"A downturn is really the time to prepare for an upswing!"
Staying motivated when things aren't going the way we'd like can be challenging. Recently someone left me a note asking me how can they stay motivated while looking for a job. After thinking it over, I came up with the above quote.
I learned about what lies at the heart of this quote while I was a basketball player and once I became a basketball coach this theory was one to live by. When you're two or more points down in the game is when you have to really prepare for the tide to turn. You have to tap into your preparation resources and strategized to swing things your way. Sometimes you may still lose the game, but you can take heart that you were well prepared for the opportunity to win and then move on to the next game. This analogy of game/downturn and preparation fits many different times in our lives, but especially when one is looking for a job in a saturated market.
Losing anything can make us feel like we're no longer in control of our lives, and this is especially true when we lose a job. So I suggest that you get to work. I mean get to work on yourself and those things that are in your immediate control. For example:
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Polish up your resume. I mean really polish it up. Send it to a resume makeover specialist and get that baby to shine! (I recommend The Career Makeover Coach!)
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Decide if you want to continue to work in the same field or change career paths. Examine your life's purpose and mission statement for indicators that your interests may have shifted. If you don't have a written purpose and mission statement do some reaserch on how to and get to writing!
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Research the industry and company that you're interested in. What's the culture in the specific company you're interested in? You should know more about the industry or company than the person you're going to interview with. (the internet makes this very very easy to do)
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Try to find out something about the person you're interviewing with. Today the movement is towards authentic connection and more transparencey.
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Use social networking to your advantage. Yes, you'll have lots of time on your hands and you should devise a schedule that will have you doing part of your job search on the net. On the net, be vocal about your job search. Ask for leads from peers. Be sure to use facebook, twitter & linkedin to create free profiles. On Facebook and Twitter you can even search for companies that you're interested in and begin to engage with them socially but remember to be subtle. There are lots of articles and tips on blogs out there about how to use Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin to your advantage.
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Learn from others. A great site that will give you inspiration and further insight about job hunting is www.howigotmyjob.com. Real people sharing real stories about how they got their job.
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Give yourself an attitude makeover. Yes, losing your job stings your pocketbook and it can definitely deflate your attitude. This is the time to make attitude adjustment your top priority. Spend at least 15 minutes a day reading articles or a book that are all about keeping the right attitude that will help you move forward.
These tips will help you stay motivated and keep you focused on moving forward as you attract the job that will fill your pockets and give you fulfillment in you quest to live your dreams.
Remember, time is short. Do your happy dance. Enjoy life!
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