Ten golden rules to keep you motivated while job hunting

Don’t apply for jobs that your CV simply can’t justify and support. 

REPEATED rejections while job-hunting can be demoralising. Here are 10 things you can do to stay motivated and lift your chances of getting hired.

According to recruitment firm Clarius Group, the average role attracts between 25 to 35 applications but a shortlist usually comprises just three to five candidates.
That means more than 80 per cent of applications are rejected out of hand.
Clarius communications director Timothy Lee said the most common mistake people make is applying for jobs they don’t have the experience to do.
“It’s a problem particularly now with online applications because it’s as easy as hitting ‘apply’,” he said. “But you shouldn’t apply for jobs that your CV doesn’t support — you’re just setting yourself up for failure.”
If you meet eight out of 10 criteria for a role it might be okay, but if you only tick two out of 10, you shouldn’t apply, he said. “A lot of people think, ‘I’ll just do it anyway’.”
He said that can lead to a situation where jobseekers know they probably wouldn’t qualify but secretly hope they will, and so feel let down when they are rejected.

For long-term jobseekers becoming demotivated in the search, Mr Lee said the best thing was to take a break. “I don’t mean anything extravagant like going on holiday or going to Paris — it can just mean taking a day off,” he said.
“Read a book, take a walk on the beach, take your mind off it. When you come back you will be more energised, which is particularly important at the interview stage. If you go in feeling negative, employers will pick up on that.”
Older people trying to re-enter the workforce should have confidence in their life experience, and not be afraid to emphasise how their life skills could benefit the company. They should also use time between jobs to get up-to-date with technology skills.

Treat every application as a new opportunity — employers can sense negativity. 

“Older people need to sell themselves a bit better,” Mr Lee said. “For example, if a mature-age worker was going for a job at a financial services company selling superannuation products, you could say, ‘I could sell this product better than someone in their 20s because I’m in the target market’.”
Mr Lee said jobseekers should form a personal “cheer squad” or family and friends to help out with ideas, contacts or a “personal audit” of your various skills and achievements.
He added that finding a business mentor was also a good idea. “Anyone you’ve had a good relationship in a past role — it could be a manager you always looked up to, or if you’re a university leaver it might be a tutor or lecturer,” he said.
“Generally they will be happy to give you guidance, and they’ve generally been through that process themselves so they can give you tips on what to do and what not to do.”
Often they will have their own network, and might know someone who is looking to hire someone with your skills. “They say it’s not necessarily about what you know but who you know. At the end of the day you still need to know what you’re doing, but knowing someone will get you in the door.”
THE 10 GOLDEN RULES
1. Don’t apply for jobs that your CV simply can’t justify and support.
2. Everyone gets rejected — accept a rejection, learn from it and move on.
3. Create your own cheer squad and use them for feedback and advice — family, friends, former colleagues — for their help to refine your personal audit.
4. Treat every job application positively as a new opportunity.
5. Do a personal skills and experience audit listing all your soft, technical, leadership and responsibility and management skills to ensure you’re selling all of your best talents.
6. Refresh your CV and application to fit the potential employer’s style.
7. If you’ve been job hunting for a long time, take a break, rejuvenate and re-energise yourself.
8. For older workers, have confidence that life’s experience adds diversity and stability — both of which are immensely valuable to a business.
9. The best motivator for older people is to be open and receptive to new ideas.
10. Consider upskilling courses or talking to a business mentor.