How to Tell If You Need a Break from Your Job Search
If you’re unlucky, you may go months into your job search without receiving any offers. This can be disheartening and lead to burnout that affects other aspects of your life, including your studies and social life. If you’ve started to feel this way about your job search, it may be worth taking a break. However, pausing your job search will mean you’re even less likely to gain employment soon. To decide on the right option for you, there are a few things to consider.
Signs You Need a Break
There are a few signs that indicate it’s time to take a break from your job search. The first is that you’re no longer enthusiastic about searching for jobs. This lack of enthusiasm may come across in your applications (even if you try hard not to allow it), which will hurt your chances, leading to a vicious circle. The second is if job seeking is becoming stressful to the point where you’re unable to focus on your classes or enjoy your time at university.
You May Need to Reevaluate Your Strategy
Taking a break gives you the chance to assess where you may be going wrong. It could be that you’re applying for jobs that are unsuitable for students or that require more education or experience than you have. Alternatively, you may need to improve your resume, cover letters, or interview technique — these are all things the career center on campus can help you with. This is particularly important if you’re not receiving any responses to your applications.
It’s Possible to Tone Down Your Search Without Stopping Completely
You may be thinking about taking a break from your job search because you’ve been dedicating too many hours to it. An option could be to set limits instead, such as allowing yourself to spend only a certain number of hours on job-seeking activities a week or giving yourself some days off. Ideally, you should be dedicating no more than about 10 to 15 hours a week (or two hours a day) to your job search.
Job Searching Is About More Than Applying for Positions
If you’re searching for a particular type of work (such as something related to what you’re studying), there may be other things you can do to improve your chances. For instance, you could spend time networking with people in your field, either online or at in-person events. You could also look into internship opportunities (as well as gaining you experience, these may lead to a job offer once you’ve finished) or finding volunteer work where you can learn transferable skills.
If you’re looking for a job to afford your expenses at university, one solution could be to reduce your housing costs instead. You’ll find affordable Carleton University off-campus housing at the Revalie. We have a range of floor plans to suit all budgets and lifestyles, ranging from bachelor apartments to four-bedroom suites. Plus, you’ll have a bus stop at your doorstep and Light Rail Transit station just 500 metres away, meaning you can reach both campus and downtown Ottawa with ease. Contact us now for a lease.