5 KEYS to ACTIVATE Your Mindfulness as Graduate Jobseeker!

When did job seeking become such a huge contributor towards the detriment of the mental wellbeing amongst our unemployed youth??

Because I can't imagine being a young ambitious graduate???????????? today working to the bone for 3-4 years of your student life and when you are finally done with your qualification certificate?? on hand the labour market does not reciprocate...

Its not READY, OPEN or even WILLING to take you onboard, denying you the opportunity of them experiencing the talent and the MAGIC ??you have to offer...

Because looking for a job in today's job market feels like is a JOB in itself... it is tiresome, it is draining and will play with your mind in the worst unimaginable ways... DEPRESSION ?ANXIETY will become most prevalent...it is so hard!??

I was lucky enough when I started my first job I had already received an offer to be a part of a prestigious graduate programme within the mining space, I don't know the feeling of not having that security...

And unfortunately 70-80% of you will graduate without having secured a job... why is the labour market not receptive to our talents??

There are very limited job opportunities in this country especially for unskilled and inexperienced labour force... and unfortunately as fresh graduates you also fall under that category.

So what can we do about it? ??

Well for starters...you can't control the state of the current job market but what you can control in this present moment is your mind??... and how you to react to the situations around you...

So lets talk about it ???

??Definition: Mindfulness

"Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we're doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed..."

I had found the secret the key ??that will equip you to experience less strain, stress, anxiety and depression during job seeking...

??It is by DEVELOPING MINDFULNESS ????♀?

I will be sharing with you tips on how to unlock this power and become more intentional during this entire job seeking process.

Because maybe you find yourself not having any clear strategy or direction??? and you don’t even know where to start...

You just applying for everything and anything you come across...

?Resulting in you experiencing heightened anxiety about the future and depressed ??with multiple rejections…

It is so hard…you are tired and hopeless, and I get it!

In this newsletter article I will help you navigate everything you need to know not only on how to become a Mindful Jobseeker but also learn how to be more intentional during the entirety of your job searching journey!

??I will be unlocking my 5 KEYS?? in ACTIVATING your MINDFULNESS as a Graduate Jobseeker!

???Key1?? : Take control of your mind:

This game is all about the mindset…

If you are not intentional with key 1, you will find yourself experiencing deep anxiety and depression during this whole job-hunting process.

You will deeply hate this process and not find joy in it whatsoever.

It is hard I know it is- I want us to look at reframing job seeking as an activity especially around how it is portrayed.

Let us instead make this journey more tolerable, more anticipative, fun, and less like a chore or a dreaded task- THIS IS YOUR FUTURE we are talking about let start feeling more excited on what’s to come!

?Mental health Mondays:

On Mondays ??you are evaluating your mind, your thoughts.

??Self-reflection exercises???:

How am I feeling since the last round of job applications?

??Physical exercise????♀?:

Once a week am I getting outside for some oxygen even going for a walk and staying hydrated???

??What type of content ??am I consuming on a daily???

??Do I practice my daily affirmation rituals? do I visualize a positive future for myself?

??When I find myself feeling anxious do I meditate?????♀?

??How do I keep my mind occupied and hungry for new knowledge? do I prioritize learning ??on my weekly schedule?

???Key 2??: Map out and templatize your job searching strategy!

How does your current job searching strategy look like???

None? well that is a problem ambitious graduate...

?You NEED to have a consistent template that you will be utilizing on how you approach your job searching journey!

A template that you will be following through and through:

?You need to update and review your current job marketing materials?? and aligning with today’s best practice!

?Create a list of your top 100 employer of choice.

?List all alternative Job hosting sites ??you will be utilizing during your job search

?Identify and prioritize your First prize?? in terms of job application approach.

What is a 1st prize??? do you prioritize...

1?? Entry level jobs or graduate programmes or internships or learnerships?

2?? Which company applications are you going to prioritize first and why?

3???Which industries are you going to prioritize first and why?

???Key3??: Be seen.

Have you heard of the term that "your network is your networth?"??

Networking is essential to not only building your professional network but also improving your job search and hiring process.

The worst job application you can submit is a faceless one- you will be shocked on how many professionals get jobs through acquaintanceship??!

??Here are my 5 tips on how you can increase your visibility today!

1??Volunteer somewhere that makes sense because volunteering can yield skills and contacts.?

2??Networking virtually and face to face??????

Research 3-5 networking groups and opportunities once you’ve joined a few great networking groups, stay active, and participate with other professionals in the industry

3??Create a strong and compelling online presence ????by using your LinkedIn profile to post and create content ??whilst optimizing your LinkedIn profile and activating your job alerts???- make sure you save these jobs!

4??Target local jobs as well as small businesses, visiting their premises directly when you come across their job advert.

5??Continuously reach out and be seen:

??Reach out to Recruiters online and recruitment agencies.

??Follow up with contacts- interviews attended or job applications that may have closed.

???Key 4??: Execute your job searching strategy:

? Don't forget to do your a Company Background Check this will prevent the likelihood of you coming across ??job scams.

? Research on the go!

As you apply for roles you can personally connect with professionals associated with a company and learn about a job position first-hand.?

?Track your job applications!

Imagine applying for a job and getting a call?? from a recruiter and not remembering that you applied for that job??- how EMBARRASSING!

?Contextualize your Cover letter and CV

?Elevate your interview skills!

???Key 5??: Reflections, tracking performance and Follows up:

??You need to infuse structure into your networking endeavors.

?Stop waiting on people who have not gotten back to you- do the follow ups and be proactive!

??Leverage your online calendar?? as your trustworthy follow up tool, noting when to follow up with whom and making time in your day to do so.

??Measure performance

What has worked and what to do different next time???

??Keep track and measure the success of your Job searching strategy, interviews you have done and any application engagements etc

??Review your job tracker:

1?? Take note of upcoming interviews and prep accordingly

2?? Psychometrics deadlines

3?? Telephonic screening and see status update on each job application- logging into the systems and viewing on a weekly basis!

??There you have it 5 KEYS ???to ACTIVATE your MINDFULNESS as a Graduate Jobseeker has been unlocked??!

If you enjoyed this article make sure to share it with your network??, comment, like and don't forget to the hit the subscribe button so that you can be notified ???on next month's upcoming newsletter!

Olwethu M- "I am in the business of transforming ambitious graduates into thriving professionals"