When you’re looking for a job, routines are really important – especially if you’re out of work. I am a believer in “pillars” in the week which help create a routine that enables you to both connect with the outside world, and also to relax and restore.
A job search can be lonely from your desk, so adding a couple of coffees or walks with friends and family (people who truly lift your energy and can encourage and support you) to your schedule each week can make a huge difference to your morale and your productivity.
But so often when you’re mid-job search and catching up with friends, you’ll hear this little gem:
“How is the job search going?”
As an opening question when catching up for a coffee with a good friend, it sucks, doesn’t it?
Whether you’re just starting out in your search, or you have been at it a while, this default question – though intended to be supportive – does tend to have rather the opposite effect. It induces feelings of guilt, shame or simple annoyance: if you’ve been procrastinating, you feel bad. And if you’ve been really busy, but just haven’t landed those interviews or offer just yet, you feel just as bad.
So what’s the answer?
To coach your friends and family to start your catch-up with a different question.
I really love the two that my client Adam came up with when he presented this common dilemma in our last session.
“What have you been up to?”, or
“How are you spending your freedom?” (He’s taking three months out to recover from an exhausting previous role before going full tilt with his search, to make sure he has the energy to do it).
Which questions would you coach your friends and family to ask you to feel great as you move through this transition?
And which other practices would you add to your routine to help you balance out periods of super focus and productivity in your search with time to relax and restore?
If you’re thinking of embarking on a job search, or are in one and are struggling with your energy, motivation or seeing real results, why not have a chat with us? You can book a free consultation here.