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AIU Career Services: Avoiding Job Search Burnout

June 28, 2011 •Career Services, General • 0 Comments

The process of finding new employment has changed drastically over the years. With the overwhelming need to apply quickly, to cater the resume and network till your ears bleed, job seekers are finding that many times they hit a road block, and a point where they just can’t do it anymore.  The constant rejection and/or lack of positions available can really get to a person and cause them to get burned-out.  Here are some helpful tips on how to avoid this and to ensure you stay fresh and confident from the beginning of your search to the end.

• Avoid defining your success based on your income but rather on your growing skills and experience and what you are fully capable of.
• Take rejection as a learning experience, keep a job searching journal to track areas of improvement and discuss your findings with supportive friends, family, even the Advisors within Career Services.
• Exercise!  Keep your stress levels down and your endorphins up to improve your focus and confidence.
• Set smaller obtainable goals for yourself daily. Learn to treat your job search like a job.  Organize your “business” and track how many numbers you’ll call or resumes you’ll send out each day. Being able to cross those goals off your list will increase your sense of accomplishment.
• Network. Get to know people with similar interests or that are job seeking as well. People like fellow alumni, professional associations and organizations, online groups, and classmates. Sharing best practices and helping others with their search can help in providing you with more confidence in your abilities. You may also get some potential job leads from your network.
• Volunteer. Not only will you sharpen your skills, helping others can really build your sense of teamwork. Plus it may also lead to great contacts for future networking. This is a win-win situation.
• Take a few days off.  If you find that you really do need a refresher, step away from the computer and do something that you really enjoy doing.  Sometimes a few days off is just what you need.

For more career advice, please contact the Career Services Department at 877-221-5800 ext 15060 or at careerservices@aiuonline.edu.

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