Surviving a job search - practical tips for the everyday life of a job applicant

Looking for a new job is one of the most nerve-wracking phases in professional life. Those who apply for new positions while still working elsewhere often find they lack the time and energy needed to look for a job and write applications in the evening or at the weekend. Those who are temporarily unemployed and looking for a job may have enough time, but rejections and a lack of offers for suitable positions can quickly become frustrating. The following explains how to survive a job search.

If you are applying for a new job while still working at another, remember to always proceed carefully and act inconspicuously. Your colleagues and in particular your supervisors may get annoyed if they realise that you are looking for a new job and that your head is perhaps elsewhere. Do not broadcast your applications and carefully consider who you can trust.

Whether they are looking for a job after completing their education or while employed elsewhere, most applicants need a few months to find a (new) job that satisfies their requirements, some as long as a year. Thus, do not get nervous if you still have not signed a new work contract after a four-week job search. To survive a job search you need to stay calm and have patience, even if it is difficult to do so at times.

No one can spend ten hours per day looking for a new job! Once you have finished your job search-related work for the day you should spend time expanding or deepening your abilities, for example. Take courses and attend advanced training classes. Doing so not only gains you additional qualifications, it also puts you in a social environment where you can meet new contacts. Perhaps now is also the right time to delve into an entirely new subject that has nothing to do with your prior profession. It is important that you continue to study and gain new qualifications even while looking for a job, as nothing is more counterproductive than stagnation.

Do not just look for friends and acquaintances, but also for former colleagues - the larger your network, the greater the probability that you will hear about a new job through your network. A recruitment consultant can also be a good contact during this time. Recruitment consultants are experts who can help you make contacts, work on abilities, and optimally prepare for job interviews.

No responses to applications, standardised rejections, lengthy application processes: if you want to successfully survive a job search, do not become discouraged, even if it is sometimes difficult. Think positively and do not let failures throw you off track. A stable environment with family and friends can help you just as much as exercising regularly, as both allow you to work off frustration and stress.