I talk with a lot of job seekers who are beyond frustrated by this job market. Never in their career have then felt so helpless to help themselves. It doesn’t help that the rules have changed. No longer does a few job application submissions yield at least an interview.
The reality is there are too few new jobs being created and people with jobs are staying put. Companies are feeling anxious about the future so they’re sitting still and suspending hiring. But despite these bad conditions, I’m seeing job seekers every week who are reporting that they’re at final interview stages or negotiating offers. So despite the vibe of gloom, it’s important to remember roles are still being filled.
Why structure matters in today’s job search
Another job seeker getting to the finish line is no consolation to you when you’re still running your race. It can be very stressful. To lessen job search anxiety so you perform at your best, you have to come up with structure and strategy for your job search. This will give you predictability and that will also bring you some calm. Organized consistent job-search effort will help you reach your job-search goals faster without the exhaustion of burnout. Here are two strategies that will help you keep going.
Gamify your job search
Several months ago I met a job seeker who improved his job search by giving himself targeted challenges. He would establish metrics for what he needed to do in a given week. And every week he would do his part to hit his goals. He did things like: reach out to 3 recruiters, apply for 10 jobs, get reacquainted with 10 contacts, and make 10 new introductions.
By doing this consistently, he had given structure to his days. He was governed by predictability not panic. He knew where the finish line was for the day and for the week. And while he may have felt like he was just going through the motions just to get the tasks done, he was actually mastering the tenacity he needed to get a job in this market.
Timebox your job search activities
Part of what makes gamification valuable is it forces you to timebox your activities. Timeboxing is when you allocate a set amount of time for an activity—nothing more, nothing less. It keeps you motivated to keep doing the task because you know the end is in sight. This also gives structure and order to your days and helps you avoid burnout from overdoing any one task.
When you think about time management for your job search, don’t just consider your job-search related activities. Also think about other things that will keep you rested and fresh. Go for a walk, get some exercise, spend time with friends and family. Set aside time for these things too. This will give your life balance and hopefully help you keep things in perspective.
Reduce panic activities like panic applying
Gamification and timeboxing can help neutralize panic in your job search. I’m talking about the scenario where you feel like nothing is working out so you try yet another random job search activity in hopes it will pay off. In a panic, you start to ask yourself: maybe I need to lower my standards? Maybe I need to get this certification? Maybe I need to research new job boards? You’re second guessing yourself and throwing out random ideas rather than using strategy. If you give in to panic, you’ll end up just feeling exhausted and no better off.
When you feel panic creep up, stop. Recognize what’s happening. You are operating in a mode of fear and reaction opposed to calm and order. If you need to, stop your job search for the day and switch gears. Change your scenery. Find some distractions. When you feel overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is temporarily walk away.
Wrap-up
I know this job market is hard—really hard. This terrible job market or your job search will not last forever. So to get through it, you need to rely on a system to keep order and structure in your days and calm in your mind. With things like gamification and timeboxing you will be more effective because you will be consistent. Plus you will narrow your focus and improve your concentration. Instead of stressing about not getting a job this week, zero in on the tasks at hand and count them as wins. And hopefully those small wins will add up to the big win you seek.