My World

Applying for a job is challenging, but it is also an opportunity to take a closer look at your career and make informed choices about your future job, culture and remuneration. With the tips below, you will move forward in your job search with energy and confidence.

1. Link your job goal to clear personal and professional rewards

Your goal must be higher than the obstacles you see. Applying for a job is challenging, but it is also an opportunity to take a closer look at your career and make informed choices about your future job, culture and remuneration. In order to maintain motivation, it is important that you constantly return to your goals and relate to “why”.

What rewards are you looking for?

• impact: take advantage of work experience, skills and talent to make a difference in your field and for your target group 
• meaning: connect to strong inner needs – to lead, perform, design, teach, cook, organize, help 
• money: finance for life – family, home, status, leisure, charity 
• culture: distinguish yourself in the right cultural environment – independent, flexible, hierarchical, collaborative 
• community: communicate and interact with colleagues and customers – employees, subordinates, managers, customers 
• status: maintain or increase prestige – in the team, the organization, the home, the county, the country, the world 
• structure: offer structure – place, tasks, goals, inspiration, challenge 

2. develop a plan and realize it

In the middle of your job search, you may come to the conclusion that your carefully designed plans need to change. It’s often part of the process, so do not be discouraged. The important thing is that you always do something and plans are crucial so as not to lose speed. See job search as a work-related project, where you apply best practices and identify specific milestones that you want to achieve along the way. Re-evaluate when you receive new information.

The plan should include:

• Research: gather information and opportunities about the market, industries and companies
• Personal networking: contact people by phone, over lunch and at conferences and job fairs
• Social Media Networking: Find social media contacts, especially LinkedIn
• Job applications: apply for jobs that are published on target companies’ websites and general job pages
• Present, teach and write: share knowledge and skills and make yourself visible
• Volunteering: helping others, sharing skills, making yourself visible and networking
• Interviews: book, prepare for and present at job interviews and preparatory interviews
• Exercise: practice your presentation before networking and interviews

Train your body and brain

A successful job search requires a lot of energy, creativity and effort so you need to constantly replenish. Author, philosopher and scientist Henry David Thoreau said: “It is wise to nurture the tree that bears fruit in the soul.” In order to maintain a positive, creative attitude and the focus and perseverance required for the search, you should regularly invest in body and soul.

Train to maintain focus, perseverance and creativity:

• Exercise the body: The physical benefits of exercise are obvious, but the immediate mental stimulation from a daily routine is worth considering. According to a recent study from Stanford University, even simple exercise such as walking can increase creativity and relieve stress, as well as build strength and endurance. Walking in nature is very effective in relieving stress and depression. You can also turn exercise into something social and even use it for networking by exercising with a friend, joining a hiking or biking group, or going to the gym regularly.
• Exercise the brain: Moving also provides training for the brain. Other things that can be good are mental training, various creative exercises, diary writing and more. Surround yourself with positive inspiration and stimulation, whether it be books, movies, podcasts, music or conversations with a friend, colleague or mentor.

If you have difficulty getting started, you can enlist the help of a coach or friend who will make sure you do what you are told to do. Once you get started, make it a habit. Find a routine so you can really benefit from it.

4. give and receive support

Studies have shown that the most crucial factor for someone’s ability to come back is a strong mentor. It can be a professional, family member, friend or colleague. And it’s good to remember that support is as much about giving as it is about receiving. Offering your wisdom, talent and resources not only strengthens others but by sharing your skills, knowledge and support also increases your self-confidence and visibility.

Get help from your personal and professional community:

• Support from others in the same seat: Brainstorming and talking to other job seekers can provide security during difficult times and make you even happier about your victories. Whether it’s breakfast every week or a reconciliation call every morning, it’s hugely effective to explain your goals and give and get help to get ahead.
• Networking: More than 70% of employment is partly due to networking. A friend, former colleague or new contact tells you about a vacancy, recommends the company or calls you directly for an interview. In line with the networking success for 70%, Randstad RiseSmart’s rule of 70/20/10 recommends that you spend 70% of your working day with the job search on networking, 20% on preparation, research and training, and 10% on searching for and following up published job tips and ads. Searching for others in person via social media, e-mail, telephone and gives you an opportunity to practice your presentation and find allies in the job search. Exercise creates self-confidence and networking creates success.
• Volunteering: When you help others, you become stronger, stimulated and positive. You are not just waiting to work. You make a difference and do something important for others. It is also a good starting point for building your network and maintaining or improving skills and work experience. You deepen relationships with those you work with and they get the chance to see your skills for real.