The Most Common Word in Job Hunting: NO!

By: Rachel Slaiman
So often, job hunters are slammed with some very common words that could ruin some hope of finding jobs in their chosen field and not be able to get to where they want to go. Some words or phrases could be “years of experience”, “expertise”, “qualifications”, “letters of recommendation”, “right fit”, “timing”, “equivalency”, or “certifications”.
Though one common word that comes up in job hunting is the word “no” and phrases that come after it like “no, thank you, not at this time” or “no, we don’t need any extra assistance” or “no, there are no positions that match your qualifications at this time”. It is discouraging and sometimes job seekers want to just give up and walk away from the hunt. But what if, there was some hope and some how saw the word “yes” in an email; “yes, we would like to interview you.”
Now hearing a “yes” would be great to hear and spontaneously you may even call your support group, friends and family to let them know right away. Whether you are just starting your job search or actively looking here are a list of consolidated things that could help you stay on the positive side of job searching that could help you in finding the “yes” email or phone call you have been waiting for so long.
Reward yourself by going out
This does not mean you have to spend money, but just browsing around the shops can help. It does not cost anything to just wander a store right?
Set goals
By this, you can set daily goals of how jobs you will apply to a day, who you will call back about the status of an application or a very long term goal of the possible start date for the new job.
Take up a hobby
Here is where no one can judge you or even say no, except yourself when you begin or continue a hobby. Going to the gym, running, biking, ice skating, gymnastics, dancing, writing for fun, are all things that can get you up and being active while you are job hunting.
Volunteer
Though, this may not pay, volunteering to an organization you really care about will allow you to give back to your community, you will be having fun and most importantly, you are not pressured into doing something that you really don’t want to do.
Networking
Again, this is another thing that can be long and tiring for some people, but make it different this time around. Handing out hundreds of business cards and resumes could get old and most may go unanswered. Though, trying to network through social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn with some friends that are already in the job you want to be in will ease the burden of just sending your resume to a general email and probably never hearing from that person. Simply asking if anything is open at their company can get the conversation started and remember you are contacting people you already know, so why not?
Go through the back door
This could be a great idea in a way that you would get emails and job alerts to your chosen industry. Receiving newsletter about job openings or hearing from a talent agent about jobs that your profile matches all will save some time and energy jumping on the common board sites and digging for a job in your specific field.
Go for walks around your neighborhood
This is a no brainer and may or may not get a “yes” email, but it allows you to take some time and enjoy the weather. Also, while walking, you can lose yourself in a conversation with yourself about your accomplishments, your goals and be able to start the hunt again with a fresh mind.
Remember that staying positive in your job search is easier said than done sometimes, but has to be in order to move forward. We are all guilty at one point to just give up and take whatever, but know better than not to do just that. If of anything, just walk away from the hunting for a few days, a week at most and then come back to it with fresh eyes, mind and spirit. It might just be the little thing that you need to hear a “yes”.