3 Ways to Manage Stress in Your Job Search

3 Ways to Manage Stress in Your Job Search3 Ways to Manage Stress in Your Job SearchTheres no doubt for anyone in the middle of a job search its a stressful situation. Unless youre one of the few people (and there are some) who enjoy networking, searching for jobs, going on interviews, and the like, a job search is probably something you want to get over as quickly as possible. Of course, thats not always up to you. So to get you through the job search process, no matter how long it might take you, were taking a look at ways to manage stress in your job search.Here are three ways to manage stress in your job search.1. Stop feeling like every rejection is personal.Its a completely natural reaction, but feeling like every rejection you receive from a potential employer is a personal affront against you will take a big toll. Eliminate that stress by reminding yourself that when an employer decides to go with another candidate, its not necessarily because you did anything wrong. Most of the time, its a combination of timing, luck, and the types of people youre up against in the candidate pool.One thing you might try doing is asking the employer (if youve been in contact with them for job interviews already) if there were any particular things (certifications, experience, etc.) that put the other candidate over the top. Let them know you want to work on your qualifications and would welcome any advice they have for you. Turn this stressful event into a learning moment where you can grow and better yourself professionally.2. Make frequent trips to your happy place.Consider rewarding yourself for every application you submit, and throw yourself a *fun* pity party whenever youre rejected. If nothing else, youll get to watch your favorite movie, or cook your favorite meal, or spend some quality time at the dog park with your pooch. Itll take the sting out of not hearing back from employers, and you might actually be able to skip the stress of rejection almost completely by looking forward to what you get to do because you got rejected. Not a bad way to manage stress in your job search3. Visualize everything going right.Most of the time, when we stress, we picture everything going wrong. We worry well be late to a job interview, or that our cover letter had a typo in it, or that theyll find some less-than-professional photos of us online. But all those negative thoughts put your mindset in a very negative place, which employers will absolutely pick up on.Instead, through every part of the job search process, visualize the right thing happening. Visualize yourself sending the perfect application, and picture the recruiter smiling appreciatively as they read it. Before a job interview, visualize the whole interview process from the moment you leave your house through the last handshake. See every step going well, and feel the confidence you gain in that visualization. Positivity breeds positivity, and employers will pick up on your confidence and opt imism.While stress isnt avoidable in a job search, its absolutely manageable. And the more proactively you manage that stress, the better your job search will goReaders, how do you manage stress in YOUR job search? Share your tried-and-true tricks by leaving a comment below