Ask a Recruiter is an ongoing series that covers topics both large and small facing students who are looking for their first job or internship. The following article focuses on how to deal with stress.
This series is written by Claire Shriver, an Early Career Recruiter on the University Recruiting team at Lenovo US.
Have a question for Claire about starting your career, interviewing or finding an internship that’s right for you? Add your question in the comments section.
How to deal with stress & anxiety while job hunting
We all know the stresses the holiday months can bring. Whether that is stressing about exams, traveling, or job hunting, I understand the spot you are in right now! I was actually in your shoes about a year ago. This article is here to provide some tips to help reduce that stress and anxiety during this busy time. These are a lot of techniques I used last year, which helped me stay calm and collected during my job hunt!
- Stay Positive and find distractions. I always made sure to work out every day while I was in the middle of looking for jobs. Some days I went on a run or a cycling class or best of all, kickboxing! Any type of workout was an easy way for me to stay positive and distract myself from all the stress I was feeling. Even if you don't like working out, maybe get some crayons and draw, read a book, or journal. Make sure you are doing something every day for yourself.
- Make a Plan! I talked about this in an earlier column, but I kept track of every job I applied for in an excel sheet. Set a goal to apply for 10 jobs a week, and track them all! Holding yourself accountable is HUGE in this process.
- Remind yourself this is a process. I wish someone would have told me that a year ago. I spent about 9 months after graduation looking, applying, and interviewing. This process takes time and there are a lot of really talented candidates applying for the same job as you. Keep your head up, everything happens for a reason!
- Celebrate the Small Wins: This may be hard for some. If you get in 10 applications in a week, reward yourself! If you get an interview invitation, buy yourself something you’ve had your eye on for a while. These may be small victories in the huge world of your job hunt, but celebrate them anyway. It's one step ahead of where you were yesterday!
- Talk to Someone. This could be your parents (my mom is my lifeline!), a friend, a professor, or even your dog! Talk to someone about how you are feeling, support from others is everything. Remember, there are other people in the same boat you are in and lots of others that were once in the same spot as you.
What are some tips that have helped you deal with stressful times? Share in the comments.