Conducting a Manageable Spring Job Search
As this new year and new semester begin, we recognize that wellness and the job search may not always go hand-in-hand. Afterall, with courses, homework, extracurriculars and other obligations – it can seem that the job search is just adding more stress onto the load. Let’s talk about incorporating wellness into your strategy and how to create a plan this semester to help make the job search manageable.
Add Career Events to Your Calendar
Adding career fairs and other career events of interest to your schedule in advance will help as you plan your routine. Registration for SWE opens on January 17th in Handshake. Register early to sign up for sessions that match your schedule.
- Wellness tip: Avoid over-scheduling yourself by signing up for a manageable number of sessions. Leave time in between each session to breathe, gather your notes, and re-set for the next conversation.
Set Application Goals
We suggest 30 applications each semester, so setting aside time each week can help you make this goal more manageable. Aim to frontload your applications by submitting a majority of them throughout January and February.
- Wellness tip: Determine how much time per week you can dedicate to submitting applications. Set boundaries and stick to your schedule and allotted time. This will allow you to make incremental progress without burning out.
Use Your Resources
Whether it’s updating your resume, preparing for an interview, or troubleshooting your search—we’re here to help! Schedule an appointment with a Peer Career Coach or ECS Advisor. No time for an appointment right now? Use the Ask ECS feature for brief questions and quick document reviews with reply within 3 business days.
- Wellness tip: Everyone has to start somewhere and no one is expected to know all the answers. ECS staff wants to meet you where you are. If you start to feel overwhelmed or confused by the search, ask for help.
Take a Pause When Needed, Then Re-Start
There can be time periods or moments of chaos when going through the job search. These moments might cause us to freeze up and avoid the search altogether. Take a brief break from your search when this happens and re-charge. Then, write down each of your job search goals/ tasks. Use this as your checklist and begin to check off your goals weekly with your allotted job search time.
- Wellness Tip: Take advantage of resources such as Recreational Activities, Wellness Coaching, Counseling and Consultation Services, and Buckeye Peer Access Line (PAL) to help you manage stress.
Remember, the key to manageable progress is to take small steps consistently. These steps will soon add up to big results.
“There isn’t one giant step to success. It’s a lot of little steps.” - Unknown
