How do you keep morale up when job-hunting?

[christinarossetti19]

I'm finding it quite demoralising.

Sending applications and not even receiving an autoreply acknowledgement.

Preparing for interviews and just not hearing afterwards.

Not being able to apply for jobs/get interview because I haven't got enough experience in X.

Not getting jobs because I'm over-qualified.

I'm studying a post graduate course, seeing my friends outside, exercising etc etc but have this weird feeling that I'm somehow living outside of life.

I find myself look at people with jobs, even if I speak to someone on the phone, and feeling wonder that they've got this seemingly elusive thing!

I've been self-employed for a long time, which I don't think it a particularly desirable attribute for employers, but I can't do anything about that.

How do others keep their pecker up?

Sorry to have gone awol. Been away and unable to get steady internet connection for a few days.

YeDancer glad that you're feeling a bit more positive.

Re: phone numbers. Could you put the best number for you on the application and a note explaining that you need to be called on this one?

You've probably already thought of everything, but you're right that it's not fair that there are avoidable barriers in your way.

I didn't get the job from the last interview I applied for. I felt strangely relieved, I think because it was obvious that the job was way below my capacities and that the rest of the team were half my age. It would have been a good job for me 20 years ago, but not now.

Thinking of doing a Prince2 Agile course. Has anyone here done one?

@christinarossetti19

Sorry to have gone awol. Been away and unable to get steady internet connection for a few days.

YeDancer glad that you're feeling a bit more positive.

Re: phone numbers. Could you put the best number for you on the application and a note explaining that you need to be called on this one?

You've probably already thought of everything, but you're right that it's not fair that there are avoidable barriers in your way.

I didn't get the job from the last interview I applied for. I felt strangely relieved, I think because it was obvious that the job was way below my capacities and that the rest of the team were half my age. It would have been a good job for me 20 years ago, but not now.

Thinking of doing a Prince2 Agile course. Has anyone here done one?

Hi @christinarossetti19.

Interesting you mention the Prince2 course... I'm now a project assistant manager with limited project management experience so have been looking into this.

I'm on the world's craziest most illogical project at the moment so learning fast how NOT to do things. That is an education in itself. The project manager told me he nearly quit a couple of weeks ago. This will be a baptism of fire! But it's only cos multiple people quit that I got the promotion and he will hand the reins to me once we go into implementation.

Let me know if you find anything on Prince2.

And sorry you didn't get the last job but sounds like it wasn't right for you anyway.

My dh works in computing and reckons these courses look good by reputable providers.

Prince2 Agile is apparently the most sound and transferable.

www.knowledgetreetraining.com/courses/prince2-training/prince2-training-course

www.prince2.com/uk/training/prince2/foundation-practitioner/blended-learning

I'm not sure, there are so many things that I think 'maybe I should do some training in that'...

I've started with a good old fashioned book off amazon called 'brilliant project management ' that I read an age ago and remember it was a good introduction.

You may be well past that point though and just need the qualification.

Yeah, I think it's only worth paying ££££ if you need/want the qualification, as there are plenty other resources for project management.

I did a mock foundation exam online just now and scored highly enough to pass, just from common sense and bits that I've picked up from my dh over the years.

I completed the Prince2 qualification years ago. I wonder if I need to update it? Might look at that.

Have you found it useful Worrysaboutalot?

@christinarossetti19

Have you found it useful Worrysaboutalot?

Yes, when I was mainly in a project managing position, it was helpful. Common sense to be honest but it is good to be able to prove your knowledge.

Thanks, that's what it looked like to me.

Particular terms applied to common sensical processes/roles but useful to have on your CV if relevant.

Spend a set amount of time every day looking and applying for jobs (9am to 12 noon) then spend the rest of the day doing something else.

Be kind to yourself. Imagine you have a great friend supporting and talk to yourself how they would. Congratulate yourself when things go well. Console yourself when things don't go well. Tell yourself that everything is unfolding perfectly and the right job will come up when you're ready for it.

I know it all sounds mumbo jumbo but it's all about the positive.

Some of the jobs I've applied to have had their closing dates extended which feels a bit annoying. A longer wait really.
I also worry that I've applied for so many jobs that if I do get an interview, I'll forget why I applied, or be totally unprepared or something
Probably just my job search anxiety going into overload

@YeDancer

Some of the jobs I've applied to have had their closing dates extended which feels a bit annoying. A longer wait really. I also worry that I've applied for so many jobs that if I do get an interview, I'll forget why I applied, or be totally unprepared or something Probably just my job search anxiety going into overload

I've totally forgotten loads of jobs I applied for when job hunting... not an issue just pull up the email with your application and get preparing once you get called for interview.

@YeDancer

Some of the jobs I've applied to have had their closing dates extended which feels a bit annoying. A longer wait really. I also worry that I've applied for so many jobs that if I do get an interview, I'll forget why I applied, or be totally unprepared or something Probably just my job search anxiety going into overload

Keep a copy of the job advert. Copy and paste it into a word document if you need to.

Also, keep a spreadsheet with details of all the jobs you've applied to. It's really handy to keep track of progress. You'll probably find that lots of them don't even get back to you! That's handy when deciding whether to apply to a particular company or not.

@LauraFlashley

Spend a set amount of time every day looking and applying for jobs (9am to 12 noon) then spend the rest of the day doing something else.

Be kind to yourself. Imagine you have a great friend supporting and talk to yourself how they would. Congratulate yourself when things go well. Console yourself when things don't go well. Tell yourself that everything is unfolding perfectly and the right job will come up when you're ready for it.

I know it all sounds mumbo jumbo but it's all about the positive.

That is indeed sage advice LauraFlashley and exactly what I would advise anyone else in this situation...

BUT I've been struggling with this, I think largely because of the toll that the pandemic has taken - my sector has changed dramatically, my business crumbling, home-schooling, remote working as self-employed, the isolation etc.

I feel like I've spent a lot of the past 18 months passing time and keeping the rest of my family's morale up and I don't have many reserves to draw on to cope with how one-way job seeking is.

YeDancer when you get interviews, as others say, you can pull the JD and your application and refresh yourself.

The waiting is horrible though, I agree.

I don't know if this will help (and I appreciate you've tried most things so may have tried this) but one thing I have seen working to give DH a bit of a confidence boost is online courses with an assessed element. He's working his way through various IT qualifications partly as a CV boost but also partly to give him something to aim for. When he actually passes an assessment it seems to help him remember he is good and actually deserves a job.

It does help Normaigi.

I'm started studying a module with the OU in May, possibly towards an MSc, but mainly for exactly that reason.

I received my second TMA mark today and yes, it reminded me that I am a capable human being. The module is about work-based practice, so I'm having to confabulate a bit (from actual past experience not complete fabrication) which feels a bit frustrating and meaningless. It would be useful to have actual situations to apply the models to!

I'm looking into other types of qualification too eg Excel, Prince 2 but can't quite work out which will be the most useful.

Of course you're a (highly) capable human being but sometimes it helps to have someone completely objective tell you that. Plus two hours a day on online training is two hours of 'work' that doesn't involve sending job applications into the ether to get ignored.

Yes, kudos to your dh for upskilling himself.

My dh is in computing and lots of the interviews he had had a high technical content, so your dh is wise to keep up-to-date.

I hope that he finds something soon.

Can I join this thread? I recently quit my job so am just starting out looking for a new one. Had 3 recruiters phone today but waiting to see if I get an interview

Welcome Lochnessgiraffe.

It's nice to have company along the way.

I have an interview next week with a charity.
The presentation they want me to do seems fairly easy enough, just need to make sure I don't go over the time, or too much under.
The advert said London (I'm in Scotland!) but it also said home working considered so that's good.
Hopefully they won't be wanting too much travel as part of the role though.
I'll report back on how I get on. No word from other jobs yet.

Thanks. Fingers crossed for you yedancer

DH isn't in IT but his industry is dead in the water so he's trying to re/upskill.

Oh, sorry Normaigai, you had mentioned that upthread.

It's hard feeling out of things when you're not 'young' anymore. I don't know how old your dh is, but I can honestly say that I never felt my age until job-hunting.

Good luck YeDancer. I do like a presentation in a job interview. Yes, they take time to prepare but it's much better than launching in with 'can you tell us why you applied for this role and what you will bring to it?' which I've already said on the bloody application form and is so cringey.

So many firms in London seem to be giving up/considerably downsizing their offices, and they know where you live, so you might be in luck.