Job Search Blues

Official Talascend Release
June 15, 2016

Are you singing the blues with your current job search?

Is uncertainty, frustration and hopelessness taking a toll on your current job search? Rejection is the cause of many of these symptoms and it is completely normal to feel this way. In fact, statistics show losing your job ranks up there as the 4th most emotional life situation to deal with under the loss of loved ones. How do you rebound and stay calm amongst this emotional roller coaster you are riding? It’s not easy, but kudos to you for realizing that you are the only one that can sing yourself out of your job search blues and here are a few pointers to help you along:

1. What do you want to be when you grow up?

   One positive that comes out of any job search is the opportunity to re-evaluate your wants and needs for your next career. Start with a basic outline or “Career Map” of what you want your new chapter in life to look like. Build to that by including your motivations, passions, interests and hobbies. What likes and dislikes have you learned from past employers, bosses and colleagues? Make sure you write down all of your goals and display them in a place you look at every day. Use this map as your motivator to guide you through this process with each accomplishment being one step closer to your end goal.

2. Try taking the roads less traveled.
   

   Don’t allow the convenience of the digital age to place restrictions on your job search. Sure the many job search sites make it easy to mass apply, but they also make it just as easy for employers to mass weed you out if your keyword criterion doesn’t match their requirements. Nearly 50% of applicants are dropped by company’s automated and keyword driven Applicant Tracking Software (ATS). Simple work around? Expand your boundaries and step outside of your comfort zone.

   YOU take the first step by reaching out to companies that you want to work for (even if you they don’t have any postings). At the end of the day, do whatever it takes to be different. Hand deliver your resume to a company who may not even know they are in need of your services. As they say, impressions last, so make it a good one and they will think about you when the need comes around!

3. Stop throwing your own pity party.

   Instead of focusing on the negatives of your current job situation (or lack thereof), take a step back from the monotony and realize that not one person can take away the pride you have earned through the hard work performed in your past. So don’t let your job search strip you of this either. Maintain focus on the positives and celebrate the goals that you have met. Set time out of every day to relax and do something you enjoy. Remember, a relaxed mind will increase your performance and increased performance rejuvenates productivity ... all equating to finding your dream job faster!

4. Do something good for someone else!

   Losing hope is easy to do while battling the rejection and unknowns of a job search. Many seekers turn this negative energy to positive by volunteering their time helping others. There are endless opportunities that can help you get out of your funk and a great way to provide you the encouragement you need. This selfless effort will allow you to get out of the house, interact with people and, as a bonus, add another item to your resume! It’s always nice to quickly be able to answer the infamous interview question of “So, what have you done while you have been off work?” by the presenting voluntary efforts you have done during down times.

5. Ask for Help.

   Don’t be afraid to reach out to professionals within your personal networks for career advice. You will be surprised how willing people are to talk about their profession and will be thrilled to be considered an expert in their field. Networking is key to a successful job search!

   Another option is to gain the assistance from a professional recruiter to help boost your search efforts. Recruiting firms are often the first to know about openings within their client base, so don’t be afraid to ask for help here either. They know the industry and can help provide you with ideas you potentially never thought of on your own. A good to know about the recruiting industry is they are compensated by their clients looking for talent and are not actively sourcing opportunities for you; therefore it is important to not stop your own search efforts. Recruiters are happy to help you get you where you need to be, so be sure to share your career map with them and be open and honest about your goals.

It goes without saying that looking for a job is not one of those tasks that leaves you singing with the birds. Gratification is never instant and all of your hard efforts seem to go unnoticed, but more often than not, where you are headed turns out better than where you came from so keep the faith and this too shall pass. If you find yourself in a job search slump, be sure to focus on your goals, reconnect with your network and stay calm!

Good luck in your search.

About Talascend

Talascend is a Veteran Owned Business that is dedicated to the success of our nation’s civilian and veteran personnel. To date, the Talascend organization has a staff of 60 experienced and tenured recruiting professionals, a contract community of nearly 700 employees working on-site at our partnering accounts, and a candidate community of 1.2M+ engineering, technical and skilled trade professionals.

With 75+ years of staffing success, Talascend has been one of the most reliable and effective providers of strategic staffing solutions for clients serving multiple industry verticals needing top talent in engineering, technical, and skilled trade disciplines. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, the Talascend companies have worked with some of the world’s largest and best-known organizations on an extensive range of high-profile projects nationwide. If you are looking for a new career, or to grow your workforce, contact us today!