How to Stay Motivated While Job Hunting

Whether you’re currently out of work or just looking for your next challenge, job hunting can be stressful and exhausting­­, both mentally and physically. Writing applications, preparing for interviews and possible rejection can all take their toll on your energy and confidence. All feeling a bit too much? Here’s how you can stay motivated while job hunting and make sure you don’t burn yourself out.

Be selective

First—and we can’t say this enough—the quality of your job applications is more important than the quantity. Writing a properly researched application, tailored to the person specification for a job you really want, is much more worthwhile than sending duplicate letters to lots of different charities. Recruiters can tell if you just need a job, rather than really wanting their job. But if you have a genuine passion for a particular charity or role, that will shine through.

Don’t waste energy applying for jobs you don’t really want or that won’t work for you in the long term. If you don’t currently have a job, you may need to be more flexible. But you don’t want to be applying again in a few months’ time because you’re unhappy in your new job.

Have a strategy

It’s easy to feel like you should be searching for a job constantly until you find one. But, as with working, you’re more likely to see better results if you’re well-rested and rejuvenated. So have a job search strategy that includes allowing yourself some time off. This can be especially important if you still have a job, so you have some downtime to relax, enjoy your hobbies and socialise.

You might choose to only search for jobs on three evenings a week, for example. Or if you’re not currently working, from 10am to 4pm each day. This may mean tightly scheduling your time and streamlining your process so you can maximise your efforts. Why not set up some job alerts so relevant roles arrive straight in your inbox?

Ask for help

Job hunting can be lonely, so when you need some help, make sure you ask for it. That could be asking a friend or family member to read over your CV or cover letter. Or just having a chat to vent your frustration if you haven’t heard back from a recruiter for a while.

You could also consider finding a mentor. Mentors can help you set goals, fill skill gaps and think about your strengths and experience in different ways. Depending on your specialism, you can find a mentor through organisations like Small Charities Coalition or CharityComms. Or why not put a call out on CharityConnect for a mentor in the area you want to focus on?

Be kind to yourself

If the job hunt is taking longer than expected, it can be easy to start feeling you’re not good enough. But in reality, lots of other people will be in the same boat. There will always be slow patches. So be your own best friend and try not to let negative self-talk creep in.

Make sure you eat well, exercise and get enough sleep. If you’re feeling anxious, try to manage it through practices like mindfulness, and seek help if you need it. Set yourself smaller, achievable goals that are in your control, such as researching a particular charity or rewriting your CV. And don’t forget to celebrate any successes, however small.

Had a few rejections? See our tips on how to manage rejection while job hunting.

Take a break

Is the job search getting you down? Are you feeling a little fatigued? Take a break from the job hunt. It’s perfectly fine to do this. Don’t worry about missing opportunities—most charity jobs are advertised for at least a fortnight. So you shouldn’t miss out by having a break for a week or so, or longer if you need it. Rest, recharge and focus on yourself until you feel you have renewed energy to carry on again.

Have faith

The right job is out there for you, so don’t give up! Believing in yourself shows resilience and tenacity—skills that employers love. It may take a bit of time, but stick with it. The effort will be worth it in the end, we promise!

Put these tips into practice and browse jobs today.

This post was originally published in 2021. We’ve updated it to ensure relevance and to reflect the current job seeker experience.