Tips for Balancing Rest While Job Searching

Happy November – especially to my job-seeking friends! How are you? We all know the job hunt can feel like a wild ride, full of ups and downs. But in the midst of sending out resumes and interviewing, have you taken a moment to think about how you're taking care of yourself during this journey? Finding the perfect job can be a bit like a treasure hunt, and it's easy to get lost in the chase. But remember, you're more than your resume and LinkedIn profile. So, here's a friendly nudge to prioritize self-care. Take a breather and RECHARGE. What gives you energy? What sets your soul on fire? It could be hiking through nature, biking through the breeze, or simply reading a book at a museum. Give your digital devices a break and RECHARGE. (And here's a shout-out to some amazing women from my network who shared their self-care gems. Thank you, you are amazing!) 1.     Move: Connect with the outdoors, even if it's just a leisurely walk. Disconnect from the digital world (for a while). 2.     Rest: Explore a museum, pick up a book for pure pleasure, and savor moments away from screens. 3.     Sleep: We all know it's important, yet we often push it aside. Prioritize your rest! 4.     Center: Find the self-care rituals that resonate with you. Consider meditating or journaling, for example. 5.     Socialize: Connect with friends and communities. Step away from job hunting and soak in the energy of companionship. 6.     Schedule: Create a balanced routine that includes work and downtime. A well-structured day boosts productivity and preserves your sanity. 7.     Serve: Volunteering, even for a single event, can be incredibly fulfilling and a great way to stay engaged with your community. 8.     Learn: Explore a new creative outlet by taking in-person classes or diving into online courses. Don't forget to take care of yourself as you navigate this career adventure. It's not just about landing the dream job; it's about nurturing the dreamer behind it. Today, identify one self-care activity you'll integrate into your job search routine. Your well-being is just as important as your resume. What's your go-to self-care strategy during your job search? Share in the comments below! #jobseekers #leadershipinsights #selfcare

Are you burnt out from job searching? From the endless applications and rejections to the rollercoaster of emotions during interviews, it can quickly become overwhelming and draining. I shared some tips to avoid burnout in our #WealthWednesday newsletter a few weeks ago, and I thought I'd bring them to LinkedIn! 1. Set achievable goals for yourself such as submitting a certain number of applications per week or networking with a specific number of industry professionals. In this competitive market, aim to submit 5-10 applications a day and try to reach out to at least 1 person on LinkedIn a week. Progress may vary from week to week, and that's okay! 2. Break the process into smaller, actionable steps to maintain a sense of control and progress. Start by updating your resume, optimizing your LinkedIn, creating a list of target companies, and scheduling coffee chats. Focus on one step at a time and celebrate each milestone you achieve. 3. Establish a routine and maintain work-life balance. Allocate specific hours for job searching, networking, and personal time. Set boundaries to ensure you're not spending every waking moment on job-related activities. Make time for hobbies, exercise, relaxation, and spending quality time with loved ones. 4. Practice self-care and make time for movement. Engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as meditation, yoga, or reading. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce stress and contribute to your overall well-being. Make sure you get enough sleep and take breaks from social media to recharge. And most important, be compassionate with yourself and shift your mindset from “I’m not doing enough” to “I’m doing the best I can.” 5. Seek support from your network. Letting people know about roadblocks in your job search can be humbling, but don't underestimate the power of your personal and professional network. Reach out to mentors, friends, and family for emotional support. Share your concerns, frustrations, and successes with trusted individuals who can provide encouragement and advice. Consider joining Facebook groups or online communities where you can connect with others going through similar experiences. 6. Mentally prepare and manifest for your dream job. The job search process is emotional and comes with plenty of ups and downs. Prepare yourself to handle rejection and setbacks by developing strategies to bounce back and maintain a positive mindset. Also, manifest your ideal job by envisioning the position you want and setting your non-negotiables. Stay true to your goals and values, and the right opportunity will come in due time. Remember, job searching can be a challenging journey, but it's crucial to remember that you are not alone in this process. Keep pushing forward, stay focused on your goals, and remember that every step you take brings you closer to your dream job. Wishing you all the success in your job search journey! 🖤

The #1 reason job searches end in failure? Burnout. Here's how to avoid it 👇🏻 If you're job searching in 2023.. especially in tech.. your strategy HAS to be sustainable, otherwise you could burn out pretty quickly. My favorite tips for preventing job search burnout: ✅ Set tiny, achievable goals every week: Like this: Apply to 2 jobs Send 5 networking messages Do not open LinkedIn on the weekend This keeps your momentum going, while protecting your time/energy. ✅ Incorporate CLEAN rest into your week: Clean rest does not mean watching Netflix while scrolling LinkedIn. Clean rest does not mean sitting outside with your kids while filling out a job application. Set aside time each day (ideally 20+ mins) of CLEAN rest where you are doing NOTHING but resting. ✅ Take a long break It's ok to stop job searching for a week or two.. or longer. You're way better off job searching in a happy, healthy state of mind than job searching nonstop in a place of doom and gloom. ✅ Stop comparing Set a timer or write down your goal before you open LinkedIn. Once you've done what you opened the app to do, get out. Endless scrolling and constant comparison is NOT productive. Ok, that's it! Job searching is BRUTAL. there's no doubt about that. take breaks when you need them. be intentional with your time. you've got this. ✌🏻 __ #customersuccess #jobsearchadvice

Searching for a job can feel like a full-time job. Finding the right roles to apply for, personalizing cover letters and resumes, and going through multiple rounds of interviews can be exhausting and draining. So how can you set job search boundaries to maximize your potential without minimizing your mental health? By setting boundaries on your job search so it takes up less of your time and energy. For example, you can put yourself into it fully during certain hours, but then give yourself time to take away from your search. Instead of trying to apply to anything you might be qualified for, take the time initially to figure out what kinds of roles you really want. Ask yourself questions like: What kind of daily responsibilities or work do I want to do? What kinds of companies do I want to work for? What are my non-negotiables when it comes to benefits or work environment? What are my top values in a job? You don’t need to spend your whole day on the job search to be successful. Instead, create a calendar for yourself and dedicate certain hours of the day to your job search. You don't need to sacrifice your mental health to find a job. You might be surprised but I have found the people who set boundaries in their search typically find their next role sooner than the person who applies to any and everything they see online. It's all about working smarter, not harder. Slow is smooth. And smooth is fast. Have you set boundaries in your job search? Or do you search 24/7? #jennsjobs

Job search burnout is real. Earlier, I had someone ask me “how do you keep patient in the search?” I’ll be honest, I was taken aback because patience and perseverance come hand in hand. But in trial and error, here’s what I’ve discovered: the more you’re working yourself (because the job search is a job in itself, it’s just unpaid) the harder you’ll crash when you burnout. It’s hard, honestly, to keep spirits up when you’re getting rejected and not moving forward in your search the way you want. Maybe you see insights and content and you’re implementing them and nothing is working. You’ve already met with mentors and reviewed your resume and changed it and still nothing. You’re reaching out to people and building connections, and still, NOTHING. Let me say this: you’re not the problem, friend. This current job market is. It’s truly at its all time worst, but that’s not your fault. There’s so much wrong with our current system. So here’s my advice to stopping burnout, because it’s real, and it’ll hurt your search way worse than anything else. There are times where we can feel ourselves getting exhausted and close to job-search burnout, yet we keep pushing because we feel like resting isn’t helping us get a job. But this is actually hurting us! We should take a break when we’re at like 75% capacity max, not when we’re at 100% and our bodies are forcing us too. By recognizing taking a break to take care of our mental health, our emotional health, and just give ourselves grace to not keep running 24/7, we’ll do a lot more for ourselves in the long run. Our heads will be clearer, our bodies will be rested, and we’ll feel rejuvenated and motivated to get back to it. So take a break, schedule in some joy if you have to, and practice self care, whatever that looks like for you! If you need advice, someone to look at your portfolio, someone to vent to, or just connect: I’ll be a cheerleader and a friend for you, just reach out. 🤍

***Tips for job seekers*** 1. Take advantage of your free time. That's it. You WILL find a new job, and then you WILL wonder where all your free time went. After you've polished your resume, updated your website and profile, and applied for all the newly posted jobs, and registered with recruiting sites, step back. You don't need to be active 8 hrs/day right now. Plant a garden. Go to the gym. Play with your kids/pets. Take a guitar lesson. Read a book (fiction no less!). Write a book (we all have one in us). Bake something. Call your mom. Meditate. Try yoga. Go for a hike. You get the idea. Jobs will come and go (trust me on this), but you only get one life. Now's your chance to experience some of the things you never (thought) you had time for when you were working full-time. You've earned it. Surprisingly, it's pretty common that your next opportunity comes when, and how, you'd least expect it. Taking your mind off your job search can actually free up the space for this to happen. It doesn't make sense, I know, but I've seen it happen this way for myself and others, time and again. I'm not saying you shouldn't hustle. Get after it. Make your presence known. Network. Reach out to former colleagues. Be open-minded with your search. But once you've done what you can for that day, switch off and trust that your next great thing is right around the corner. 🤙

If you're in between jobs and engaged in an active job search, be mindful of how you go about maintaining a positive mindset. Here's a few things that have been working well on my end that may be useful to others: - Daily walks in the sunshine - Lifting weights x3 per week + 1 weekly cardio session - Cooking healthy meals - Setting goals - Daily prayer with an emphasis on gratitude - Spending time with family - Putting time/effort into a hobby in the evenings once you've worked enough for the day to feel accomplished - Limiting social media consumption (Especially the LinkedIn feed) - Sharpening my skills and reflecting upon each job interview to draw lessons from my mistakes - Studying the hiring landscape and planning my professional future - Listening to motivational self-help books such as The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Whatever you do, just don't give into a negative mindset. Human beings have a remarkable ability to influence their outcomes based on the state of mind we maintain over time. You have tremendous power and control over your life if you can control your thoughts and actions.

Mindset is huge when you are looking for a new job. It's hard to stay motivated during a long and tedious job search, especially if you are still processing grief and anger from being laid off. Here are a few tips for resetting your mindset: 1. Take breaks from your search. You aren't a robot. Give yourself a break sometimes. 2. Adopt a mindset practice and commit to it for 2 minutes per day. Whether it's yoga, journaling or meditation, anyone can do something for 2 minutes per day. Set yourself a timer and see how you feel afterwards. You may be inspired to do more, but it's okay if you don't. 3. Reach out to your support network. We are social creatures who thrive on love and support. Vent to a friend or former co-worker. Be vulnerable. Share what's going on. You may also want to choose to work with a coach who can give you honest, candid feedback. 4. Indulge in rewards. Reached your goal of filling out 3 applications? Treat yourself to that coffee chocolate chip gelato. 5. Find comfort in nature to reset your mind. I love walking around the lake pictured below or sometimes I will stroll through a redwood forest and randomly hug a tree. Seek out a walk, a trip to the ocean or ten minutes in your yard. What other tips would you include?

Dear Job Seeker, I wish I had a magic wand to change what you are currently facing in your job search. →Lowball offers. →Slow hiring decisions. →Ghosting by employers. →Unprepared interviewers. →Unrealistic job descriptions. →Lack of salary ranges posted. →Inefficient application processes. You are feeling disrespected. I get it. You have every right to feel that way. But don't go to social media to vent your frustrations. Talk to your family and friends, write your thoughts in a journal, or DM me. But don't make it public. "But, Shelley, I am being honest. I am being authentic," you might say. Here is the thing. You want to take actions that can help your job search, not hurt your job search. →Negativity is associated with you, especially if that is the only thing you talk about on social media—recruiters and hiring teams that see it will make judgments about you, which may not be flattering. →You could end up burning bridges with some organizations. You might not care, but a career is a long time. You never know when the organization you called out might have a job you really want in the future. →It can impact your personal brand. Do you want to be known as a composed professional, a problem-solver, or a complainer? You have many people, me included, advocating for job seekers. And within corporate recruiting departments, they know if they are falling down on their responsibilities to candidates. Many of the issues you face would disappear if recruiting departments were adequately resourced. And maybe AI will be able to help. Who knows? But if you have had a challenging week and are feeling beat up, try this. →If the weather is nice, get some fresh air outside. →Recharge with some extra sleep and maybe a nap. →Do something creative. Do you like to cook? Garden? Paint? →Watch your favorite sport in person or on TV. →Learn something new. →Spend time with family and friends. You are worthy of a job where you can thrive. I believe in you. Now, go have a great weekend. 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 ----- I am Shelley, a recruiter turned career coach. I help you find a job where you can thrive and not just survive. ♻️If you liked this, why not repost it? ♻️ 🟣Following is great, and ring the 🔔 to know about my new posts 🟪Want to see my other posts? Go to #ShelleySays

Navigating the Job Search: A Personal Reflection In mid-September 2023, I faced a layoff, and as many of you know, job hunting in Q4 poses significant challenges. Recognizing this reality, I opted to engage in part-time ride-sharing a few days a week to ease the waiting game and supplement my income. After several months in this role, I've gained valuable insights. This gig work has not only provided much-needed income but has also exposed me to diverse people, allowing me to continually refine my people skills and build a network. However, I've developed a deep respect for full-time Uber/Lyft drivers, as this seemingly straightforward gig presents challenges, particularly when considering compensation and the wear and tear on vehicles. Key Takeaways: Diversify Activities: It's crucial to engage in activities beyond staring at a computer screen waiting for job responses. This not only prevents exhaustion but also has a positive impact on morale. Engaging in other activities, even for small compensation, and interacting with people outside the job search context helps maintain a positive outlook. Prioritize Physical Health: Make a conscious effort to invest in your physical health through regular workouts. A healthy body contributes to a positive mindset during the job search. Continuous Education: Invest in your personal and professional growth by undertaking courses on platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn. Continuous education not only enhances your skills but also serves as a motivational tool. Seek Support: Acknowledge that job searching is more challenging than ever. Reach out for help by connecting with former peers and leveraging your network for advice or simply for a chat. Maintain Positivity: Finding ways to stay positive and motivated is essential. It's okay to have bad days, but shake off setbacks and keep moving forward. Bonus Tip: Show appreciation for your ride-share or delivery driver by tipping generously. The splits can be as low as 40-60, with 40% going to the driver. Remember, they work long hours, spend on gas, and bear vehicle maintenance costs. Your tip goes a long way in acknowledging their hard work and dedication. Stay focused, stay positive, never give up, and help when possible 😀 #greenbannergang #positivemindset #helpingotherssucceed #helpdesksupport #helpajobseeker #positivevibes #positive #positiveattitude #helpingeachother #helpingpeople #opentoconnect #opentowork #jobsearching #leadership #opentoconnect