The job search process is complicated. Not only is it hard applying for a job, but it's also tiring. You have to sift through tons of job applications until you receive that job offer. This part of the process hasn't happened to me yet and so I continue the search.
This past week I've been a bit frustrated by my progress. I fill out so many applications in a week, but I still don't get a call back or a job interview. I would say I've been applying for jobs for three weeks. It's not that long considering the amount of people still out of work in this economy. (However, I did read in the news the other day that the US economy is recuperating. Although the pace of the growth depends on where you live.) It'd be perfect to dedicate all of my time and energy to finding a job, but that's not realistic. I still have my day-to-day life to live. When I do get a moment to reflect, I don't exactly want to re-start the application process for the day. So how do I cope?
It may seem cliché or very "in fashion" to say this, but I have started yoga. I exercise daily but have always wanted to try yoga because of its relaxation techniques. I have a serious problem with relaxation. Together with my plans of relocation, I was about to break down. I just started but it has already helped me to put life in perspective. What I tend to do is let my to-do list intimidate me. I stress about what I have to do all day long, even while I'm crossing things off the list. So I am in a constant state of stress. This has affected my job search progress. I'll see jobs that are perfect for my experience and mix of qualifications, but I don't apply for them. Intead, I'll email them to myself and save them in folders. This is just the same as quitting. Jobs do expire. Perhaps I'm missing out on a good opportunity because I'm lazy. Even if I just apply for one job a day, at least I've done that to the best of my ability. Yoga has helped me to relax and to prioritize. I can't do everything in a day. Maybe one day I'll focus on writing a couple cover letters, or dedicate an afternoon to resume tailoring. The following day maybe I'll find three jobs or contact my employment references. Cutting up the work in manageable chunks sounds like common sense but sometimes it escapes the best of us.
So the moral of this week's job search lesson is to take a minute to breathe. You are doing all that you can to get that coveted employment opportunity...and when it comes you can thank tools like retailgigs...and yourself of course!
By: Samantha Taylor
Samantha is a Boston, Massachusetts native. Her studies have taken her from Ohio to England, where she lived for two years. Currently, Samantha lives in Andalucía, Spain, with her husband. She is a writer for Nexxt and contributes to one of its many blogs: retailgig
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