I’d like to end my series celebrating 15 years in business by providing you with some thoughts on how you can celebrate all that you accomplish during your job search. You have most likely encountered numerous challenges and opportunities along the job search adventure. One question occurs to me though-during your search have you taken the time to pat yourself on the back? After all, you have been doing a lot of work. Looking for a new position is one of the hardest jobs that you will ever have. You need to take the time to recognize what you have accomplished.
Taking the time to celebrate what you have cultivated during your job search journey will do several things. It will help you:
- Keep things in perspective-acknowledging that you have done many things well will help to shake off thoughts of being discouraged or anxiety that may occur with the job hunt.
- Learn from your mistakes-you can more easily recognize what is working for you and what is not, and make adjustments. Learning from your mistakes is a big cause for celebration.
- Attain your goals-when you remain positive during your job search it comes across in your presentations, interviews, and interactions with others. You will be more likely to present yourself in a positive light.
You can reward yourself in a lot of ways. Take a walk. Get new professional photos taken. Go to the movies. Have coffee with a friend. The point is, your celebration can be as much or as little as you want. Celebrating yourself means that you get to do something that you want to do. It allows you to say, “Good Job!” to yourself. These moments of celebration will make your job search remain positive and provide you with forward momentum as you continue with your hunt.
Remember, no matter how long your search takes, you need to celebrate your successes and most of all celebrate all that you have accomplished. Each step in your goal of locating a new position is a reason to celebrate yourself.
