Maintaining your energy during a long job search – the role of grit

With millions of job-seekers in the UK and tough economic conditions, it would be easily to get disheartened if your job search is taking longer than you’d like. There are more unemployed people than vacancies in the UK, according to the latest UK Labour Market Statistics. 

Constant rejections, being unsuccessful despite getting an interview and, worse, firing applications into an apparent black hole where you hear nothing at all, can all take their toll when you’re looking for a job.  

So how can you stay positive and maintain your energy while looking for your next role?  

The answer is grit.  

The Oxford English Dictionary defines grit as courage and resolve; strength of character. You can also think of it as determination, as persevering despite the knock-backs.  

Angela Duckworth has done a brilliant Ted Talk about the power of perseverance and, while she isn’t talking specifically about looking for a job, all of the principles apply.  

Here’s how to apply grit to the search for your next role.  

Knocked down five times, get up six 

Looking for a job takes a lot of time and energy. Just the process of applying can be extensive, even with all the online systems which offer an “easy apply” button.  

From tweaking your CV to writing a new cover letter or filling in the dreaded application forms and supporting statements for each role, you always need to put a lot of effort into that first step in the process to increase your chances of getting through the first stage. And as you progress through the job application process and through the interview stages the effort needed only increases.  

So, when everything seems to be taking longer than you expected, when each rejection chips away at your mental energy and enthusiasm, grit is what enables you to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back to putting the right amount of energy into your next application.  

How to apply grit to your job search  

Digging deep and applying grit to your job search will help keep you in the right frame of mind. You’ll need to: 

• Focus on your end goal, remind yourself of the long-term objective and why you are doing the search 
• Stay confident, do not let knocks to your confidence show up in the next interview, affecting your chances of getting that job 
• Maintain your energy – half-hearted applications never got anyone anywhere, especially in a tough job market. Don’t let missing out on one role turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy for the next  
• Keep things in perspective – not securing a job doesn’t mean you’re unemployable, it just means you haven’t been successful yet. (Take a look at my blog on growth mindset for more on the power of “yet”). This can be an especially tricky lesson for applicants who may not have experienced real rejection so far  
• Ask for feedback – you won’t always get good-quality feedback, but if there is something you can act on, making the change puts you in a better position for the next role you apply for 
• Keep the faith, especially if you’ve been made redundant – second-guessing yourself or applying for lower-level roles isn’t the answer, even though it may feel that way 

The role of a career coach in the search for your next job 

As a career coach, I know it can be really tough to keep getting turned down for roles you think you’d be great for. It’s my job to help pick you up and to support you to find that next spurt of energy needed for the search ahead.  

I do that by helping keep you focused on what you can influence – whether that’s practicing answers to interview questions, or reviewing your skills stories to provide more variety on your CV.  

Think of a career coach as your cheerleader. When you feel like you can’t quite find the motivation to apply for that next role, I’ll be there with you, pushing you along to get it done.  

I’ll also add a healthy dose of realism to your job search. There’s nothing you can do about someone else being better than you, for example. You have to try to take the positives away from the situation. If you got down to the last two, that’s a great achievement and proves you are a desirable candidate, even if you weren’t exactly the right fit for that organisation.  

And I will help you let go of the things that aren’t in your control e.g. losing out to someone with more sector experience than you.  

I’ve got lots of examples of people who almost got to exhaustion point with their job search when suddenly they were successful. Recently, one client was really disappointed to not get a job that she got down to the last two for. Picking herself up was hard. But a second job came along which she did secure, and she’s now really happy in the new organisation and flying in that role.  

Another client started to lose faith and doubt his own abilities, questioning whether he should go for lower-level roles when he experienced multiple setbacks and rejections. But with perseverance and persistence he kept going and did secure a role which he is really excited about. 

Remember your experience when the tables are turned 

My final thought is this: please remember your experience as a candidate so the next time you are the hiring manager you consider how you can improve the recruitment experience. That could be communicating a no so people know if their application has even landed, and providing feedback for those you have interviewed, even if brief, because it can make all the difference. 

If you want support for maintaining your energy during a long job search and to discuss the role of grit in securing your next role, get in touch to book a free 30-minute chat.