 |
Conducting a job search can be draining, especially when facing multiple rejections. These rejections can take their toll on your energy. This is why it’s important to not only manage your time well during your job search, but also to manage your energy.
Proper energy management requires you to be strategic with your job search. And no, spending hours filling out online job applications is not a real strategy, at least not the most productive one. Instead, it’s more of a time and energy vampire.
So what are some ways to be intentional and strategic about managing your energy during your job search? Let’s discuss!
5 ways to manage your energy
1. Take breaks
A job search can be a job in and of itself. This doesn’t mean you should work so hard on it you end up burning yourself out.
Instead, build in time for breaks as you work on your job search. Pay attention to when your energy starts lacking and stop to do something that boosts your energy. This could include exercising, playing with your dog, etc.
I’ve written in the past about the importance of keeping physically fit during the job search. So don’t neglect your physical health.
Breaks are important to keep your stamina up during the job search.
2. Spend more time on what works best
If you’re filling out 100 job applications a week and you’re not getting any responses, or the responses you’re getting are all “no’s”, then you have to ask yourself, “Is this a good use of my time?”
Despite how many times I’ve said only 20% of your job search efforts should be spent on job applications, and 80% should be spent on networking, most people do the opposite. Or, they only do online job applications and put forth 0% effort toward networking.
Studies show 80% of the work force found their jobs through networking. This method obviously has a good success rate in generating the best job leads. Therefore, it makes sense to spend 80% of your efforts on networking.
But it’s important to first try a few different job search methods and track to see which ones work best for you. As you gain a better read on what works, then it’s time to drop the methods that don’t. This frees up more time and energy for the things which provide better job leads.
3. Network according to your personality type
Once you’ve tried some better methods, my guess is you’ll see networking is one of those best methods, simply based on its previous overall success rate among those currently employed.
Then, the next step in managing your energy is to determine which networking efforts work best for your personality type. Which ones boost your energy, and which ones drain your energy?
For example, introverts may find one-on-one meetings and conversations with one contact at a time to be less draining, whereas extroverts may find large group networking events to be more energizing.
People who prefer more depth in their connections will prefer individual meetings over a group event or speed networking event.
If you’re one who gets drained easily by a lot of superficial small talk, skip the group events and opt for the individual conversations.
4. Network during your peak time
If you know you have more energy during the mornings, attend networking breakfasts and schedule individual meetings in the early part of the day. If you tend to be more energetic in the evenings, then attend after-work networking events.
Doing so will help you make better first impressions. But remember to remain flexible, since some of your contacts may have peak energy times different from your own.
5. Attend learning events
Networking events can be draining even to the most outgoing job seeker. And job fairs can feel like a complete waste of time and energy.
Instead of attending traditional networking events and job fairs, use your time and energy to attend industry-related professional development events. This can include industry panels, conferences, or company-hosted events.
When you attend these more intellectually-stimulating events, you not only increase your knowledge of the industry, you also get to be in the same room with industry representatives. These are the people you want to talk to, both before and after the event.
Even if you don’t make a connection, you at least learn something while there, and won’t feel like it was a complete waste of time.
And if you do make a connection eventually resulting in a job interview, you’ll stand out by being able to say you were at the event. This will show your genuine interest in the industry and in growing your knowledge.
Manage your energy and reap the benefits
By following the above suggestions to manage your energy, you’ll start to experience more satisfaction in your job search. You’ll feel more productive and hopeful about the future of your career. And you’ll also uncover better potential job opportunities.
