As a relatively recent graduate, I know just how soul-crushing the post-grad job hunt can be. Unanswered applications, hasty rejection emails, and boring day jobs can make you feel stuck and uninspired. Over time, you can get burnt out or complacent. When you work full-time to pay the bills, or spend all day sending application after application, it can be hard to find the energy at the end of the day to focus on achieving your dreams. But I just want to tell you right now, while I’m feeling inspired myself: don’t give up. While people find joy and motivation in many different ways, here are 5 tips that have helped me stay focused on my dream during my job search.
1. Practice your craft
If your passion is something you can practice or study at home, work on your skills it in your spare time. If you’re working full-time and job hunting as well, this can be difficult, but there is no greater inspiration than doing what you love and reminding yourself that with a whole lot of determination, you could get paid to do it! Plus, you’ll be sharpening your skills in the meantime, which will only make you look better to potential employers.
2. Freelance or pick up a side gig
This is probably easiest if you are currently unemployed or only working part-time after college, but freelancing or picking up small jobs or internships related to your field of study is a great way to keep yourself motivated. The extra cash can’t hurt, and you’ll feel good because every day you get to do something you enjoy, even if you have to do something else to pay your loans.
3. Find joy in your day job
If you’re unhappy at work, try to find some parts, however small they may be, that you enjoy about your day. If you work in fast food, maybe you hate smelling like french fries but enjoy spending time with your coworkers. Perhaps your desk job is extraordinarily boring, but it gives you the chance to perfect your email etiquette. If you can find one or two things about your current job you enjoy, your work life might be a bit less painful. No matter what your job is, you’re gaining valuable work experience, and some skills like customer service or communication skills can translate into almost any workplace.
4. Use what you hate as motivation
At the same time, disliking your day job might helpful to your job hunt. If you are certain you don’t want to be stuck at your current place of employment forever, use that to energize your job search rather than get you down. Let a bad day be just another reason to push through another job application after work. It’s easier said then done when you get home feeling exhausted, so don’t push yourself too hard either; you are allowed to take a break! But when you feel like you need to do something, pull up to your computer with some ice cream and revamp your resume.
5. Stay in touch with your support system
Most likely, many of your college friends are in a position similar to yours. Lean on each other for emotional support, advice and a good laugh. Navigating the somewhat frightening job hunt feels so much better when you know you aren’t alone. It’s important to remember who you are and what you like to do in your spare time, and spending time with friends and loved ones can do just that.
Not every piece of advice is going to fit into everyone’s life perfectly, so take these tips with a grain of salt. In my life, these tips played a role in getting me out of a rut and to finding part-time work in my field, and that has made all the difference in not only my ongoing job search, but also in my overall happiness. Applying to jobs still feels draining at times, but with my goals in mind, it can be exciting too. Remember that no matter where you are in your post-graduate life, or what sort of field you’re working in at the moment, your worth is not determined by your employment status or lack thereof. You are amazing, and you will eventually find a position that allows you to grow and flourish in the field you want to be in. Take a deep breath, take your time and keep yourself open to new opportunities. You’re doing just fine.
