As you may know this is probably the toughest time since the Great Depression to find jobs. There are now 6+ job seekers for every available position. Likewise, several fellow job seekers have asked me this question: “How do I maintain hope during these challenging times?” Below are 10 ways job seekers can stay encouraged during a daunting job hunt.

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1. Determine Your Worst Case Scenario: In nearly all cases this outcome is not as bad as you initially thought. Afterwards put together a well thought out plan to overcome all potential obstacles to accomplish your desired outcome (landing your next opportunity). Finally determine the rewards of your desired outcome and strive for them by executing your plan through both the ups and downs.

2. Determine Your Opportunities: Winston Churchill once stated: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” As current job seekers, you now have time to identify career-related opportunities. These opportunities can include achieving a higher level of satisfaction with your work, joining a company with values compatible with your own, acquiring your ultimate career aspiration, and so on.

3. Maintain or Develop Confidence: If you’re not excited or confident about your ability to produce great results for potential employers, do not expect them to be excited and confident about potentially hiring you. Employers are looking for problem solvers who can help their firms make and/or save money. Determine how you accomplished this in your previous positions and develop your pitch. For example, “I’m a revenue and profit growth expert who helps solve the problems that keep your senior executives up at night.”

4. Diversify Your Job Search Strategy: In addition to applying to job postings, make sure you are also working to create your own job market. This site is loaded with resources that provide steps on how to accomplish this. It’s up to you to use this knowledge and execute it.

5. Get Over Your Fears and Take Action: If you are afraid of blowing the few job leads you may have because you do not know what to say to a potential employer, are not confident in your abilities to generate value, and so on… do not use these fears as reasons to do nothing. First, identify 5-10 companies you would never work for and use them to practice creating your own job market, build up your confidence, “perfect” your resume, cover letter, and value proposition, determine what to say to potential employers, and so on.

6. Make Job Search Strategy Adjustments: If you are not generating favorable results from job postings, informational interview requests, and so on; it’s time to adjust your job search strategy. It’s time to develop an alternative resume and cover letter, use my LinkedIn techniques to apply to job postings instead of applying blindly, adjust your informational interview request pitch, and/or incorporate and test a creative, yet professional, job search technique in the marketplace.

7. Remove the Mystery: How many times have you heard someone state: “I wonder what would have happened if I would have done this?” It’s time for you to leave your comfort zone and do what it takes to make the “impossible” possible by landing your dream job during the Great Recession. Likewise, you will not have to look back with regret wondering how life would have been better if you would have taken decisive and bold actions then. Take decisive and bold actions now!

8. Get Away on Occasions: If you are working efficiently and diligently to land your next opportunity and your productivity is declining due to fatigue and other factors, take a break from your job search. Take advantage of your free time to rest, do what you love to do, and energize yourself. Afterwards, return to your job search.

9. Exercise and Give Back: As we all know the current job search can be daunting for even the most optimistic individuals. Likewise, job seekers should exercise to counter stress, bad moods, low energy levels, and potential depression that can result from the job search. Also give back by helping others or volunteering. The benefits of volunteering include a reduction in stress, physical pain, and depression. It also increases the endorphin level which helps people literally feel a rush of joy or great inside.

10. Never Give Up: Whatever you do, do not get discouraged and give up. The only individuals who fail in life are the ones who give up trying. Finally, ask yourself this question: “What are the benefits of halting my job search?”

If you missed it, I strongly recommend you listen to “How to Network Your Way into Your Dream Job.” This show was filled with great networking advice and several golden nuggets. You can listen to the archived version by clicking the player below. Rhonda Sher, the expert guest, discussed:

• 1. Why it’s important to always network (and not just when you need a job)
• 2. How to consistently build and add value to your network
• 3. How to develop a 30 second elevator pitch
• 4. How to successfully network to acquire insider information about companies, job leads, and referrals to hiring managers

If you like this episode, I encourage you to visit www.blogtalkradio.com/thecareercatalyst. Next download the previous eight episodes (if you have not done so), register for a free BlogTalkRadio account, mark this show as a favorite, subscribe to our upcoming shows, and become a regular listener.

Play Episode IX: How to Network Your Way into Your Dream Job. | Download this episode (right click and save)

Also tune in to Episode X: “How to Prepare For and Ace Any Job Interview” with expert guest Matthew Carpenter, a traditional and behavioral interviewing expert.

Matthew will discuss the importance of interviewing well and how to ace any traditional and behavioral job interview. This is a show you do not want to miss.

If you cannot participate live in next week’s show, feel free to send your questions to kac@kenrickchatman.com by Tuesday.

Remember the wisdom of a crowd is richer than the wisdom of a few. So actively participate in the free online community at jobradiousa.com and encourage fellow job seekers to do the same.

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