You’re struggling to stay focused on your job search. How can you find the motivation to keep going?

I suggest redefining success. A lot times when I was looking for work I would I wanted a job by X date. That is something that I had to realize was out of my control. Instead I found metrics that I could control. For example, how many jobs did I want to apply for each day? What new skills did I want to learn and by when? Setting tangible goals I could control made it easier.

You are struggling to focus & feel unmotivated because you have nothing to celebrate. Anything less than a job offer is a failure, a waste of time. But you cannot control when the job offer comes. You can only control what you do each day and week that will move you closer to your goal. So, let's reframe the situation. Think of your job search as a project plan without an end date. A job search marketing plan. Each week define exactly what you want to accomplish. You will feel motivated to check off those items. You will feel a sense of accomplishment when you do, giving you an intermediate milestone to celebrate. You will feel motivated to march forward tackling the job search project actions that will lead you, eventually, to your goal!

Set Small, Achievable Goals: Break down your job search into smaller, more manageable tasks. Create a Routine: Treat your job search like a job itself. Set a schedule for when you’ll work on job-related activities Seek Support and Inspiration: Connect with others who are in the same situation or have recently gone through a job search. This can be through online forums, local job search groups, or networking events. Hearing others' success stories can be motivating, and sharing challenges can provide you with support and practical advice. Additionally, consider finding a mentor or coach who can offer guidance, feedback, and encouragement throughout your job search process. Regular excercise,walks and some sort of meditation.

Key to staying focused is creating a "doable" plan of action. I like weekly plans as they reduce the vagueness of the job search process. At the end of the seventh day, do a reality check with your plan and adjust the next weekly plan appropriatly. Isolation can be a killer, so make sure your plan includes being around and interacting with people every day.

It can be difficult to maintain your motivation when the job search goes on and on. It's key to have a job search strategy and to keep track of what you've done, what's worked and what hasn't so that you can tweak your strategy and focus on what has brought you more success. Ensure your job search is targeted and not just throwing your resume at a dart board and hoping one will stick. Having a career coach can be a game-changer. Someone who has the experience to help guide you and keep your 'feet to the fire.'

One of the best approaches to a job hunt is to treat the job hunt like a project-based full-time job. Understand that much like your previous job you will have the same constraints as a project: time, resources, and quality. 1. Time: Manage your time wisely by setting specific hours with boundaries for when you will stop and start your day, including breaks. This will make your job hunt far more productive. 2. Resources: Develop a daily or weekly plan and execute it. Then, review it at the end for effectiveness and eliminate the unproductive activities for the following day or week. 3. Quality: You need 1 job, not 400. Tailor your search, resume, cover letter, networking...everything to securing the job you're most qualified to secure

Remember that you are not alone out there. In addition to your local support sources take time to check in with others that are also searching for their next career step. You can find them on LinkedIn, or other Social Media sites (such as Facebook Groups) or locally as well. Share your own experiences and you can probably also help cheer others up or be a shoulder to lean on. Work together and you can probably also share new opportunities you come across with others.

Since looking for a job is full of hurdles and heartbreak as a result of recruiter ghosting and broken timeframe commitments, the best advice given for proceeding is to minimize the expectations. It’s hard as a rock but it goes a long way in helping one maintain their sanity, especially when anxiety registers sky high. Be your own support.