Whether you left a job because you hated it or were laid off, it’s tough to be unemployed. At first, it may feel like a vacation. You can go to the gym in the middle of the day. You don’t have to make small talk with Ted from accounting. And you definitely don’t have to deal with your horrible, no good, very bad boss.
But then you remember that — newsflash — you’ve got to find a job. You have to read job ads, write cover letters, customize your résumé, and go on job interviews. Plus you have to deal with rejection — or being ghosted — over and over again. Having to face the hard facts can be daunting.
“The best ways to stay positive and proactive is to know exactly what you want to do next in your career, and to have a system,” says Adunola Adeshola, founder of the career advice website employeeREDIFINED. I spoke with career experts to share their advice on making the most of this downtime and becoming an even better job candidate.
Stick to a schedule:
“The best way to stay positive and productive when you’re between jobs is to consider your job search your full-time job,” says Alison Doyle, a job-search expert at the New York City-based personal finance site The Balance. “Even though you’re out of work and may be stressed, your job search will be more effective if you have balance in your life.”
Doyle says to create a schedule for your job-hunting activities like networking, applying to jobs online, and following up on applications and interviews. Although you could spend all day applying for jobs, make sure you take care of yourself. Make a list of activities that make you happy like running, cooking, trying new coffee shops, and watching TV. Carving out time to do things you enjoy will help you stay positive when you’re unemployed.
Rely on your support network:
“When you’re between jobs, the stress of frequent rejection or not getting enough callbacks can wear you down after a while,” says Angelina Darrisaw, founder of the New York City-based career-coaching firm C-Suite Coach. “It helps a great deal if you are not internalizing that stress and dealing with it alone.”
Your friends, family, and professional contacts can provide the advice and encouragement you need to stay positive while you’re unemployed. And they can also provide connections to new opportunities through networking. Tell people what you’re looking for; they may know someone who can help. You never know who your cousin’s husband’s best friend is and how he can introduce you to his sister-in-law’s brother who works at one of your dream companies.
Tap your professional resources:
If you were laid off, Darrisaw recommends asking your previous HR team if they can provide resources, such as a few sessions with a career coach, to help you navigate the job search process. Also, ask your manager, direct reports, and close colleagues if they’ll write you a short LinkedIn recommendation and serve as a reference.
“If you are between jobs for another reason, find someone who has been in the same place before,” says Darrisaw. “It will help to know that what you are going through is totally par for the course and to hear from others who have been there.”
Set specific goals:
“Don’t just say that you will search for jobs from noon to four,” says Dr. Amy Cooper Hakim, a Palm Beach-based organizational psychologist. “Rather, give yourself specific goals that are measurable and attainable. Reward yourself when you meet your daily and weekly goals.”
One day your goal might be to find three jobs you’re interested in, customize your résumé for each job, and write your cover letters. The next day you might want to go on an informational interview, attend a networking event, and get coffee with a mentor.
Think about your long-term goals as well. Adeshola recommends considering why you left your last job (and any previous ones) and what you want next. For example, you could ask yourself:
- What job responsibilities do I want to have?
- What job titles am I targeting?
- What is my ideal company culture?
- What is my goal salary range?
- What benefits do I want to have?
“Knowing the answers to these questions will give you the direction you need to stay focused, positive, and proactive,” says Adeshola.
Develop new skills:
“When you get rejected, learn from it. If the company doesn’t hire you, you might as well learn why,” says Hakim. “That way, you can make any necessary tweaks to your résumé or gain some additional experience.” So if you can, ask for feedback, even when you don’t land a job. That way, you’ll be positioned for self-improvement.
“It’s very rare to have a block of time off in our adult lives,” says Pamela Weinberg, a New York City-based career coach, “so use the time to gain some new skills that can help you in your next job, or to learn something you’ve always wanted to learn but haven’t had the time.”
Read job descriptions to find out what your target companies are looking for — coding, grant writing, etc. — and use the time you’re unemployed to acquire those skills. Take free classes and certification programs to learn new skills. You’ll feel more positive and confident, and it will shine through on your application.
