How you can approach your job search 🔍
Finding job is not easy.
The actions can be straightforward, rinse and repeat kind of thing, but the emotional and mental pieces can be challenging.
That desire to hope, the desperation for success, managing disappointment, uncertainty, preparation, suspense, etc. It can be a lot to take.
I recently went through the process myself, shared in this other post, so I can understand.
The worse is if things drag on, for weeks, for months, it can be very draining.
I was fortunate to find something in two months, but I could still relate to all the tough emotions involved.
Hopefully this post brings some guidance on how you can approach your own job search.
I also want to take the chance to extend my availability for anyone who might need a chat, bounce idea, etc.
No charges, drop a DM, happy to help!
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1️⃣ Structure your mindset. Like preparing for a run, you know it ain’t gonna be easy to run that 2.4, 5, or 10km. But mentally prepare yourself for the challenge can be a good start.
The difficult thing is that job search doesn’t really have an end point, does it? But don’t stress yourself over that. Be certain that will at least be an end goal.
You will get there one, just a matter of when.
This brings me to my next point:
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2️⃣ Set a timeline with trenches. What does this mean is that define a timeline for yourself, put in stages for it, and then adjust your expectations at different stage. For example,
First 1 month, find your ideal job, be selective if you want. Look for the industry you are keen, job scope you fancy.
2nd month, expand the scope. Mahbe needs to widen your industry, consider other jobs.
3rd to 5th month, widen that your criteria further. Maybe start to consider if a pay cut is needed. How much do you want to cut? What’s your minimum expectation?
6th month, rainy days money might be depleting. Financially are you ok? Do you need to consider a temporary job to tide things over? If so, life essentials come first, take up even a part time role first can be helpful.
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I personally do not fancy the idea of “spread the net”.
Some people would immediately go ‘machine gun’ and apply for every job they can find. A few downsides to that:
(1) Recruiters know when a candidate is not serious. It comes out during your interview and they can notice the energy level difference.
(2) You can tire yourself out quickly. Going for interviews can be tiring.
(3) You will spread yourself too thin. 50% effort for everything you try, naturally the outcome also not as good.
Be focus. I think there is value to that.
But of course, balance it with reality. Which brings me to the next point:
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3️⃣ Know your finance. Hopefully, you have some savings to tide over.
You should also know your own expenditure patterns. How much are you spending every month? On essentials, on shopping, on luxury, etc.
Have those numbers and be realistic with yourself.
Calculate the runway you have for yourself in this job search.
If you have enough to last for a year, great, pace things out.
If you have enough for 3 months, adjust your spending to lengthen the runway. Or consider taking up a part time job by Month 4 of your search.
If you have a benchmark, it is easier to make yourself feel in control. That level of certainty can be helpful in a period of great uncertainty.
And the good thing about this financial side is, 未雨绸缪. You can prepare for it even when you are not out of a job. The idea of an emergency fund comes in — putting aside 6 months of savings for emergency situations.
But for that to happen, know your monthly spendings. Personal finance is underrated and much needed!!
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4️⃣ Lastly, adjust your approach periodically. A little similar to Point No. 2, the idea is to review your resume, cover letter, regularly.
Perhaps every 2 weeks, see if you want to try adjust something and how that might influence the response rate.
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The good thing now is that Generative AI tool is very helpful in a job search process.
ChatGPT, Google Gemini, etc. They can be good sounding board to bounce ideas, advise you, or even help to evaluate your resume.
Leverage such tools to help you.
And the most cliche advice — practice, practice, practice.
The number of times I talked to myself before an interview is pretty frightening, but you need to be familiar with your sharing to build that confidence and awareness.
So please please, practice practice practice.
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Ok lah, hopefully this helps to some degree!! For more ideas about approaching interviews and questions to ask, check out my following posts:
- Make an impression w your interview questions
As always, follow for more random thoughts!
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From my own experience and observations during a job search, the emotional rollercoaster can be just as challenging as the practical steps involved. One key insight is how important it is to maintain a balanced approach—acknowledging that job hunting might stretch over months, but keeping confidence intact by setting milestones really helps. I found structuring daily or weekly goals gave me a manageable sense of progress. For example, dedicating specific days to researching companies, tailoring resumes, or preparing for interviews helped avoid feeling overwhelmed. Breaking the search into chunks also allowed me to reassess and adjust priorities realistically. Money management plays a huge role, as highlighted in the post. It's empowering when you have clarity on your financial runway. I kept track of monthly expenses, cutting back on non-essentials while keeping an eye on savings for peace of mind. This diminished the stress of 'what if' scenarios, letting me focus more clearly on applying and interviewing. Also, I experimented with AI-powered tools like ChatGPT to refine my resume and practice answers to common interview questions. These tools provided fresh perspectives and boosted my confidence by simulating interview situations. However, I ensured I customized the output to keep my authentic voice. I echo the advice about avoiding a scattergun approach when applying. Focusing on roles that truly matched my skills and interests allowed me to prepare better and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm during interviews. This approach made interactions more meaningful and increased my chances of success. Lastly, I made self-care a priority—balancing job search activities with exercise, social interaction, and downtime. This balance helped sustain my energy and mental wellbeing over time. Overall, combining a structured mindset, financial awareness, targeted applications, and leveraging modern AI tools can make the job search process less daunting and more productive.
Thank you I would like to get tips from you on this