Now that the academic year has finished, it is time to seek career opportunities for life post-university. Having gone through the application process to find a job this academic year, I wanted to share some tips for taking care of your mental health during the application process which can be quite daunting and not the easiest to handle at times.

Aim high with low expectations

Rejections are inevitable during the job hunt, so it can be helpful to lower your expectations of the outcome of the application in advance, so that disappointment is not too great. Obviously, you will still give it your best shot, but I have found it better not to get too hung up on one role, even if it sounds great on paper. It helps to realise that the reality might often be different and there are always other roles out there to apply.

While you should not expect the world from every application sent off, this does not mean that you should instantly discard specific jobs. On the contrary, I would recommend aiming for jobs that you don’t think you can get. You never know whether you might be at the right place at the right time. Applying to jobs out of your reach can feel like a waste of time at times, but it’s worth it.

Realise that it’s a process

No application is a waste of time. One of my main takeaways from applying to jobs for around six months is that it is a process that takes time. With each application, assessment and interview you learn something new and gain confidence. I personally was so much more confident in my interviews in March and April of this year than I was at the start of the academic year in November, when I first got invited to an interview.

Realising that every application is part of a greater process that will eventually lead you to land a role allows you to think more positively of any time invested, no matter whether it leads to an interview or rejection.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

This is the most important piece of advice I have by far. It can be so easy to think that every rejection is your fault, and you might lose your sense of self-worth in the process. However, the job market can be somewhat random at times. You never know from the job description what the recruiter is looking for exactly, so the best thing you can do is give it a try and see if you fit in with the employer.

It is important to take breaks from the job hunt when needed, too. During exam and assessment periods, for instance, it makes sense to just focus on your degree for a couple of weeks, since you do not want to waste the opportunity of doing well in your course either.

If you are currently applying for jobs, I hope some of this advice is helpful in dealing with the job-hunting process and I wish you the best of luck with your applications!