Finding a job can, and should be, a job in itself. Unless you are extremely lucky, finding a job will be a trying and frustrating process. Rejection, depression, feelings of hopelessness can become an overwhelming force when looking for employment. The good news is, it can only be so, if you let it.

The best way to effectively job hunt, while minimizing frustration, is to develop a routine. Make it a your job to find a job! One way to do this is to devise a weekly schedule of job-hunting activities. For example; Monday morning could be the morning that you check local employment ads, newspapers etc. Tuesdays may be designated as the day that you work on producing covering letters and copies of your resume, Wednesdays may be the day that you send out your resumes and Thursdays may be the day that you follow up with potential employers on resumes you sent out the week prior. This is just an example of a routine and it may not be right for you. The point is, develop a routine that works for you and stick to it.

Developing a routine allows you to get a greater sense of control. Many people let the “job hunting blues” get to them because they cannot motivate themselves. They will often times let one incident where they were rejected by an employer, put a damper on future job searches.

A routine will allow you to feel like you are making progress. Although you may not see immediate results, you will end each day knowing that you are one step closer to finding an opportunity. A routine also will prepare you for the working world where you will be expected to keep certain working hours. In the end, you will find that a regimented approach will translate into greater opportunities!

Another golden rule of job searching is never to take a rejection personally. Rejection is very much part of job searches. You will likely encounter numerous rejection letters or negative responses before you find someone who will grant you an interview or give your application due consideration. Take it in stride and tell yourself that it was worth at least getting your name known to the company. Often times, employers are impressed by the manner in which a person accepts rejection. “