Whether it's a website, business, charity, or volunteer work, do it now. It's a good way to keep you busy and develop your skills.You never know where  your work could lead you. It could lead you to opportunities that help you accomplish your goals and achieve your dreams.

3) Build and Utilize Your Network. The best way to find a job is through networking. Every good job I have had was because I knew someone. With so many people looking for work, applying for jobs online is not the most efficient way to look for work. (Not to say that applying for jobs online doesn't work. You just need to use multiple methods.)  Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Attend networking events in your area  and keep building relationships.


4) Keep Stress Down- Adjusting to being in the real world can be stressful especially if you are still looking for employment. Do activities that you enjoy to keep stress down. Exercising is a great way to relieve stress and stay healthy.

5) Manage student loans. While you may have a grace period, you need to mentally prepare yourself to pay back you student loans. Make sure you know all the terms of your student loans and all of your repayment options.This is also a good time to put yourself on a budget and learn how to manage your finances. Having a budget controls your spending, so you will have money to pay your bills.

6) Have Faith. No matter your religious persuasion, you have to have faith. You have to encourage yourself and believe that things will work out. Searching for a job in this economy is rough. Making ends meet is hard. Having faith motivates you to keep going. No matter how bad it gets, don't give up because life can be a lot worse!

The real world may seem scary, but you will make it. You already made it this far. Celebrate your success and Have a Very Merry Christmas!

3 Reasons Why I Love LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great resource for networking and job searching. I recently fell in love with LinkedIn after discovering different features. These are my 3 favorite things about LinkedIn.

1. Make great connections.  One of the features that I love is the "People You May Know" feature. I have tracked down former co- workers and made multiple new connections. Before using this feature I had about 45 connections. Over the past month, my LinkedIn network has grown to over 100 people just by using this feature. I have connected with people who work at companies that I am interested in and people who work in my desired field.

 2. Find Recruiters and Human Resource Managers. Sometimes, I cannot find the right person to send my materials to when applying for a job. Some companies were also unwilling to give me the name of the right person. Doing a LinkedIn search helped me to find the right person. I then sent my materials directly to the recruiter. (Hint: Most people email address  is first name. lastname@thecompany.com. For example. melissa.snow@xyzcompany.com.) 

3. Find a Job. LinkedIn has its own job section. You can find jobs by using their advanced search feature  is the best way to search within the jobs section. Just type in your desired position and location. You can also use groups to look for jobs. Groups have job boards and some groups are dedicated to job seekers. For example,  Find Luxury Jobs.

LinkedIn may not lead you to a job right away, but the connections you make are priceless. If you are not on LinkedIn already, get on it! You are missing out on job opportunities and the chance to build relationships with people.