Looking for a new job is often a stressful time.
Researching, sending in CVs, interviews, waiting for replies…
All this takes time and energy, and can lead to moments of doubt.
So how do you get through this difficult time?
1. Avoid spreading yourself too thin
Prospecting everywhere means prospecting nowhere, and that can waste a lot of time and energy. It’s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.
So it’s vital to start by defining what you’re looking for. What profession, what industry, what skills, what region, what status…?
Some introspection may be necessary to redefine what you want (or, on the contrary, what you no longer want), what you like, what you are good at…
Here’s a useful exercise: make a timeline of your various professional experiences to assess what gave you energy (or not) and, above all, why.
This will help you clarify things and define the criteria for your job search, some of which may be non-negotiable.
Armed with this information, it will then be easier for you to embark on a search, to revise your CV in line with the skills you want to highlight and the new direction you want to take.
2. Communicate what you want
Looking for a job often involves sending a CV and covering letter for specific positions, or doing so spontaneously. But it’s important not to neglect other channels of communication.
Make yourself visible on online recruitment platforms and networks (especially LinkedIn), contact companies that interest you, recruitment companies, temporary employment agencies, headhunters, etc.
Also activate your personal network, whether professional or private. Talk about your career plans with people around you, former colleagues, friends, family… All these conversations are like seeds that you sow, and you’ll probably be surprised by the one that grows!
3. Stay authentic in interviews
During my coaching sessions, I notice that interviews are a source of a lot of stress, as if you were sitting an exam again. But an interview is a meeting, not a test! It’s a meeting so that the company can assess whether your profile is suitable, but also so that you can assess whether what the company is offering is right for you. So this is the time to be curious and ask questions. Before the interview, find out all you can about the company and the person you are talking to, and prepare a few questions. Above all, breathe and be yourself!
Good luck!
If you want to clarify your next career step before starting the job search, I can definitely help you. Here is a link to book your discovery coaching session.