How Sticking to the Routine Leads to a Strong Finish in the Job Search Marathon.

Looking for work is like preparing for a marathon. You set up a training routine that you must stick with if you have any chance of success. It feels lonely and repetitive, but without the routine, the goal of crossing the finish line is out of reach. I am currently in the middle of this process and have discovered a few things.

The routine or process for your job search is critical to your success. It means waking up to work during business hours and being ready to send out applications and take phone calls. It also means approaching your job search like a regular job. Send out applications daily, follow up with people, and make an effort to network with as many people as you can. You never know when a fifteen-minute cup of coffee can transform into a job offer.

Next, take some time for yourself. When we are working, we set aside activities that conflict with family and work commitments. While waiting by the phone for people to call back, I am taking the chance to read some fiction and work on my game room. I also spend time writing and following up on some publishing opportunities. All of these activities took a back seat to work, so I am digging into them to make up for lost time.

I am learning to accept that this market is awful and that I must play a numbers game to get my application seen. On average, I send out five to ten applications a day, and if that translates into an interview a week, I am doing reasonably well. I empathize with the demanding workload of filling these roles, and I know their lack of response is not a personal slight.

My job search is also an excellent opportunity to improve my skills. I have taken training from Boardsi for working on corporate boards. I'm also expanding my skills with artificial intelligence tools. On a whim, I even wrote a Gem for Google Gemmini. My next goal is to master the Midjourney editing tool.

During this search, I reach out to family and friends. Being out of work is socially isolating, so you mustn't devolve into a hermit. I take walks. I visit the local coffee shop, say hello, and leverage people in my life. I recognize in these times that a job title defines a function, but it never determines the full scope of my value.

Finally, the job search is a test. I am learning to overcome adversity and build my self-worth in a punishing situation. David Brooks from the New York Times says that two things can happen in the environment: I could be broken into pieces or broken open to help others. I chose to be cracked open. So, I am still looking for work, but I will trust the process, and I look forward to coming out the other side a better person.

Until next time.