Amy Lindgren
Is there a difference between being stuck and feeling paralyzed? Probably, although it may be more linguistic than actual. When someone says they’re stuck, I imagine someone trying to move forward but not succeeding for some reason. Some version of flailing arms or bicycling legs comes to mind, like in the cartoons.
Figurative paralysis feels more extreme, and more difficult to resolve. For paralyzed job seekers, my mental image is closer to a deer in the headlights, about to get flattened.
Neither condition is good, but I’d say the goal is to get unstuck before paralysis sets in. If you can flail your arms, that’s a good sign, even if it’s a metaphorical flailing.
So how to get unstuck? These 17 tips may help; try them independently or in pairs or all at once. It’s OK to throw everything you have at this kind of problem: The sooner something works, the sooner you can get on with things.
• 1. Change your routine. A different place to sit, different job boards, a different schedule — try to make things fresh again.
• 2. Get a routine. Oops, no routine? That’s a killer. Pick a time to start each day, and build the habit of searching even when you don’t feel motivated.
• 3. Pair difficult activities with something pleasant. It could be a trip to your favorite coffee shop while you send outreach letters or texting with a friend as reward for a challenging task.
• 4. Find an accountability partner. Checking in with someone as you start each day helps reduce the job search isolation.
• 5. Use government services. Every state offers both physical offices and online services dedicated to helping job seekers. Check your browser for “Workforce Centers” to find the nearest option.
• 6. Join a club. Job clubs provide ongoing support and advice from fellow job seekers, which can be invaluable. They are often hosted by workforce centers and local faith groups.
• 7. See a career counselor. A few hours with a professional can save months of flailing. Find the services for free at workforce centers, or on a fee basis in the private sector.
• 8. See a therapist. Is there something deeper going on? A mental health professional can help you find out.
• 9. Try a side hustle. Side gigs and part-time jobs provide countless benefits when you’re stuck, from essential cash flow to new contacts — not to mention an obligation to leave the house.
• 10. Take a class. Or a whole degree program? Increasing your education can create a reset for your search, while showing employers that you’re keeping up.
• 11. Set daily productivity goals. Try a 1, 1, 1 system to start: One job applied for, one outreach for networking, one entry in your job search log to record the activity. Increase the numbers each week while adding new activities.
• 12. Limit your daily search hours. If you’re setting aside whole days to search, you’re giving yourself whole days to flail. Set a two-to-four maximum but hit it every day, preferably starting at the same time. Then commit to meeting your productivity goals in that timeframe.
• 13. Increase your daily search hours. Not searching every day? It’s the habit and process that bring results; even 30 minutes will matter if it’s daily.
• 14. Set an end date for the search. This can feel impossible, but is it? Choose a date 10-15 weeks from now — no more — and work backwards to set daily production goals. As you approach the last five weeks, re-evaluate to determine what will be needed to meet the deadline.
• 15. Make a radical change in your process. If you’ve sent dozens of applications with no results, shift to direct in-person contact. If you’ve been getting interviews but no offers, find an interview coach. Don’t do the same things if they’re clearly not working.
• 16. Make a radical change in your goal. Target small companies instead of the bigs; get a certificate and change fields; reconsider relocation — you may need a new direction altogether to shake things up.
• 17. Take the job you swore you wouldn’t. Whether that’s night shift, a past career you didn’t enjoy, or the job your uncle keeps offering, consider this: Would it really be worse than draining all your savings first and ending up there anyway?
There’s some tough love in these tips, but this is a tough process in what’s looking to be toughening times. You can do this; it’s just a matter of replacing flailing with focus.
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Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.
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