How to stay positive during your job search

There are plenty of practical tips out there to help your job search but if you’re starting to hear that negative self-talk a little too often, here are some simple psychological tips to help you remain positive on your search for a new job.

Face your feelings

If you’ve lost your job, you could be experiencing grief. You could be feeling angry, hurt, panicked, rejected and anxious all at once. That’s normal so don’t be too hard on yourself. But do allow yourself to feel those things. Talk to someone you can trust or write down how you’re feeling. The exercise of naming how you feel will be therapeutic in itself. The main thing is not to wallow.

HOW: Acknowledge the feelings and move on

Actively choose to be positive

Actively look for the good in your job search experiences – for example “I got useful feedback from the recruitment agency even though they didn’t put my CV forward” or “Now I know not to waste my time applying for that kind of post because I don’t have the right qualification”. Think “At least I got a phone interview” even if you didn’t make it to the face-to-face round.

HOW: Celebrate the smallest wins

Avoid negative people

If someone in your life is negative about your finding a new job, ditch them! Ok, if it’s your mother, she’s hard to ditch – but be aware that being around negativity (which probably stems from worry) could be having a noxious effect on you, so change the conversation or leave that person’s company when he or she turns negative.

HOW: Politely disengage from negative people

Positive self-talk

It sounds so corny but remind yourself of what you’re good at and of the successes you’ve had. If you’ve been looking for a job for a while, the negative self-talk can get very loud. To counter it, develop a positive mantra that you can switch on without too much effort. Having said that, don’t delude yourself. Pick something that you can genuinely be proud of.

HOW: Have your positives at your fingertips

Don’t forget your life

Don’t neglect your friends or hobbies when you’re searching for a job. It’s really important to do other things. Apart from anything else, socialising, volunteering or enjoying your hobby are forms of networking and you never know what useful contacts you might make. They fill you with endorphins and remind you what your passions and strengths are. Plus, having some hobbies and passions on your CV lets employers see the real person behind the skills.

HOW: Keep doing the things you love

What tactics do you find helpful? Tweet your advice to @CelticCareers.Of course, a very practical way to keep positive is to register with a new recruitment agency. Agencies have access to roles that aren’t advertised in the usual media. A good consultant is full of advice, which might point your job search in the right direction. You can register here or give us a call to discuss your job search.Other ways to keep that positivity up can be found here:"4 Tips for staying positive during your job search" - April Greene - Idealist Careers"Feeling Battered By Unemployment - 5 ways to stay strong" - Forbes