I have been looking for a job in the nonprofit sector for more than 6 months, sending out tons of resumes and getting a few interviews but no job offers. I feel demoralized, discouraged and, frankly, am getting a little panicked that the career I dreamed of and invested in through my education and volunteer work may not happen. I feel that my desperation is starting to affect the impression I am making in my applications and interviews. Any tips to help me keep the faith and manage this rollercoaster of stress and uncertainty that I am faced with on a daily basis?

First of all, you have our sympathies. Searching for a job in today’s economy – any job, let alone those coveted career path dream jobs – requires a lot of time, effort, fortitude and persistence. However, we also know from our work with nonprofit organizations in Canada that there is a lot of work that needs doing and there are good, fulfilling jobs to be had. The hardest (and most draining) part of the job search is to manage the fear and second-guessing that living in uncertainty brings (e.g. What if no one sees the value in who I am and what I have to offer? What if I made the wrong choice about my education and volunteer work? What if I can’t pay my bills next month? What am I doing wrong?).

A certain degree of uncertainty is inevitable in any job search. The trick is to be as strategic as possible in where you invest your time, physical and emotional resources so that there is the highest chance of a payoff. You also need to find ways to bring certainty into your life through the areas where you have more direct control in order to help you to feel more balanced and grounded. Some strategies to keep in mind include:

Narrow your scope by getting really clear on what you want in your career and why. Part of the emotional exhaustion of a job search comes from not really knowing where you want to end up or, if you do, the best way to get there. Your ultimate dream job may be a few positions off but starting to pay attention to the types of job postings that attract you the most will help you narrow down the scope of where you want to go and why. What is it that excites you the most – is it what you would get to do in the job? Working on that particular issue? Working to serve a specific population? Once you understand this, it will be both easier to narrow the scope of your job search and articulate more convincing, compelling and authentic arguments in your applications and interviews.

Be ruthless in assessing your realistic fit for a job. Once you have begun to narrow down what kind of positions you are searching for, the next step to protecting your emotional and physical energy reserves is making sure you are being realistic in what you apply for. We suggest creating a chart for every position you are interested in outlining on one side the exact criteria in the job posting and on the other side, listing concrete examples of your experience that match that criteria. Take a step back and try to assess how you measure up from an employer’s perspective – 100%? 50%? 30%? No one is saying you cannot apply for positions that you are not a perfect fit for but having a realistic assessment of whether your application is strong, medium or weak will help you manage the emotional energy you spend hoping for the phone to ring.

Find a supportive, external eye to validate your fit for the position and your applications. The longer you are on your job search and the more applications you are putting out there, the harder it becomes to keep your perspective on your fit for positions and what your applications are really communicating to a prospective employer. It is critical to have a trusted friend or career coach look over your applications to help determine the level of fit between the job criteria and what you are bringing to the table and if you are articulating what you bring to the position clearly and compellingly.

Do one thing every day that moves you closer to your ultimate career destination. There are days where you are going to feel less motivated and possibly even discouraged – and that is completely normal. However, these “off” days can quickly become weeks or months unless you have a plan. Try to do one thing each day that moves you closer to your ultimate career destination. On your more ambitious days, this could be cold calling or networking to ask for information interviews. On days when you are feeling more fragile, it could be researching an organization you are interested in, updating your online profile or posting a request for advice in a relevant online forum.

Schedule in time to have a life. Just like it is important to try and achieve a work-life balance when you are working, it is just as important to do it while you are job searching. What are the things you like to do that make you feel you have accomplished something? Is it sticking to your gym routine? Having a clean house? Volunteering? Maintaining your relationships? There are lots of factors you cannot control in your job search but many areas where you have direct control and can get some daily satisfaction.

Don’t be shy to ask for help. Like any major endeavor in life, you will need support and it can come in many forms. Maybe it is a nonjudgmental ear for you to vent to, someone to give you a reality check or give you some advice. Let everyone you come into contact with know what you are looking for and what you have to offer – you never know who knows someone else who is looking for exactly what you have, so don’t be shy to put it out there!

 

Nancy Ingram and Christa McMillin are co-founders and partners at Foot in the Door Consulting which specializes in helping nonprofit professionals build sustainable, satisfying and values-driven careers. Together, they have over 30 years of experience on both sides of the hiring and management process in the nonprofit sector. They can be reached through www.footinthedoorconsulting.com.

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