It's January, start of a new year and yet the freelancer job hunt is already exhausting right?!Thanks to both the #offairnightmare and the fact January is always a tad quieter, the days of hot job markets and catching a ready break... Read more
It's January, start of a new year and yet the freelancer job hunt is already exhausting right?!
Thanks to both the #offairnightmare and the fact January is always a tad quieter, the days of hot job markets and catching a ready break are a distant memory.
Actual roles are far and few between and those that do crop up have 859 applicants... honestly, this is only a TINY exaggeration!
And thus, we are making applications and more often than not at present, getting nowhere.
It IS deflating. It is tiring, shitty and frustrating. I won't take away from that.
So how do we stay positive and not give up? And when I say give up (in my circumstance) I mean fail to dress, watch TV all day and open the wine at precisely 1700 hours... the longer the hunt goes on, the harder it is to stay positive and remember our own abilities, achievements and successes.
Here are a few handy tips I gathered from wise owls I have picked the brains of in recent days:
*Write daily and weekly goals*
I have been using an app called To Do and as mundane as some of the tasks are, actually ticking them off makes me feel like I have purpose and thus I feel better
When you aren’t working, you have a prime goal of finding a new job, but as the days turn into weeks, you may feel defeated because you haven’t achieved your goal.
Break that larger goal down into little pieces. Determine a specific period of time you'll spend updating your CV, researching potential opportunities, and applying to jobs. And don’t just look at your career ... consider home goals too that you can complete to feel accomplished. Whether it’s painting a room or cleaning out the junk drawer (yup, I have 2) or your spare room, now is the time to pick one thing each day or week to conquer.
*Create a networking group*
Set up a group of people with similar work paths to meet periodically and remind each other why you enjoyed working in the industry and figure out how to help each other.
Consider this a mastermind group for brainstorming. You could talk about how you can transfer your skills and capabilities to a different field or give each other CV or interview feedback. This group can also have the goal of bringing job leads to each other, linking members to additional connections or resources, and holding members accountable to their goals.
Honestly, in recent weeks the number of really amazing people I have met has been amazing and it is making me feel excited to get back to work so I can hire them! It has helped - and has made me feel like I have value too - no shame in needing to feel regarded.
Continued in comments due to word restrictions...
Thanks to both the #offairnightmare and the fact January is always a tad quieter, the days of hot job markets and catching a ready break are a distant memory.
Actual roles are far and few between and those that do crop up have 859 applicants... honestly, this is only a TINY exaggeration!
And thus, we are making applications and more often than not at present, getting nowhere.
It IS deflating. It is tiring, shitty and frustrating. I won't take away from that.
So how do we stay positive and not give up? And when I say give up (in my circumstance) I mean fail to dress, watch TV all day and open the wine at precisely 1700 hours... the longer the hunt goes on, the harder it is to stay positive and remember our own abilities, achievements and successes.
Here are a few handy tips I gathered from wise owls I have picked the brains of in recent days:
*Write daily and weekly goals*
I have been using an app called To Do and as mundane as some of the tasks are, actually ticking them off makes me feel like I have purpose and thus I feel better
When you aren’t working, you have a prime goal of finding a new job, but as the days turn into weeks, you may feel defeated because you haven’t achieved your goal.
Break that larger goal down into little pieces. Determine a specific period of time you'll spend updating your CV, researching potential opportunities, and applying to jobs. And don’t just look at your career ... consider home goals too that you can complete to feel accomplished. Whether it’s painting a room or cleaning out the junk drawer (yup, I have 2) or your spare room, now is the time to pick one thing each day or week to conquer.
*Create a networking group*
Set up a group of people with similar work paths to meet periodically and remind each other why you enjoyed working in the industry and figure out how to help each other.
Consider this a mastermind group for brainstorming. You could talk about how you can transfer your skills and capabilities to a different field or give each other CV or interview feedback. This group can also have the goal of bringing job leads to each other, linking members to additional connections or resources, and holding members accountable to their goals.
Honestly, in recent weeks the number of really amazing people I have met has been amazing and it is making me feel excited to get back to work so I can hire them! It has helped - and has made me feel like I have value too - no shame in needing to feel regarded.
Continued in comments due to word restrictions...
I know... I know... you usually need to give a minimum commitment to a volunteer post and it might feel if you do it is resigning yourself to not being employed during that period but just be honest - so many organisations are crying out for help. Guarantee a minimum half a day commitment long term but say you can do 3 or 4 days a week short term while you are between jobs. People will bite your hand off.
Financially times are strained when not working but find a local trainee centre for wellbeing practice and go for a massage. Join the local church hall kit fit class - often free. Honestly, one little thing a day or even a week that is good for your mind and body will make a difference. Please trust me. And if you are in Manchester and just want a walk / coffee / to come to yoga with me, holla - I am ALWAYS open to spending time with good people
Give yourself permission to job hunt for a set period of time each day and then empower yourself to shut the damn computer and try one of the above.