Learn how to stay motivated throughout the job search process

What really motivates you? What gets you up in the morning with a spring in your step? The desire to feel motivated is in all of us; it just needs to be nurtured sometimes. This is especially true when seeking out job search motivation. Scouring job boards for the perfect role, refining your CV to each role, constantly filling in application forms – all of these parts of the job search process can take their toll.

Why am I so unmotivated to find a job?

Generally speaking, we can't stay motivated 100% of the time. Factors such as money matters, the desire to achieve something and win recognition amongst our peers, or the urge to prove the doubters wrong can both fuel and drain our enthusiasm along the way.

So when it comes to looking for a new role, we get it – the drive to stay optimistic can and will often elude us. It's not easy to keep going, to keep sending out those job applications, to keep turning up for interviews with your game face on, ready and willing. 

But there are ways to keep up that job search motivation. And with determination, along with a proactive approach, you'll get there in the end.

7 ways to stay motivated while job hunting

Firstly, what's your motivation for the job search? Do you lean towards being extrinsically motivated or intrinsically motivated? Understanding these two different types of motivation can help you choose the strategies that work best for you whenever you're feeling uninspired.

Extrinsic motivation is when you're motivated by external rewards, such as a promotion or a work-related bonus. Intrinsic motivation is the internal desire to improve for your own self-worth, by setting personal goals, and then achieving them.

So how do you stay positive during a job search? By following our 7 top tips, that's how!

1. Abide by a strict routine

You can adapt this to your own circumstances, but following either a daily or weekly routine will keep you motivated during the job searching process. For a daily routine, you could do 15 minutes of searching for jobs online, then spend one or two hours preparing and submitting applications. If you prefer doing it on a weekly basis, set yourself the target of researching job opportunities on a Monday, selecting the top three or four best-fit roles. Then you can complete applications for one of those over the following three or four days. Give yourself the weekend off and start again the following Monday.

Having a set routine will give you total control of the process, making you feel more motivated to keep going, and giving you increased job search confidence.

Top tip: Don't overdo it to the point where you find yourself becoming demotivated. Switch it up by adding in a break between the first and second hour to have a cup of tea, phone a friend for a chat, or do some exercise.

2. Be inspired by your career role models

Pinpoint which professionals in your line of work inspire you, or look to those within your sphere of influence. Whoever you admire from a professional point of view, use their stories and career trajectories as a source of inspiration and motivation. If they can do it, then so can you! Check out any TED talks they've done online or interviews they've given. Research their history to find out how they got to where they are today.

If your role model is someone you know, contact them for a chat, and set up an informational catch-up, where you can find out more about them and their successes. They might have some tips on job search motivation as well!

Top tip: Check out TopCV's article on inspirational leadership here.

3. Hone in on your own objectives

Once you've been motivated by someone else, give yourself the space to look at your own targets, and what you actually want to achieve. Consider the sort of sector you want to work in, what you're worth in monetary terms, and the ideal place to be located. Reflecting on all of these can remind you why you're applying for particular positions, and underline why you're doing this.

Take the classic interview question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” and plan it out for your own sense of purpose. It could look something like this:

  • Work in London for two years in a graduate level job

  • Do a part-time Master's in marketing

  • Apply for middle management roles

  • Be promoted twice in as many years

Top tip: Set realistic targets; otherwise, your job search motivation will be lost, as you'll become dissatisfied with yourself for never reaching them.

4. Tap into your network

These are the people who've got your back – and what could be more motivating than that? They'll big you up when you most need it, so use that to full effect. Contact a friend to let them know about what you've done so far, and your dreams for the future. They'll validate what you've achieved so far, and motivate you to do more. Surrounding yourself with this type of positive energy and support network will boost you further, spurring you on to bigger and better things.

Top tip: Persuade a colleague or friend to be your “accountability buddy” by sharing one of your goals with them, and asking them to keep an eye on how you're achieving this. If you start floundering, they'll be able to steer you back on course.

5. Big yourself up now and again 

Building up a collection of accolades and being commended can really boost your motivation. These can come from anywhere – a customer's kind comment, a LinkedIn recommendation, or positive feedback from your line manager. They might not be strong enough to include on your CV, but they are little nuggets of joy that lift your heart and motivate you to carry on. You can even reference them in an interview, as they will paint you in a good light.

Top tip: If you're feeling particularly demotivated one day, a read through of your testimonials will certainly lift the spirits.

6. Keep a good work-life balance

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” And nobody wants to be seen as that, so strike a balance between your career and the rest of your life. Keeping up your job search motivation is vitally important, but don't let it interfere with enjoying other elements of your life. In fact, keeping up with hobbies, enjoying time with family and friends, and relaxing can motivate you even more when it comes to taking the time to apply for roles. 

Top tip: If volunteering is one of the ways in which you switch off from work mode, you could include it on your CV if it's relevant.

7. Spreadsheet your job search progress

Keeping a record of your progress throughout the job search can certainly keep you motivated. This is because you can track how far you've come. Every tick in the box, every time you move onto the next step of the application process, and every celebration when you're called for an interview, should be set out clearly, and fully acknowledged. Doing this also means you won't mistakenly apply for the same job twice, or forget when you sent through an application. So it's a win-win all round.

Top tip: How about gifting yourself a small reward every time you send off five applications or hear back from a company? Just a small treat will give you a dopamine rush, and urge you forward to complete more.

Bonus tip

There's no point in applying for jobs that you can't visualise actually undertaking. This is sure to reduce your job search motivation considerably. So apply your motivational career goal techniques to manifest your ideal job. This means envisaging yourself in your ideal role with your desired salary and perfect location. By also visualising the end result, you can remind yourself why you're dedicating so much time to searching for jobs.

Top tip: Identify actionable goals to help you get there, such as a vision board – a tangible board representing your dreams, normally covered in a collage of images and words that reflect what you want to achieve.

How do I stop being demotivated in a job search?

If you're still feeling down in the dumps, commit some of these job search motivation quotes to memory, and draw on their strength and messages to keep you going:

  • “If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try,” says entrepreneur and author, Seth Godin, showcasing that doing something out of your comfort zone can pay off.

  • “Find out what you like doing best, and get someone to pay you for it,” advises  journalist and author, Katharine Whithorn.

  • It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The future depends on what you do today,” so take action now.

  • “We need to accept that we won't always make the right decisions, that we'll screw up royally sometimes - understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it's part of success."  These wise words came from the brain of Arianna Huffington, author and the co-founder of The Huffington Post.

  • “The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it,” opined Pele, arguably one of the best footballers in the world, showing the value of perseverance and effort.

And finally…

  • “Job searching is like a pinata – if you hit it hard enough you will be rewarded,” by an unknown wisecracker who knew what they were talking about!

How to survive a long job search

If it seems like the job search is stretching into time immemorial, and you're losing the will to function anymore, it might be time to change tack. Ask yourself if you're applying for jobs that you can realistically land, or reaching way above your pay grade? Are you tailoring your CV every time you apply for a new role?

Sending out applications, while keeping up your job search motivation, can be really tough. If nothing's working, it could be the job climate in your particular sector. Is it possible to leave it for a while, and start looking again in a few weeks or months? We all need time away from something when it's not working, so take some time out, and you'll, no doubt, come back to it refreshed and ready to go, with renewed vigour and determination.

Keep at it!

To achieve job search confidence, be kind to yourself. As humans, we often focus on the negative, even if that might be a very small part of the whole. Treat yourself as you would treat another person in the same situation – with bags of encouragement, support, and robust advice.

Remember that what you can offer isn't any less just because someone else hasn't picked up on it yet.

Finding job search motivation can start with the simple step of refining your CV. Let TopCV take the strain by opting for our free CV review where your CV is scanned and scored, showing you the way forward with how to improve it, and get you noticed.

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