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Keeping up momentum
The repeated rejections, the failed job applications, the unproductive search for the next position or the perfect job: all takes a toll on your ability to continue putting yourself on the line and pursuing your goal.
Managing failure is one aspect of this cycle, but the other is learning to persevere even when the to-do-list becomes too long.
Here are some tips to keep up momentum in your career journey.
- Stay motivated and focused
- Set specific goals
- Maintain a positive mindset, seeking support from friends and family
Set clear goals
At each step of your career development, and possibly career change, setting targets at specific times can help break down your tasks and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
For example, have you made the decision to change career, but you have little time to look for opportunities? You could set aside a few hours a week and block them in your calendar.
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Setting up job alerts on LinkedIn can also be a great way of feeling active in your job search even when you are short of time.
Schedule your goals effectively by considering the following steps:
- Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that align with your overall career objectives.
- Break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks and prioritize them based on their importance and urgency.
- Create a timeline or schedule for completing each task and set deadlines to ensure that you stay on track.
- Use a planner, calendar, or digital tool to organise your schedule and keep track of your progress.
- Regularly review and adjust your schedule as needed based on changes in priorities, deadlines, or unforeseen events.
- Celebrate your accomplishments and reward yourself for achieving your goals, as this will help you stay motivated and focused on your career development.
Find an accountability buddy
To help you to achieve your set goals making yourself accountable to a friend or buddy can have a positive effect. Indeed, accountability is most effective when shared with someone else, as a form of supportive peer pressure.
Finding the right person and creating a healthy relationship with them is essential.
- You might want to find someone who shares similar goal/s
- Schedule some regular check-ins and light-touch challenges for each other
Build your resilience
Resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. Here are some strategies that can help you build it over time:
- Change the narrative: avoid analysis paralysis, practice expressive writing, and find an upside to the situation (find the silver lining).
- Face your fears: slowly and repeatedly expose yourself to what scares you.
- Practice self-compassion through a self-compassion break - be mindful, you’re not alone, be kind with yourself.
Remember that resilience can have a negative side, when taken to extremes. This could be something like focusing on impossible goals (false hope syndrome) or becoming overly tolerant of unpleasant or counterproductive circumstances. So, you should always be mindful of when it is time to cut your losses.
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Useful links and resources
How to find fortitude - squiggly careers podcast episode #294
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