Job hunting is a stressful endeavor. Some level of resiliency is required to survive the job hunt period.

Let's discuss some tips and strategies to improve your resiliency, putting you in a position to land that job.

1. Economic Climate

The economic climate plays a big role in the job market. Businesses prioritize profits above anything else. Anything that threatens this is ruthlessly dealt with. Recessions occasionally happen, making the economic climate tough.

We are currently experiencing an economic downturn since the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations are shifting to online spaces, leading to mass downsizing drives.

Organizations have made employees redundant, flooding the job market with new competitors. New companies and startups are hiring in smaller numbers due to the economic climate.

It’s crucial to understand the current economic landscape. Most jobs are filled, and the few open slots are fiercely competed for. It is pivotal to have some resiliency to keep competing in the current market and to improve yourself to be more attractive to employers.

Situations are less likely to improve without an economic uptick, hence the need for some resiliency in your job hunting.

2. Alternate Strategies

Applying for open positions is the conventional job-hunting strategy. This strategy is known to many individuals in the same position as you. This makes it a highly saturated, low-success tactic to use.

Consider other strategies in your job hunting. Message people in your field of interest on platforms like LinkedIn to look for recruiters to help you.

This alternate strategy works as a form of marketing. You'll market yourself to your prospective employers. Recruiters work as middlemen between the organizations and the employees. Some companies use recruiters to get new employees.

These strategies will put you ahead of your competition, coupled with traditional job hunting, put you in a better position to land a job.

These strategies give you better feedback on your standing, which increases your motivation and resiliency in job hunting.

Read: Time Management Hacks for the Overwhelmed Tech Student

3. Make Cold Calls

Cold-calling is an old art that has lost its shine over the past decade. This strategy still has its benefits in the current job-hunting climate. Cold calls involve calling the company or organization you’re interested in and enquiring about open positions.

This seems unorthodox, and you’d be right to assume that. This strategy will get you ahead of the rest. You’ll get direct information from the organization and market yourself. This will also give you instant feedback that will be good for you, improving your resiliency in the process.

4. Network

Most positions in this day and age are filled through networking and connections. It pays to know the big players in the field of your interest. It still pays to know someone in your area of interest.

Take time to network with these people to get an insider perspective of what is happening. Attend conferences, galas, or online events in your fields. Interact with these people, absorb knowledge, and share your experiences.

This networking and building connections will propel you ahead of the rest. These people will directly contact you when there’s an opening and save you a lot of stress in job hunting. This will drastically improve your mental health and resiliency.

5. Improve your skills

Improving your skills will improve your chances of landing that job. Having more skills than your competition will elevate you to the list of potential hires. It is advisable to add practical skills to your resume to guarantee this happens.

Learn a new language, Excel, or even a complex skill like video editing as a content writer. These diverse skills show your versatility, making you an attractive hire for many organizations.

Bettering yourself will also improve your mindset and resiliency, allowing you to push harder as you pursue your job.

Read: Six Principles of Effective Writing

6. Have a Realistic Mindset

Have a realistic mindset, and set realistic expectations for yourself. Analyze your skills and level and compare them to the position you are applying for. Think about the number of people you’ll compete against for the same opportunity.

Having realistic expectations saves you from a lot of stress and depression. Understanding the requirements needed for the job will save you from the despair caused by a rejection. Work on yourself, improve your skills, aim for realistic positions, and apply for positions you qualify for.

Doing this will put you in a good headspace and prime position to land that job. Your mentality won’t be adversely affected, which keeps your resiliency high.

7. Take Time Off

Taking time off to cool and rest your mind is crucial. Job hunting is a stressful endeavor that can drain the life out of you if you aren’t careful. Take time to meet your friends, go out with them, take a nature walk, and even workout.

Your mental health is the most important factor when job hunting. Being in the right headspace will determine how far you can push. Protect yourself from burnout, depression, and the negativity associated with this process.

Losing your mindset will have you down, unmotivated, with zero resiliency. You’ll have lost when this happens. It is crucial to protect against this to keep your resiliency and motivation intact. It can be a long journey. Having the right mindset will make it manageable.

Read: Practical Tips to Maintain Productivity

Conclusion

Job hunting in today’s economic market is a draining activity. The rates of depression have increased over time as many people try their best to gain employment. The job-hunting process can mentally deflate you, leaving you hopeless and depressed.

Staying motivated amid adversity is pivotal to successfully maneuvering this phase of life. You must be resilient in your job-hunting, keeping yourself grounded and motivated. It is hard to navigate this phase of life, and it becomes even harder doing so while dejected.

Take the time to improve yourself, network, reach out, and rest to maintain your mentality throughout this daunting process. Learn some intangible skills to make yourself a wonderful coworker once hired.

For these and more thoughts, guides, and insights visit my blog at martinbaun.com

You can find me on X