As a tech career coach, I’m often asked about the “secret ingredient” to a successful job search.
Truthfully, my work would be much easier if there were a magic lever I could pull that would effortlessly help job seekers land their next role. While no single solution exists (but please let me know if you find it!), if I had to highlight one key element, it would be HOPE.
Hope makes it easier to persevere, stay positive, and continue the hard work needed to find a new job, even when faced with rejection or ghosting. However, maintaining a positive outlook can be incredibly challenging when all you want is to secure a new position.
Continue reading to discover the importance of staying hopeful during your job search and practical strategies for remaining positive when it feels impossible.
Is It Normal To Feel Discouraged In Your Job Search?
Yes, it’s totally normal to feel down, discouraged, or defeated when job searching, and you’re not alone.
One reason you might feel disheartened by the job hunt is that the market is more competitive than ever before. With more applicants vying for fewer open roles, it often takes more intention, more effort, and more patience to land a new role.
Please remember that your feelings and emotions are valid, and acknowledging and honoring them is a critical first step toward meaningful, lasting change.
Why Is It Important To Remain Positive When Looking For A New Job?
While it’s normal to feel discouraged sometimes during your job search, maintaining a positive attitude is crucial to landing your next position. Prospective employers, including interviewers, can easily sense when you’re feeling down.
At the end of the day, interviewers are also people, and people tend to prefer being around positive people, which means you need to find ways to keep yourself upbeat through the job search.
I want to clarify that this doesn’t mean you need to fake happiness or suppress your true emotions. However, while it can be tempting to vent about your job search frustrations on LinkedIn or during the interview, it’s rarely worth the potential risk, as it can really jeopardize your chances of landing your next role.
Instead, you want to seek out appropriate outlets in which to express your feelings and cultivate hope during challenging times, even when it feels impossible.
6 Ways To Stay Positive When Job Searching
What follows are 6 practical strategies to help you maintain a positive outlook during your job search. While some of these tips can be categorized as “self-care for your job search,” I strove to dive deeper into ways to really rejuvenate your spirit and energize your soul as you navigate this journey.
1. Understand the current employment market.
To begin, remember that the average job hunt lasts around five months. However, various factors such as the time of year, target position, and industry can significantly impact how long it takes you to find your next role.
For instance, if you’re looking to land a job in tech, keep in mind that:
- Recent waves of tech layoffs have increased the number of candidates you’re competing against.
- Many professionals are transitioning into the tech industry.
- Numerous tech and tech-adjacent companies have reduced their hiring.
- A significant number of currently employed professionals are exploring new opportunities.
All of this means there is increased competition for fewer job openings, which can lead to it taking longer to secure your next position. To put it simply, this isn’t an easy job market, and you can’t expect to submit a few applications on a Friday afternoon and receive interviews on Monday morning.
Additionally, if you’re targeting an executive position, you can anticipate a longer search due to fewer openings at the most senior levels and lengthy hiring processes. Moreover, companies today are being more cautious with spending, often consolidating roles or selecting internal candidates.
2. Set realistic expectations for yourself.
In today’s employment market, it’s imperative that you set realistic expectations for yourself.
While every recruiter or hiring manager has their unique preferences, here are some general benchmarks you can anticipate if you approach your job search strategically and efficiently:
- Job Applications: You want to aim to secure a recruiter screening interview for at least 10% of the applications you submit. This assumes you’re targeting appropriate roles, tailoring your resume for each application, and networking with contacts at each company. Keep in mind that it’s perfectly normal to never receive any response regarding many of the roles you apply to (that doesn’t mean it’s okay, but it’s just the reality of a saturated job market).
- Networking: You can expect responses from approximately 10% to 20% of the people you cold contact for informational interviews about open positions and company culture. Of course, this response rate will be much higher among people you already know. (And if it’s not, that signals an opportunity for self-reflection.)
- Interviews & Job Offers: You should strive to convert one-third of your interviews into job offers. If you’ve had more than three interviews without an offer, it might be time to reassess how you’re presenting and marketing yourself during these conversations.
Although your results will vary depending on your background, job search goals, and unique situation, these figures are based on my experience as a career coach working one-on-one with 1,000+ senior managers and executives in the tech industry.
If your results are considerably lower than the targets I’ve listed, there might be an opportunity to improve your resume, optimize your LinkedIn, or refine your interview skills.
Also, if you’re not currently tracking any job search metrics, this is a good time to start. Consider keeping track of at least the following:
- The quantity and quality of applications you submit
- Consistency in sending follow-up messages
- Commitment to requesting informational interviews
- Application-to-recruiter screening call conversation rate
- Recruiter screening call-to-interview conversion rate
- Interview-to-offer conversion rate
3. Focus on what’s in your control in the job search.
While I recognize it’s often easier said than done, staying focused on what you can influence, rather than obsessing over what’s beyond your control, will make for a less stressful job search.
Here are some examples of what’s in your direct control in the job search:
- Tailoring your resume using keywords from the job description, rather than “spraying and praying.”
- Practicing your responses to common interview questions such as, “Tell me about yourself,” “What are your biggest strengths?” and “Why do you want to work here?”
- Taking time to protect your mental health and well-being.
- Surrounding yourself with a community that supports and uplifts you when the job hunt feels tough or impossible.
And here’s what’s outside of your direct control in the job search:
- How long a recruiter takes to get back to you after applying for a position.
- The number and type of open positions and when they become available.
- Hiring policies including specific job requirements, the number of interviews, or preferences for internal candidates.
- Economic conditions such as recessions and industry downturns.
4. Practice being in the present moment.
Being in the present moment (AKA focusing on the here and now) is another aspect of the job search that you can control.
While the process of looking for a job can be incredibly stressful, I believe that there are always opportunities to celebrate the present, even when you find yourself wanting to simply fast forward to the moment you land a job.
Meditation is a fabulous tool for enjoying and appreciating the current moment. However, sitting in silence for prolonged periods can feel intimidating when you’re in the thick of a job search. Fortunately, guided meditations can help you stay present.
The following are a few of my favorite guided meditations for job seekers from Insight Timer, listed in no particular order:
- Money Rain Abundance Meditation (~18 minutes) by ShaKara Zulu
- Wealth Lives Within You (~3 minutes) by Eric John Campbell
- Money Making Abundance (~16 minutes) by Hayley Carr
- Decrease Anxiety & Increase Peace (~17 minutes) by Andrea Wachter
- Watching The Wondering Mind (~15 minutes) by Nathan O’Neill
- Present Moment (10 minutes, no words) by Chris Collins
- Morning Meditation With Music (~10 minutes) by Jonathan Lehmann
- Full Body Awareness – Healing Light Practice To Remove Toxins (~22 minutes) by Ruthie Hanan
As I’ve mentioned previously, Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as EFT tapping, can be used to reduce career anxiety and bolster your confidence. EFT tapping can also help you practice staying grounded in the here and now when focusing feels difficult.
Brad Yates has countless videos on his YouTube channel to support you in remaining positive, hopeful, and calm throughout your job search. Here are a few of the many videos I regularly recommend to job seekers and busy tech executives:
- Do This To Boost Your Self-Confidence (Begin with this video.)
- See Yourself Succeeding (You can also start with this video.)
- Resistance to Opportunities? (Looking for a Job, Relationships, etc.)
- Being Unemployed
- Hating Auditions (and Interviews)
5. Celebrate your progress.
Part of being in the moment involves recognizing and celebrating your smaller wins throughout the job hunt.
Examples of milestones worth commemorating might include:
- Submitting a tailored resume alongside your job application.
- Updating and optimizing your LinkedIn headline.
- Practicing your elevator pitch.
- Developing your interview talking points.
- Remaining positive throughout the job search.
You will want to find meaningful ways to celebrate these achievements that resonate with you and help you remain hopeful as you search for your next opportunity. These might include:
- Treating yourself to a snack or drink that you love. (Hello, Starbucks!)
- Going for a walk.
- Trying a creative hobby.
- Reading a book.
- Watching your favorite TV show. (Might I recommend Judy Justice?)
- Texting or calling a loved one.
- Scrolling on social media.
- Doing absolutely nothing.
6. Surround yourself with positivity.
Finally, cultivating a supportive community can infuse hope and positivity into your job search.
Importantly, not all support networks are created equal. While venting has its time and place, particularly in a tough job search, you want to surround yourself with people who uplift and empower you, rather than those who bring you down.
If you’re finding it difficult to identify potential sources of support, as a coach, I recommend that you start by reflecting on which friends, family members, and former colleagues have been helpful in the past.
Additionally, there are numerous online support groups available. Many of my clients have found great value in joining a Job Search Council, as it allows them to connect and network with fellow professionals who are facing similar challenges.
Staying Positive Through The Job Search Is Possible
As a career coach, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the power of partnering with a trained professional to maintain a positive mindset throughout your job search.
I take pride in being my clients’ biggest cheerleaders while also remaining pragmatic. Although I deeply believe my clients can achieve the impossible, I don’t wear rose-colored glasses; instead, I focus on consistent, actionable steps you can take to make progress toward your goals.
If you’re interested in learning more about how career coaching can support you in remaining hopeful as you find your next opportunity, please reach out or schedule a consultation. I’m here for you! You’ve got this!
