Every day I hear job seekers’ frustrations. These are challenging times, and it’s understandable that those looking for work would feel frustrated. There are several ways, though, to make this frustration more bearable.
The career site BrazenCareerist.com recently offered some valuable insight into managing frustration while job hunting. I agree with these two bits of advice:
- “Acknowledge what is going well.” I call this reinforcing the good. The more we credit ourselves for positive strategies, the more quickly they become part of our regular routine.
- “Keep up the momentum.“ We can’t always help the way we feel, but we can find ways of handling our emotions better. Avoid self-pity sessions that last more than 15 minutes. Think about what you can do to make yourself feel better, and then act positively.
Here are some extra pointers I’ve come up with to help you handle frustration:
- Make the extra call to build your network. Networking with others, rather than isolating yourself, can help take your mind off your frustrations.
- Learn new skills (Web design, computer programming, etc.)
- Surround yourself with support, whether it comes from a career coach, support group, social networking site, business club, etc.
- Find some sort of expression for the frustration. I bake. Kneading bread is a great way for me to work out the frustration of my inability to make things better for so many journalists and other media colleagues who are looking to find work.
- Write in a journal. Write out your frustration and get it off your chest.
- Exercise. Being fit changes our attitude about ourselves and can be a good stress reliever.
- Engage in a hobby at least a few hours each week; hobbies help keep passions alive.
- Talk to friends you trust. Role play with them as a way of developing your interviewing skills, and then seek feedback. Friends can help you strike a better balance between fear and reality.
- Learn more about yourself and your frustrations by reading self-help books.
- Join me and Joe Grimm, visiting journalist at the Michigan State University School of Journalism and author of Poynter’s “Ask the Recruiter” column, during our free, weekly live career chats at 1 p.m. EDT on Tuesdays. The chats are often geared toward job seekers.
