The job search process can be a trying time. There are so many considerations that you have to weigh and decisions that have to be made. Plus, there’s the pressure of finding the perfect position that will be your dream job.

All of these preconceptions make the process anxiety filled and stressful. However, it does not have to be that way and by implementing a few tips you can maintain your sanity during a stressful job search. 

Use these five tips to have a successful job search:

1. Be Open Minded

The quest to find the perfect, dream job is often unrealistic and seemingly only sets you up for failure. In your job search, if your goal is to find the perfect position, you will likely be disappointed.

Instead, it is much more beneficial to be open-minded when it comes to your job search. While a specific job may not scream “Dream Job” at first look, it may end up being your perfect, dream job. Therefore, keeping your options open and not discounting positions because they do not appear to be exactly what you want can open the door to many opportunities that can benefit your career in the long run.

2. Seek Advice & Make Connections

Recognizing that others in your field have a wealth of knowledge that could potentially help you land a position, is the best tool at your disposal. In the age of social media, professional platforms help you connect to other in the same industry and build relationships with those people.

Use those resources to seek out advice and make connections with people in who are in the industry, companies, and positions in which you are focusing your job search.

3. Listen

As you navigate the job search process, it is imperative to your success that you listen to the advice and feedback you are given. During interviews, practice the art of listening without interrupting and using what you hear to help you build on your responses to questions.

Demonstrating your ability to listen not only helps you fine-tune your interview skills but also helps you stand out as someone who is a team player.

4. Research

Before applying for a job, take the time to research the company. Research the organization’s mission statement, values, and people in the decision-making positions. If you decide to apply for a position with that company, take the time to reach out to the decision-makers to communicate how you would be asset to their company to help you stand out before a job interview.

5. Build a Strong Personal Brand

As you send in your job search materials, your personal brand speaks for you; therefore, it is crucial that you build a strong personal brand. Your responses to common behavioural interview questions need to also align with your personal brand so the decision-makers recognize the value, experience, and expertise you will bring to the position.

I have seen so many job searches prolonged or failed simply because of that person’s attitude. Yes, I agree, it can be very frustrating. One step forward, two steps back. It can be like a mine field scattered with issues and circumstances that will test you to your limit. It’s okay to share your frustration with your coach. I encourage that within this confidential environment. However, airing that frustration out in the open, or when in dialogue during networking, or during the be-all-and-end-all, the interview, will bring you down and bury you.

Positivity radiates. Positivity rules. Positivity relays a powerful message. Even when you are constantly rejected and you feel like you are wasting time and your efforts are fruitless, don’t feel down, because most others have also been through the same emotions. When you are positive and upbeat you are inclined to put in more effort, learn new skills and deliver a compelling and resounding message.

Here are some tips to portray a positive approach and attitude:

#1 Stay Focused and Organized

Ensure that you have all the necessary attributes when completing job applications. Ensure that you are ready for the interviews — research the company inside and out, up and down. Ensure that your day is organized and that you know how to use the social media platforms that are so abundant today to help you with your search. Time management is very important. Don’t waste time on fruitless things. Place an emphasis on the things that will bring you the maximum return on investment and on networking.

#2 Seek Assistance

There are always going to be people who want to champion you. They will listen to you when you are down. They will have ideas for you to regenerate your excitement and engagement. Ask them to periodically review and discuss your job search strategy if it is going nowhere. Ask them to facilitate networking meetings with their acquaintances and connections.

#3 Establish Achievable Goals

I see so many people set abnormally high goals which is good, but when they don’t achieve them, they feel down and out. Be realistic, but don’t go the other way and set low goals. As a job search expert, the perfect day in a job search is 12 hours, of which five hours should be spent on social media with the bulk of that time on LinkedIn. And, yes, this is possible –meeting three new people every day, in person.

#4 Network

Don’t solely conduct your job search from a desk in the basement. Get out and network, network, network. Utilize Meetup.com and other local or industry related groups to attend meetings and be ready to articulate your elevator pitch. Don’t be frightened to tell people you are in career transition. It’s not an illness. It’s a fact of life today.

Wrapping it up, I agree it may be difficult to stay positive. But, being organized, seeking assistance, setting reasonable goals and engaging in networking can boost your morale and help you to maintain a positive and robust attitude.

As a career management practitioner, I believe you should always be ready for a job search for many reasons. Today, tomorrow, or next week, an executive recruiter could call you and say they have the perfect opportunity for you. Today, tomorrow, or next week, your employer could terminate you. We are in a very fluid society where there is no loyalty to your employer and where you should be ready to take advantage of opportunities offered.

Here are 10 tips you need to embrace to prepare for a job search:

1. Brag Book

We live in a performance-driven society. You will be employed because you can make money, save money, streamline operations, eliminate headcount, introduce new technology, and for many other reasons. Keep a brag book at home to document your accomplishments.

2. Update Your Resume Frequently

The resume highlights your full career hard skills, soft skills, personal brand, and education. Utilize your brag book to trigger your memory to build stories around your accomplishments. The more up-to-date your resume is, the less work you will have to do if a tap on the shoulder comes today for a decision maker to see your resume.

3. LinkedIn Profile

Like your resume, your LinkedIn profile should be current. If you are in career transition you should change the headline to reflect your job search situation with a striking message.

4. Connect, Connect, Connect

We are in a society where networking and the use of connections can bring significant value. If you are gainfully employed networking need not be as furious as when you are in career transition. Don’t negate connecting with people 24/7/365.

5. Career and Professional Development Plan

These two go hand-in-hand. Updating your education and skills are important. If you haven’t been on any courses or attended community college or university recently, you need to review that. Continuous education is part of the screening process that decision makers use before calling you for an interview. Incorporate your professional development and continuous learning into your career plan which is a directive highlighting your ambitions and goals. Where would you like to be in two years, five years or ten years?

6. Professional Associations

Most vocations have professional associations where you can learn from others in your industry or profession and network with your peers to understand industry trends and uncover potential vacancies. If the association offers a website or magazines, make yourself available to write articles or blogs. This is an ideal way of bringing your name to the forefront of the membership. Another important and engaging tactic is joining the leadership of the local chapter or national board of the chapter. Being voted by your peers can say a lot about you.

7. References and Recommendations

A professional, sensibly managing their career, will maintain a list of references. If you are in a search mode, you need to keep those references up-to-date with your search activities and potential calls from potential employers. LinkedIn also affords you the opportunity of receiving and giving recommendations. Don’t wait until you are in disaster mode (i.e., career transition) and need to rapidly bring yourself up-to-date before soliciting recommendations.

8. Review Industry Trends and Job Listings

Although job boards show only a small percentage of jobs available in most countries, go ahead and browse through to see who is hiring and what they are hiring for.

9. Job Satisfaction

Sadly, I see so many people who are unhappy in their careers. A job consumes so many hours of your life. Why should you be unhappy in it? If you feel unhappy, are experiencing burnout or stress, maybe it’s time to activate that job search plan. Or, bolder still, quit your job.

10. Career Alternatives

Today, it is encouraged for people to transition industries or sectors. It is less frowned upon than it has ever been in my 25 years of helping people attain their career goals. What are your transferable skills that you can take with you to a new industry? Look how those skills can fit in with that sector’s job trends.

No one likes rejection.  It’s hurtful and full of emotions!  However, in a job search you must come to terms with this word and learn how to combat negativity.

A job search is like a minefield with the potential of explosions which could cause damage to your reputation.  The mind set when planning and executing a search to find your next challenge, should be to view this project long-term.  If it turns out to be short-term, then halleluiah! 

The moment the checkered flag drops in a job search, you are in a race, a competition where there is only one trophy!  How many competitors varies according to the position, geographic location, economy, skill set and many other factors.  You don’t need to do arithmetic to see that there are going to be many people by-passed in the hiring process and even the second and third best candidates don’t win a silver or bronze medal.

Be in the positive mind mode, thinking that you are going to win and take that gold position.  Imagine that medallion hanging around your neck.  Gold will look good on you!  Also, cast your mind back to other races in swimming, athletics and Formula 1 where great candidates still perform well but drop short of a win.

In today’s hiring processes very rarely are you told why you didn’t win, mainly because time doesn’t permit the hiring authorities to call the other candidates.  They must assess in their own mind why they failed and were rejected.  It can rattle even the most confident and calm professional after a long job search. As hard as it may be, be prepared for rejections.  However, the more rejections you receive, the closer you are to the gold medal and a win!

As you prepare for an executive job interview, there are many things to consider such as your attire, your body language, and mastering your handshake. Making a great first impression is a critical part of the interview process; however, anticipating and preparing your responses to interview questions can prove to be a game changer that helps you stand out throughout the process.

When you know the message you want to convey about your skills and expertise, it boosts your confidence and that will shine through in your executive job interview. In your executive job interview, be prepared to reflect on the past, focus on the present, and speculate about the future as well as behavioural interview questions that illustrate how you would respond in specific situations.

With that in mind, you can anticipate some form of the following questions:

Reflecting on the Past

Hiring managers want candidates to reflect on the past and tell stories demonstrating their ability to resolve business barriers  and create better processes going forward. Your responses to these questions paint a picture of how you use your value, skills, and expertise to think outside the box to find successful solutions.

• Tell us about yourself.
• To what do you attribute your success?
• Describe your leadership style. How has your style worked for you in the past?
• Consider your limitations. Describe a time you’ve had to overcome a limitation.
• Tell us about a situation where you didn’t get along with a colleague or board member. How did you resolve it?
• Describe a time where you were part of a project that failed. How did you react? What was your takeaway?
• What legacy did you leave at your last employer?

Focusing on the Present

These questions give  hiring managers a picture of your current job search strategy and added value and ultimately provides insight into whether or not you’d be a valuable hire and fit for the organization.

• Why do you want to work in this industry?
• What makes you want this position?
• Why do you want to work for this organization?
• What makes you an asset to this organization?
• What is your unique promise of value?

Speculating About the Future

These types of questions provide insight into how your specific set of skills and work ethic will strengthen and serve the company.

• Which of your strengths would prove most valuable if this company were to hire you?
• Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
• How would you use your skills to create a strong team?
• How would you use your past success/failures to help you in this position?

Your answers to these questions help you stand out. They create an image of your value as an executive on the team, and they help you show the hiring managers how you’d be an asset to that team and the company as a whole.