Job Hunting? These 5 Tips Keep You Winning!

(Read time 4 min 38 sec)

Before I jump into this week’s topic, I wanted to give a quick shoutout to my friend Colton Sakomoto, who just launched his newsletter Office Party. It’s a refreshingly fun take on the sometimes dark and boring world of HR and career news. Oh and did I say memes? Lots and lots of memes. Subscribe here to join the party!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

There’s nothing better than being in the zone in your job hunt.

You know what I’m talking about.

Your networking outreach is getting responses.

Your calendar is full of meetings with interesting people.

An old coworker connected you with a hiring manager at a target company.

Recruiters seem to start reaching out to you out of nowhere.

You’re in multiple interview processes that feel almost effortless.

The recruiter says, “The team is super excited about meeting you next week. They have been looking for someone with your exact background.”

Everything is going your way.

You have loads of momentum.

What happens next can make or break your job hunt.

It can be the difference between landing a role that will accelerate your career.

OR

Crashing and burning, losing all momentum, and having to start over.

So how do you keep that momentum when it feels like everything is going your way?

Here are 5 things to do to keep that fire lit, that train rolling, and those offers coming in!

1 - Cut Out Alcohol

I can hear you from here saying, “Ok Grandpa!” but hear me out.

Alcohol is one of the biggest momentum killers I have ever come across.

Thursday’s momentum turns into Friday’s celebration.

Friday’s celebration turns into Saturday’s continuation.

Saturday’s continuation turns into Sunday’s hangxiety.

Sunday’s hangxiety turns into Monday’s recovery.

Monday’s recovery bleeds into Tuesday’s catch-up.

You’re not back to operating at full strength until Wednesday.

Just in time for Thursday’s momentum to pick back up and the cycle to repeat.

Looking back at your calendar, you’ll see half-assed projects and interview preparation that deserved more time.

If you don’t land an opportunity, you’ll beat yourself up over it.

So break that cycle and cut out alcohol entirely.

I’m not saying never to drink again.

I am saying that you’ll be far sharper mentally, feel better physically, and your momentum will stay rolling.

Celebrate when you land the job, not before.

For the house party: Athletic Brewing makes delicious non-alcoholic IPA’s.

For those looking for more help cutting back or stopping entirely: Alan Carr’s Quit Drinking Without Willpower is great.

2 - Keep A Journal

During times of change, like a job hunt, one of my favorite exercises to perform is to reflect on times right before a major positive event happened in my life.

When I was looking for a job after Uber, I returned to my journals from my Uber job hunt.

I used my journal to create the UpEmployment Accelerator by breaking down what had worked for me into a step-by-step process.

Your journaling doesn’t have to be complex, but it can help you:

• Keep track of the most important tasks to complete

• Think through issues you’re struggling with

• Identify trends that put you at your best

So adopt this simple process.

Each day on a piece of paper write:

• The 3 most important things to complete today

• A description of your day and anything on your mind, including

  • Prior day’s bedtime

  • Wake up time

  • Diet

  • Exercise

  • Job hunt activities

  • Non-job hunt activities

At the end of the week, do a reflection.

Identify the days you felt your best, what led to that feeling, and do everything possible to build a routine so your best day is every day.

Start journaling on your computer: Use this template and start your daily journal today.

Handwriting more your thing? The 5 Minute Journal, The Better Life Journal, and morning pages in a Moleskine Notebook are other great options.

3 - Avoid Energy Vampires

They’re all around.

Hiding in plain sight.

You don’t even notice, but they’re sucking the life out of you.

Energy Vampires!

Stay in the zone and keep that momentum as long as possible by removing anyone who can kill your current vibe.

Think:

• Judging parents

• Friends you compare yourself to

• Generally negative people

• Your uncle who wants to tell you about society crumbling

You may not see them as the pale blood-sucking monsters of the movies but monitor your energy level after your interactions.

If energy is lower, not higher - avoid them at all costs.

Need some help spotting the energy vampires in your life? Here’s a 101 on who they are, how to spot them, and how to stop them.

4 - Guard Your Calendar

Saying “Yes” is easy.

But before you say that three-letter word that slips right out like butter on a hot pan, remember one thing.

By saying “Yes” to one thing, you’re saying “No” to something else.

Elite job hunting is all about priorities and focusing on the highest-leverage activities.

So it’s ok to say “Yes” to a mid-morning coffee with a friend.

Just know that you’re saying “No” to three hours of deep work creating a resource for a target company.

Your time is your most precious asset.

It’s the only thing we can’t create more of.

Guard it accordingly.

How to guard your time: In a prior newsletter I wrote about the power of calendar blocks. Use these as reminders of what’s most important.

5 - Exercise, Eat Healthy, and Get Lots of Sleep

“Alright,” you say, “We’ve heard this a million times.”

Sure you have.

And you know why?

Because it’s true.

If you give me two interviewers, I bet you I can pick out the person that is exercising every day, eating healthy, and getting lots of sleep.

Those three things lead to confidence, and higher confidence wins the job.

If I look back to the times when I was the most confident, had the highest output, and created the most significant change in my life, a healthy lifestyle was present.

I take stock whenever I get overwhelmed, anxious, and burnt out.

100% of the time, my exercise, healthy diet, and sleep have taken a backseat.

That thing you want to work on until 1 AM will be there if you get to bed at 9:30 PM and wake up at 5:00 AM.

Skip a workout and you may knock out one extra task.

Skip two workouts and you just created a new unhealthy habit.

Create habits around these areas to make them easy to follow:

• Join an exercise accountability group

• Pre-make your meals on Sunday in bulk (My wife has been doing this for our family recently, and it has been a game changer.)

• Set a bedtime event on your calendar and leave your phone in another room when you finish working for the day.

Want some tips on healthy habits? Stanford University Professor and Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has practical information backed by science.

📈78 Companies Who Raised & Are Hiring Now

We’re 8 days into July and…

• 12 companies have raised over $241 million

• 5 are actively hiring

  • One company is making trash into renewable fuel

  • One company is offering landlord insurance to rental property owners

  • One company has created an automated fulfillment and store operations solution for online stores.

  • Oh… and one AI company on a mission to build the next generation of creativity tools squeaked in a $141 million Series C at the end of June!

Access data for all companies who raised money in June and July and all positions they’re hiring for HERE.

👆👆👆 A REMINDER OF HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT👆👆👆

Just because there aren’t jobs posted yet doesn’t mean the company isn’t looking to hire soon. Post-fundraise is a perfect opportunity to reach out to team members, congratulate them, start building relationships, and offer value you can provide.

There you have it, five ways to keep your momentum rolling when you’re riding high in your job hunt.

1. Avoid alcohol

2. Keep a journal

3. Avoid energy vampires

4. Guard your calendar

5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Adopt these, so I can hear you yelling...

But until then… let’s become career champions together 🏆

Kyle

Share UpEmployment

Don’t job hunt alone! Share this newsletter with anyone you know that is currently looking for that next career-accelerating opportunity so you can win together.

Forward them this email or just copy and paste this link: https://upemployment.beehiiv.com/subscribe

See you again next week!