Remaining Positive and Uplifted During a Prolonged Job Search

Your income just went from something to nothing. Maybe you knew it was going to happen. Maybe you did not. Either way, looking for a new job is a stressful experience for almost everybody.

You worry about paying your bills. You stress over what would happen if you experienced an emergency while still going without a paycheck. Perhaps, as the search goes on, you get the sinking feeling that you will never find a job that matches your skill set and salary expectations.

While a little bit of stress is normal, it’s also important to understand that finding a job doesn’t have to be a nightmare. It helps to go in with the right set of expectations and calibrate your life, in a way that helps you manage stress effectively.

In this article, we take a look at what to do if you are struggling emotionally while looking for a new job.

Advanced Preparation

Admittedly, this advice will not apply to everyone. If you are in the middle of a prolonged job search already, you can’t go back in time and pad your savings account to prepare for the experience. However, if you are considering changing careers and want out of your current job as soon as possible, do a quick review of your resources.

Are you prepared to go several months without a salary? Do you have resources in place that will make sure you can afford an emergency repair or perhaps a hospital bill?

Ideally, you will be able to search for a new job without taking on debt during the process.

Of course, this is a best-case scenario. If you are ill-prepared for a layoff, rest assured that things will get better eventually. There are part-time jobs. Credit cards. Maybe even supportive friends and family members. Your situation will improve.

Understand What is Normal

It can take several months to find a job that suits your skill set. Certain factors may make your hunt take longer. For example, are you looking only within a specific region? The city of St. Louis may feel big, but if you’re looking for a local copywriting job there may only be three or four firms that are hiring. 

Understanding that the job hunt process takes time can help assuage feelings of anxiety. No, being practical about your wait time expectations won’t pay the bills, but it will help you avoid feelings of panic.

Keep in mind that even though going several months without a reliable paycheck is difficult, it probably will not heavily influence your financial future.

The vast majority of people experience lean years. The key is to spend time replenishing your savings account when you finally do get a job.

Self-care

Practicing self-care is an important step in the job hunt process. Anxiety is normal but it is also heavily influenced by external factors. What are your habits? What is your lifestyle?

It’s important to remember that all of your emotions are basically the results of chemical reactions in your brain. You can’t decide how they react, but you can choose behaviors that positively influence your emotions.

For example, while limited amounts of caffeine can be beneficial, it also boosts the cortisol levels in your brain. Cortisol is one of your fight-or-flight chemicals. Basically, it creates a sense of anxiety in your body.

By contrast, exercise produces serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that results in feelings of well-being.

There are loads of small adjustments, you can make to your routine that result in more positive feelings overall. Regular exercise. Better sleep. Petting a dog! Weird but true. Making physical contact with animals releases dopamine in your brain.

Habits, of course, will not help you find a job any faster. They will make the process feel more manageable.

Expand Your Search

Broadening your search may dramatically increase your chances of finding a good job. For example, let’s say you are a registered nurse. You’ve always worked on a hospital floor and now it’s time to look for a new position. You haven’t even considered any other types of jobs. Unfortunately, you live in a town with a relatively small hospital and they’re just aren’t any openings. Do you have to move? Not necessarily.

You could think about working as a school nurse. A nurse at a doctor’s office. A nurse at a laser hair removal studio. The last suggestion may be slightly tongue-in-cheek, but it’s also a legitimate opportunity.

In fact—and this may be proof that life is not fair— nurses who work in laser hair removal studios often make more than those who are employed in the hospital setting.

Sometimes working outside of your comfort zone may require getting additional certifications or simply upscaling. For example, school nurses are required to get a certification that allows them to work in schools.

There are even more opportunities for people who are willing to acquire a graduate degree.

You may feel disinclined to consider career options that require extra education but keep in mind that pain is only temporary. Trading a few months of your life for a career that you find rewarding and enjoyable is often a good bargain.

Consider Finding Temporary Employment

As a college graduate, you may have assumed that your days as a shift worker were over. That’s a reasonable assumption. However, during a prolonged job search, it may make sense to supplement your income to avoid going into debt. In this situation, there is no shame in seeking part-time employment. 

The good news? With the rise of the gig economy, there are now more options than ever. If you want to remain flexible so that you can focus primarily on your job search there should be options available in your community that make this possible. Food deliveries. Personal shopping. Uber driving. No, they won’t make you rich, but they will help out with the bills while you search for a job that you are passionate about.

Conclusion

Things may not feel this way now, but rest assured that eventually, your circumstances will improve. A year from now the stress you were feeling currently will probably feel distant and perhaps even overblown.

For the time being take care of yourself. Prioritize your health while taking steps each day to further your job search. And remember you don’t necessarily have to target your dream job. It is good to always keep an eye out for work that makes you happy. There is nothing wrong with taking a job as you search for something that aligns with your passions.