Beat the Job Hunt Blues: 5 Practical Tips to Accelerate Your Job Search

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Searching for a new job can be an unnerving task under the best of circumstances. Couple the job search with the stress and pressure associated with being unemployed and you've got a situation that can bring even the strongest to their knees.

Whether it takes a matter of weeks or months to achieve your job search goals will depend on several factors. Some factors, like the economy, the hiring manager, and geography, are not in your control, while others are.

1. Be Positive

While your situation may justify the turmoil you feel inside, never let it show on the outside. People are generally more apt to gravitate to the upbeat individual than the one who regularly bemoans their circumstances. While it may provide some comfort to share the challenges of the job search or financial or emotional issues to a sympathetic ear, focus instead on the positives -- i.e., the number of people you are meeting, the learning opportunities in which you are involved, and the successes you have realized thus far. The quicker you embrace the "A Smile Can Be Heard" concept, the quicker you will be able to maximize your relationships and encounters. 

2. Be Active

You may be unemployed, but you do have a job. Your job is to find a job. And as with any job, your new job should have structure. Wake up every workday at a set time. Shower, groom, and dress for the day. Establish a start and stop time to begin and end the day's job search activities. Create a list of goals to accomplish today, tomorrow, this week, this month, etc. Develop tasks that support your goal and will move your job search forward. Lastly, establish scheduled breaks from your job search activities to ensure you provide yourself opportunities to step away, clear your head, and recharge your battery.

3. Be Humble

Don't discount the career, personal, or financial help friends, family, neighbors, church members, etc. are willing to offer. You may find you have a large group of people who have a sincere interest in your success. Reach out to them. Let them know you are in career transition and welcome their advice and involvement in your job search. And don't assume that because you have known each other for many years, your associate has any idea what you do or what you aspire to. The clearer the career picture you paint for them, the easier it will be for them to understand how they can help.

4. Be Smart

If you haven't already established a presence in the world of social networking, the time is now. More job candidates are being sourced and vetted through social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Smart job seekers are actively leveraging the power of these tools to connect with decision-makers and the hidden job market. Increase your exposure by establishing social media accounts and researching the best ways to utilize them in your job search. If you are active on social media already, be sure to remove or edit content from your existing accounts that might be detrimental to your search.

5. Be Connected

Some say as many as 85% of all positions are never posted publicly but are filled through networking. Therefore, you should concentrate the bulk of your job search effort on developing your network. Networking is simply meeting with the myriad of people you already know in an effort to learn about them, their company, and their industry, to make them aware of your qualifications and interests, and to get referred to others interested in expanding their network or willing to help you grow yours. Joining Latino Professionals , Latina Professionals, and Latinx Professionals help expand your connections. Establishing multiple interconnected relationships now will provide many personal and professional rewards immediately and, if cultivated properly, will be an essential part of your long-term career success.

Searching for a new job is arduous and sobering. By incorporating these five tips into a comprehensive job search campaign, you may find you will achieve your career transition goals sooner than later.

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Copyright July 21, 2023 by Rafael Magaña. Contact for usage license. Opinions expressed are solely own.

Rafael Magaña is the founder of Latino Professionals, Latina Professionals, & Latinx Professionals. Rafael helps organizations grow and leaders accelerate strategy implementation in their organizations. Specializes in donor-centered Philanthropy. Major Gift & Planned Giving Officer - Veritus Scholar. Rafael is also a Board of Trustees at the Hollywood Schoolhouse. Enjoys writing about leadership, management, philanthropy and careers. He resides in California. 

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