3 Ways To Stay Motivated During Your Job Search by Lauran A. Smith

Lauran A. Smith is an Educator, Entrepreneur, Digital Content Strategist, Writer, Public Relations Specialist, National Event Curator, Puppy Mother, and Coffee Enthusiast. A Memphis, TN native, she has two younger siblings and is the proud Aunt of two nephews and a niece.

Some have never had the experience of feeling "burnout" in their jobs/careers, and that is absolutely amazing! For those of us who have not only felt burnout, but have felt unappreciated, "looked over", unsure of the future regarding professional careers, it is a very real thing...and mentally exhausting. If you are thinking of changing jobs/careers, and need to keep your optimism at a Level 10, here are three ways to stay motivated: 

● 1. RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO PIVOT. I believe that people are often discouraged when seeking out new opportunities/new professions because they may view their age as a limit, their lack of knowledge of the industry that they would like to pursue, etc. If you have the will and the desire to try something new, please take the limits off. Usually, we are our own worst enemies, and have the tendency to be the only person standing in our way. Decide that you are capable of learning something new. We have all seen the stories of people in their latter years getting GEDs, college degrees, breaking into acting at age 70, etc. I would be safe in saying that their personal determination level and their attitude propelled them forward! 

● 2. DO YOUR RESEARCH. What will your new professional aspiration require of you? Additional schooling? Licensing? For example, if you are an attorney who now has the desire to be a cardiologist, you will most certainly need to go back to school. This is understood, and there is no work-around. However, in some cases, all you need is experience in the "workforce" for a successful transition. Some of the responsibility that you have in your current role may actually assist you in your new career. Do the research to make sure you are meeting the requirements or are in a position to obtain anything additional so that success is inevitable. 

● 3. FEEL READY? START APPLYING! As stated in the previous point, sometimes all you need is experience. You may not even realize what you already bring to the table! Get your resume updated to highlight those skills that you neglected to mention - they may be an asset! Looking at a specific company? Great! Seek out information on the brand itself and learn as much as you can about their work environment. Would you be a good fit? What makes this company one that caught your eye? Make sure you aren't just applying because a brand may be "trending" - just because something is popular doesn't always mean that it's for "you". Keep your job/career search honest!

Once you have made the decision that it's never too late - once you have done your research on what you potentially need to succeed in your new choice - and once you have gotten your resume updated with special skills that you did not previously consider, start applying! The job search is certainly time consuming and can get discouraging/is discouraging. However, if you are determined to make the change, the search itself will only prove to be a small part of the process. Your best bet is on yourself.

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