Searching for a job can be a demotivating experience, especially when you have been applying for a long time. Here are tips to keep you motivated when searching for career opportunities
Most of us have spent the lockdown period this year re-evaluating our career goals and the direction we want to take in the new year. A lot of businesses had to close doors, leaving thousands retrenched. And with many companies recovering from the effects of the coronavirus most job posts were understandably frozen. However, with 2021 drawing closer to us it’s time to put to action all the goals you have made, starting with how you make your paper. There’s something about the New Year that brings the feeling of hope (and dread for many who still blow their salaries and bonuses during the festive season).
According to a 2018 report by The Economist’s Pocket World in Figures and published by thesouthafrican.com, South Africa has the highest youth unemployment rate of any other country in the world. The pandemic has also escalated this statistic. The report also states that the country’s youth unemployment rate was at 57.4%. While these numbers are discouraging, as well as seeing your own job applications getting rejected, take this time to change the direction you’ve been taking when job hunting. This is how to stay motivated this year:
Remember that you are not alone: The statistics show that you are not the only one who’s searching for career opportunities. When your job application is rejected, request for input from your potential employers, they might give you advice on what you can improve on pertaining to your CV. Also, don’t shy away from constructive criticism from your mentors or people who are willing to guide you.
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Make use of your direct contacts: Sometimes, that one person from your contact book can open a gateway of career opportunities for you. Some of my career opportunities were a result of referrals. A young lady who used to be a managing editor of the previous magazine I worked for helped me re-launch my freelancing career through an email introduction to her industry colleague. So take care of your contacts.
Don’t give up: When one door shuts, there are windows to make use of. Nothing comes easy, and unfortunately, this includes your career journey. The key thing is to not give up on your career dreams. If it means starting from the bottom, do that. Network as much as you can, attend workshops, always update your CV and spend at least three days a week visiting job-search sites like LinkedIn, bizcommunity.com, pnet.co.za or career24.com.
