Are you spooked by the mere thought of finding a new job? Are you haunted by past experiences of lengthy applications and interviews that go nowhere? A job search can be intimidating, daunting, and sometimes downright terrifying. If you are making a career change, or have recently graduated, or moved to a new city, these transitions can be especially difficult, but have no fear — no matter your circumstances, we’re here to assist you and give you some tips on how to make your search less scary, and more merry!

Have a Clear Purpose and Goal
Take some time to think critically about the next steps of your career before you start applying willy nilly to jobs online — employers and agencies can tell when you’re not invested or truly interested. What are the key skills and strengths you possess that will be helpful in your next job? What are you passionate about? What types of companies would you like to work for? The more time you take to hone in on your strengths and focus on what matters to you in your next job, the more success you will find.

Stay Positive!
Have you ever looked at a job and questioned whether or not your fully qualified? It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re not qualified enough. Maybe you don’t meet every single ‘preferred skill’ on every posting you see, but if you read about a position that you are genuinely excited about, and you believe you can perform the job duties, don’t talk yourself out of applying! Stay positive, and go after what you want.

Treat the Job Search like a Job
If you’re serious about finding a job, set aside blocked out time for you to work on your goals. It’s easy to look at jobs boards and dream about what could be…but your dream job will never happen if you don’t put in the time! When you’re working on your resume or an application, reduce the  distractions around you, and set clear goals and deadlines for yourself.

Network
Some say it’s all about who you know, so don’t be afraid to reach out to your connections and ask for help during you search. Perhaps a friend of a friend works at a company you’re really interested in working for, or perhaps you have a friend in recruiting. Reach out to these valuable connections you already possess, because chances are, people are willing to help!