5 Ways to Stay Confident Throughout Your Job Search Online

PUBLISHED Dec 21st, 2020 & UPDATED ON Feb 6th, 2023

Let’s face it: job searching online kinda sucks. Talking yourself up to recruiters over and over again, only to face rejection. Spending foreverrr finding the perfect template for your resume and cover letter, and not even landing an interview. Scrolling through Instagram and seeing your friends living their best fully-employed lives wearing their cute AF blazers. Meanwhile… you’re on the couch binging New Girl and shopping online for another pair of comfy pants.

Being part of the unemployed club can really mess with your confidence. Trust us, we’ve been there. Who here hasn’t spent hours on Indeed.com and LinkedIn, applying for positions you KNOW you would be perfect for but nothing ever comes of it?! Pfft, their loss, baby! But for real, these tips should help guide you along and gain some of that positive momentum back while you search the web for your next job. Because guess what? You got this.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Setting easy and attainable goals while you job search online will make your to-do list look way, way less scary. Ask yourself: How many custom cover letters can I write today before I feel like screaming? How many job postings on LinkedIn can I realistically apply for this week?

The LAST thing you need is to put even more pressure on yourself. Job searching online can be super overwhelming so just take it one day at a time! You’ll feel like you crushed it after crossing off that checklist. #nailedit!

2. Avoid Comparison

It may seem like your friends and old classmates are getting alllllll the jobs and are way ahead of you in the game. And while you’re happy for them, part of you may feel jealous or insecure. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Your feelings are totally valid!

It’s so easy to compare yourself to the people you admire, especially when you’re not exactly where you want to be yet. Key word: yet. Remind yourself that you will get there. Whenever you feel like pitting your own achievements against someone else’s, keep in mind that they were in your shoes once, too. There are also a few secret (not so secret) tips on how to stop comparing yourself to others. Use them!

**3. Realize You Don’t Actually Have to Meet Every Single Job Requirement**

You know the job postings. The ones that say it requires 10+ years of experience, a Masters’ degree, and the secrets of the universe? Ok, maybe not the last part… but you get the idea. What you may not realize is that you don’t need to have every listed requirement in order to be fit for any job you see online. There’s a good chance you do have all of the knowledge and skills they’re looking for, even if you don’t have that much experience yet. You just have to overcome imposter syndrome first…

Remember everyone has to start somewhere! Highlight all of the reasons that you are right for the job in your resume and cover letter before you submit. It will give you the confidence to apply for what you want. Because let’s be real, you kick ass and they would be lucky to hire you!

4. Don’t Take Rejection Personally

Rejection is the worst. Whether you’re turned down for a job over a phone call, a quick email, or no contact at all (it happens more than you think) hearing “no” doesn’t feel good.. especially when you thought the interview went great. So even though you’re awesome and super qualified and you wore your lucky interview sweater, why didn’t you get the job? It’s hard not to think: Why didn’t they like me? Am I not good enough?

The reality is, there could be tons of reasons why someone else got the job. But that doesn’t say anything about your worth as a person. It just wasn’t the right fit! And maybe this will even push you towards finding the right career path. When the right fit does come along, you’ll be kinda glad those other jobs didn’t work out in the end.

5. Make Time for Yourself

When you job search online, it can feel like a full-time job in itself! Onlyyy you don’t get paid. Instead, you doubt all of the skills you carefully outlined on your resume and obsess over your LinkedIn profile. Greatttt.

With browsing online for a job on your mind 24/7, you could probably use some much needed self-care ideas for stress. Do something for yourself that you usually don’t have time for when you’re working. Pick up an old hobby, or start a new one. Read that book that’s been collecting dust on your shelf. Binge-watch that show on Netflix everyone’s been talking about. It’s okay to make time for you.

Say it with us: Your worth isn’t defined by your job. Say it loud to yourself every morning, or write it in your journal! Hopefully these tips will keep you in the right headspace while you job search online. You got this!