Resilience as a job seeker

Practising resilience and focusing on the things you can control is so important when looking for work. Receiving the news that your role is being made redundant or that you didn’t get the job you wanted sucks! And having the ability to bounce back after bad news or disappointment and move on from it, is often easier said than done.

Thankfully, as humans we can practice and strengthen our resilience, this is something we should focus on even more so during tough times like a global pandemic and extended periods of unemployment.

Looking for a new job is a job in its self. Crafting resumes and cover letters and preparing for interviews is time-consuming, and getting the news you didn't secure the role isn't an easy pill to swallow. But it's important not to take this news personally.

Resilient people don't dwell on failures and disappointment; they acknowledge the situation, learn from their mistakes, and then move on. Identifying how you deal with setbacks and improving your coping skills will only help to set you up for success in your job search.

Verywellmind.com report; “While people vary dramatically in the coping skills they use when confronting a crisis, researchers have identified some key characteristics of resilience.” These key characteristics are;

• Having a sense of control
• Possessing strong problem-solving skills 
• Having a support network and being able to ask for help

These skills can be developed and strengthened to improve your ability to deal with setbacks.

Here are 5 ways you can incorporate these characteristics and practice resilience in your job search:

You can’t control what you can’t control: as a job seeker, you can only control so much of the recruitment process. So ensure you are properly prepared, tailor every application, prepare for interviews, research businesses, ask questions and put your best foot forward.

Believe in yourself - it's not you, it's them: once again, as a job seeker, you can only control so much of the recruitment process. If you are confident in your process and feel well prepared but still don’t get the job, move on. That opportunity wasn’t meant for you. Take some time to feel the pain of not getting the job but don’t let it deter you from finding the role of your dreams.

Be a proactive candidate: network, network, network. Research, research, research. Don’t be a passive job seeker, approach businesses you want to work for, speak with key stakeholders within the businesses, and show your value proposition.

Ask for feedback: if you don’t get the job you applied for, make sure you ask why. This news isn’t always easy to hear and hiring managers generally don’t love to give feedback but ensure you ask. You can ask specific questions like, how I can improve my resume? Can you provide specific feedback on my interview skills? Etc, once you receive this feedback, ensure you take it on board to improve your next application.

Have a daily routine: if unemployed, approach every day like you have a job. Goal setting and having a desire to achieve your goals in a sure-fire way to approach your job search with resilience. So, write to-do lists and schedule time each day for your job search activities. It can be easy, especially at the moment amid a global pandemic to sit on the couch and watch Netflix all day but try to do at least one thing each day to improve your odds in the job market.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. - Thomas Edison

Good luck out there and for further assistance with your job search and applications, get in touch with The Resume Assistant.