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Despite the negative feelings we have about our professional status, we must put them aside and avoid some common mistakes if we are to be a viable candidate…

- Neglecting supply and demand -

If we have been unemployed for a long time, it is understandable that we’re feeling stuck, frustrated, even hopeless. But let’s not forget that employers hire to meet their needs. They may need to increase their profits, balance a team's workload, expand a department, etc. Let’s focus on those needs and adapt to them, to be on the path to a position that we want.

- Bad vibrations -

What attitude do we have when looking for a job? How do we communicate our desire to work? When we have been angry or desperate for a long time, others may sense this cluster of negative energies (which will not serve us). Let’s approach each contact with a service intention. Let us ask ourselves how we can be of service and our energy will switch on its own.

- The projection of laziness -

When we are unemployed our task is to find a new job, which is why we have to show the same dedication and discipline as when we were on an employment contract (even more). Let's make a plan, develop a schedule, create a productive daily routine, and set goals. Treat our days as working days.

- Lack of self-esteem -

Repeating to ourself « I'm not up for this » is an issue that will not escape recruiters' attention. Nothing is more important than showing our strengths and our self-confidence. We have to do some personal work to get there (journal, positive self-affirmation, or even seeing a psychiatrist). We will never be able to convince someone to hire us if we don't believe in ourselves.

- Quantity instead of quality -

When we are looking for a job, we tend to focus on the number of positions we have applied or will apply for, the number of resumes sent, instead of focusing on the quality of the material we send with attention to details and presentation for positions that are truly of interest to us.

- Inactivity -

Let’s not dissociate ourselves from a position because the competition scares us or because we think we are not qualified enough. If we are convinced that we are not good enough for a job, we are missing out on a lot of opportunities. Let’s be prepared to stand out and risk rejection.

- Spread -

While opening up about our job search problems can be cathartic, but it will not position us as a capable and skilled person. Instead of bemoaning our situation, let's think about how we can show our worth. Let's keep our personal frustrations for our loved ones and our psychiatrist.

- Ignore the grief -

Some of us don't realize that unemployment can have emotional consequences. Any loss, whether we have resigned or we have been fired, can cause grief. It is important to realize that grief is a natural process, and learning the stages of grief is a great place to start, to understand our thought process and to define steps to overcome them.

- Losing the overview -

We can convince ourselves that we should be happy with what comes our way, but that is not true. Let’s focus on our entire career and journey, note our actual skills, not just those we used in our previous jobs, but those that we want to use.

- Stay focused on refusals -

The job search is riddled with rejections, but the challenge is to not let those rejections influence our ability to be successful. Let us consciously let go of every refusal so that we can move forward. Failure is part of life and is an essential lesson, not an obstacle.

- Apply for the wrong position -

When our funds run out and panic starts to set in, we risk applying for jobs that don't fit us, that weigh us down, or for which we are overqualified. This arouses suspicion among recruiters, who might assume that we are wasting their precious time or that we are mocking them.

- Not optimizing our time -

Job hunting doesn't have to be a full-time job, so let's devote approximately four hours a day to our strategy, focused on our search: reading ads, writing our cover letters, scheduling and preparing our interviews, check the reputation of our potential future employers. Let's choose time slots during which we are energetic and enthusiastic. Let's also think about taking care of ourselves: body care, choosing clothes, finding/discovering leisure activities (indirect actions, but essential in a job search).

- Too much reliance on the entourage -

Despite their best intentions, friends and family can offer a contribution that can make us feel overwhelmed and question our choices and our path. Because their advices are usually based on their values and experience, they may not be aware of our real goals and aspirations.

Conclusions

Looking for a new job can be long and exhausting, it is demoralizing. Therefore, we must not lose sight of the fact that this situation is temporary and that our work will lead us to an opportunity. Let’s keep our eyes on the target and not give it up.

What do you think?