With more than 28% of Americans searching for jobs, it's become a very stressful time to job search even for talented IT professionals, currently employed or otherwise. Job postings are down. Tech unemployment has slightly increased. AI continues to make ripples, and its true impact on the tech job market remains to be seen. However, even with all of these factors, business continues forward, job opportunities are still available, and finding a new opportunity could be a top priority.
How do those who are looking for their next great opportunity maintain their balance and sanity in this environment while job hunting?
Experts point to five characteristics of a balanced well-being persona - physical, financial, career, social, and community – that help people get through tough times.
Getting your Career on Track
Research shows that when your career is out of balance, it has an enormous impact on all of the other four characteristics. When you don’t have a job, you don’t feel safe. It’s going to affect your financials, your physical health, everything.
So, how do you get your career well-being in balance? Action is the number one thing to focus on. It seems simple, yet for some people, it can be very difficult. Once they lose their job, they can become anxious, depressed, and paralyzed. Losing confidence and energy is very typical.
The way to combat this? Treat your job search like a job. The first thing you should do is get into a routine. Set very specific S.M.A.R.T. goals. Specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time-bound. SMART goals are rooted in positive psychology. And they establish a tracking mechanism that gives you positive feedback.
This doesn't mean you should spend your entire day consumed by job searching. You may only spend one or two hours a day on a specific job search. Set a daily schedule that also includes skills development, exercise, friendships, leisure, and even volunteering. This helps maintain a sense of normalcy and purpose.
Read More: Managing Employee Mental Health and Well-Being as a Leader
The Power of Your Network
One of the most powerful things a job seeker can do is leverage the power of their network. That means that finding a new job is not as much a function of what you know, but rather who you know.
Networking is also a critical resource for tapping into the so-called hidden job market. There is an old saying, “When you ask for a job you get advice, when you ask for advice, you get a job.” Most people you reach out to will be happy to talk about themselves.
Often people don’t know what their network is, especially when they are in an anxious mental state. They have no idea how to start. Network mapping is one technique. They are often surprised that their network is larger than they thought.
Sometimes your network is simply going to events and just talking to somebody in the industry. Start a conversation about what it’s like at their company or their role. Initially, you go for information about the industry, but you may get connected to a job.
You are talking to people. You are making progress. All these little micro-actions you take will help you with your well-being.
A career coach can help people with this process, but it's also very achievable to do all of these things on your own. Action is the most difficult first step. But once you start the process, it’s like a ripple effect.
Consider Contract Work
Let's talk about the value of contract work compared to full-time employment. Landing a contract job in IT can often be easier than securing a full-time position. The hiring process for contract positions is often faster and less stringent than for full-time roles.
Companies may expedite the process to quickly onboard contractors and begin work, making it easier for candidates to land these jobs swiftly.
Staffing agencies such as Motion Recruitment almost always have contract work to offer to the right candidates.
It is not uncommon for an employee to be laid off and end up doing contract work for the same company, so don’t close the door to that opportunity.
Upskilling and Staying Current
There is more tolerance for resume gaps these days, but it has to be well explained, so have your elevator pitch ready and memorized. What you have done to make your time useful is important to recruiters and hiring managers.
What are you doing to stay relevant? Learning more about AI and machine learning in many tech roles will help your career. According to the World Economic Forum, candidates who invest in developing high-demand skills, such as AI, data science and cyber security, are likely to find the job search easier compared to those with more general IT skills.
Get Physical
While it's obvious that the main way to overcome a long job search is...finding a new job, during that search process there are other things you can focus on to maintain sanity and a positive outlook while finding the next steps in your career.
Exercise has a proven positive impact on your mental well-being. Working out three times a week for 45 minutes is enough to have substantial benefits. Whether it be weightlifting, running on a treadmill or just taking a walk around the neighborhood, any activity that gets your heart rate moving and your mind temporarily off everything else going on can be a massive help.
On the mental side, Zen philosophy offers several techniques that can help you manage stress during a long job search. These practices focus on mindfulness, meditation, and cultivating a peaceful mindset.
Staying positive and resilient is easier said than done, but taking these steps will help you position yourself for success and maintain that well-being balance that is so important.