07 Apr Be Mindful
It’s a stressful time for everyone. This situation that we find ourselves in is completely unprecedented, and the unknown the future holds just amplified that stress. It is so hard to not completely panic and be crippled by anxiety, but you have to stay mindful and keep focused.
If you are a job seeker, it is especially important that you stay mindful and focus on your goals. Often job seekers appear to be procrastinating about getting their CV together, applying for jobs, and the process in general, when in reality, they are just overwhelmed by the process. It’s scary, and if you lose perspective, it can be hard to know where to even start!
Here are a few things that may help you gain some control over the situation:
Mourn the loss
People resist change because they are mourning the loss of what was. It’s okay to mourn. It’s okay to look back on a job you loved, or a dream you have let go of. The second you acknowledge that you are mourning the loss of what could have been, or was, you are able to start moving forward and embrace the opportunity that today holds.
Start looking for joy
I am a big fan of gratitude journals. But these can get boring and a little stale if you are not feeling very grateful at the moment. Try looking at things differently and look for joy. The joy you feel waking up to the sound of rain or the birds chirping. The joy you feel having the time to watch TV or read a book. The joy of a hug from a loved one. And if it does not bring you joy- like scrolling through social media feeds about the state of the world- stop! Focusing on joy or gratitude slowly makes you more positive, and positivity attracts more positivity.
Set yourself goals and hold yourself accountable
The job-seeking process can be broken down into a number of little steps, which approached systematically, makes the whole process a lot more manageable. Furthermore, it’s a constantly evolving process- so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get it right the first time. You will do a CV, and then get feedback on it and need to add information. You will not be shortlisted for a job, and then know the way you apply needs to change. You will mess up answering an interview question, and then know how better to approach it the next time.
Focusing on “getting the job” is getting ahead of yourself. Focus rather on what kind of job you want, and then putting a cv together, then loading your details onto job portals, and then searching and applying for jobs, and then….
Make a list (write it down!) of what you need to do, then set yourself a goal for today, this week, this month. Maybe today you are going to call someone and bounce ideas off them as to what job you should apply for (you don’t need to know the exact job title). Then tomorrow draw up a CV- it’s as simple as data capturing your details info a template, and then reviewing it. Maybe set yourself the goal of loading your CV onto a job portal every day. Break the process down into bite-size pieces, and just look at the next piece, not the end goal.
Activity attracts activity, and you will find that as soon as you start moving the process forward, things will start to fall into place.
Manage your time and skills
There are things that we cannot control, but there are plenty of more things that we can control. You can control your time, and schedule time into your day to be still: exercise, look for a job, and improve your skills. There are so many free resources out there at the moment, that you get to chose if you leave this time of being at home with new skills… or waste your days away. When you are asked at your next interview, “What did you take away from the COVID19 shutdown?” or “How did you manage your time during the shutdown?” – how will you answer?
Here are just a few of the many resources available to you:
www.udemy.com
www.coursera.org
www.getsmarter.com
www.udacity.com
www.skillshare.com
https://thehollisco.com/pages/next90
There are also some great YouTube channels, podcasts and books to read or listen to. If you have stumbled across a great site- set us know, so we can share it with other job seekers.
Keep perspective
This will pass- it always does. Times are tough, and they may get tougher… or they may not. And next year will most definitely bring a new set of achievements and problems; as will the following- that’s life. Worrying about what will happen at the end of the month, or next month, does nothing to help you, it just makes you anxious and overwhelmed. There may be retrenchments and jobs lost, but that does not mean that you will be unemployed or lose your job. As long as there is a country and people living in it, there will be jobs. If you want one of those jobs, you need to be present in this moment, and embrace this exciting new time as an opportunity.
Keep an eye out on our social media accounts (@resource_recruitment) and our website (www.2r.co.za) for more newsletters that will be coming out, on how to figure out what jobs you should apply for; how to draw up a CV; tips on getting the most out of job portals; your LinkedIn Profile; and so much more!
