'Job hunting has left me burnt out and cynical... How do I keep my spirits up?'

Today I’m analysing the situation of Mark. 

Mark is in his mid-30’s and works in tech. He’s been with his current company for almost 5 years and is ready for change.

I met Mark when he reached out to discuss joining my Creative Career Level Up programme.

What’s the challenge?

Mark's current company has been struggling financially and lay-offs are looming. 

Added to which, Mark has been bored in his current role for a long time. 

He wants a new challenge, but has been in the job market for 6 months and has so far failed to secure a new role.

This has left him completely burnt out. He hates going on Linkedin, has no energy for networking and has completely given up on monitoring job boards.

How did he get here?

Mark is looking for his next job the ‘conventional way’. Finding roles online, applying and hoping someone reads his application. 

This process is fundamentally broken and for the majority of people, it is a time waster that yields very few results.

Between the tough market, the pressure he is putting on himself and the fundamentally broken recruitment process, it is no wonder he is feeling burnt out and cynical.

How can he move forward?

Mark needs to completely revamp his job hunt. He needs to focus on the big activities that will shift the needle - no more doom scrolling on Linkedin! 

And he needs to think outside the box of conventional job hunting. The current system is broken. So he needs to find ways to work AROUND it.

My thoughts

Make a plan

One of the worst things you can do is look for a job without first making a plan. 

Without a plan you will just be on Linkedin applying for loads of different jobs - with no thinking or strategy behind what you are doing - and with minimum effort put into each application. 

This results in low quality applications and a lot of rejection. Until you eventually burn out and give up. 

Make a plan. It will save you so much time and frustration.

Avoid simply applying online

If you are ONLY applying for jobs online, chances are 90% of your applications are going into the black hole of the internet, never to be seen again. What a waste of your time! 

Here’s a rule for you: agree with yourself that you will never ONLY apply online. 

If you find a role and submit an online application, make it your mission to ensure it also gets put directly into the hands of the hiring manager.

Build your Power Team

Job hunting isn’t only about networking. You have to have more options available than just someone in your network making an introduction to a hiring manager.

Even so, networking is the backbone of a successful job hunt.

Build your network through regularly connecting and adding value for people. 

As you start to grow your network, identify your Power Team - the people you know are in your corner and will actively help get your next job. Leaning on these relationships will lessen the burden on yourself.

Get Support

My final piece of advice is to get support. I can't stress enough how less likely you will be to burn out, if you have support.

Support can be through your Power Team, or through a mentor or coach. Or you can really go all-in and join a programme like the Creative Career Level Up where you get access to training, 1-2-1 coaching and on-going weekly support.

Either way, support is crucial. And will dramatically decrease the chances that you burn out.