4 Ways To Stay Positive During Your Job Hunt

You skim your cover letter (for about the 100th time) to ensure that no careless grammatical errors have slipped through the cracks. You even double-check that you didn’t misspell your own name. After finally hitting the “send” button, your email whizzes into cyberspace, leaving you hoping that something will come back from the other side. But then you are left waiting. Here are a few tips to help you stay sane through the process.

1. Don’t marry the idea of a job.

Do you ever read a job description, fall in love with the position, and then picture how perfect your life would be if you had said job? And does all this happen before you’ve even applied for the position? Yeah, we’ve been there. It’s like having a crush on someone who doesn’t know you even exist yet. Excitement is great, but if you get too attached, it will only lead to more disappointment when your love isn’t reciprocated (or, in this case, if the company doesn't feel just as set on you).

2. Embrace the unpredictable.

It’s impossible to know for sure if the latest dream job you’ve just uncovered is as magical as you think it is in real life. You may have no idea if saying “yes” to the company you applied to on a whim will end up being the best career decision you’ve ever made. Keep an open mind until you have all the details about a position and company. You may be surprised by what opportunities end up being the best fit.

3. Don’t expect to receive gushy emails.

Try not to overthink every email interaction you have with an HR representative. “Are they being cold with me?” “Does that mean I screwed up the interview?” “Why aren’t they using any exclamation points in their emails like I am?” Relax and don’t get dejected every time you receive a seemingly curt message. As soon as you get hired and show that you’re an asset to the company, the compliments will start flowing. Until then, stay calm and don’t try to read between the lines of recruiters' emails.

4. Remember that it only takes one.

If you’ve been sending out résumés and responding to job postings but not getting any bites, it’s natural to take the radio silence as a blow to your ego. But remember: You don’t need to hear back from 50 companies to ensure that you’ll get a job. You just need that one response, and if you keep at it, you will get one.

This post originally appeared on Levo League.