You are an experienced job hunter. You have years of experience and you are worried about landing somewhere that’s a good fit and an appropriate place that suits your skill level and offers you the opportunity to be involved and have a meaningful impact on the environment you are hopefully going to be a part of, but first you have to get that job. It’s no secret the older you are the more difficult it can be to find new career opportunities. Industry statistics show that it can take a more seasoned (veiled way of saying older) job hunter 6 more months to land than a younger demographic. Short or long time in between jobs, the hunt can take its toll and if you don’t keep your mind ‘right’, it can be an emotionally stressful time. The same, by the way holds true for anyone looking for a job – not just the older, more experienced, but young job hunters too. The stress can be a force to be reckoned with. It’s up to you how you choose to manage it.
Rejection is a difficult pill to swallow, but it is part of the process as the marketplace is so competitive. Again, I repeat, keep your head in a good place. For those of you that know me, follow me and/or engage my services professionally, I always maintain the ‘A&E’ of it all – ATTITUDE and EFFORT. Attitude: Maintain a good one. Effort: Always give it your all.
That said, if you are on the market, you must keep and maintain a structure to your day. Be consistent about your hours and the time you invest. If you are working, you have an organized day to deal with. If you maintain that same type of framework as a job hunter, you stay in shape and when you land, you are already in the rhythm and can transition into a similar day’s routine.
As you continue to develop a job hunter’s schedule and system, you are, in a way, maintaining good work habits and all of that becomes a formula for success when you get the opportunity to make the transition. I am not a fan of the ‘9 to 5’ job hunter’s schedule. I think, because of the stress involved, it’s important to do something for you during that day. Take a lunch break, read, take a walk, walk the dog, make some personal calls, maybe go to the gym – but pocket some time for YOU and create a balance to help diffuse the stress and uncertainty of the job search.
I am not suggesting that you slack off. On the contrary, I want you 100% involved and committed but make sure you turn it off for a bit too. You will feel better. I promise.
Scar tissue is a process of ‘wound repair’. A natural part of the healing process and with exception, all wounds will heal. Losing a job, making a career transition can be a wound that requires time and care for healing, so be a good doctor to yourself and take care of things, exhibit patience and you will heal and find a new job.
