The grad job search: Top tips on staying sane

The dreaded time has come. No, I’m not talking about the clocks going back or being held way through semester one, I’m talking about the search for grad jobs. I (and I’m sure many others) can confidently say that the hunt for a job after uni is nothing short of stressful, especially given the current job climate.

Days spent searching through every inch of the internet, then feeling defeated and succumbed to eating a box of chocolate fingers in one go to make yourself less stress about the world of work. So, from final year to final year, here are your top tips for staying sane during the grad job search.

Eat the chocolate fingers

I mean this both literally and as a metaphor. I have no shame in polishing off that box of chocolate fingers, and you shouldn’t have any shame too. This can be extended to a variety of things: Going to the pub, grabbing a coffee in town, binge-watching a show. You shouldn’t feel guilty, if anything, you should feel proud! In a stressful time, you’re trying your best. So eat the chocolate fingers.

Stay organised

I find that organisation seems to go hand-in-hand with sanity. Trying to think through a cloud of muddled thoughts with 70 tabs open is bound to drive anyone insane – so stay organised. When you find a role you’re thinking about applying to, write down all the details, criteria, and where you’ve demonstrated what they’re looking for in one document. Trust me, it’ll be so much easier to get your head straight when the company asks why you’re applying for their role.

Take breaks

If you feel a burnout coming on, walk away from the desk. I remember teachers during A-levels giving us this tip for revision, and this period is no different. It can be confusing trying to navigate the different websites that various types of roles are posted on, and on occasion, trying to figure out the difference between a grad role and a grad scheme is the last straw. Whether it means taking a couple hours away from the screen or calling it a day, do what feels right for you.

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Don’t become obsessed with checking updates

This goes for both your email inbox and job websites. Rather than checking twice a day, try keeping it to a maximum of twice a week. I know, I know – the job market is constantly updating, but most roles have deadlines of at least a few weeks, giving you plenty of time to keep up with new postings. Just breathe and resist the urge – it’s all about staying calm, cool and consistent.

It’s all about balance

Final year is a lot of work, so cut yourself some slack! Between balancing a dissertation, seminars, pre-lecture reading and possibly a part-time job, it can be hard not to feel overwhelmed with the added stress of grad job hunting on top. If it helps, make a routine – pencil in time to check job updates around your other commitments, making sure you leave enough time to relax.

Stay present

My fellow overthinkers, this one’s for you. When you feel attacked at all angles with, ‘How’s the job hunt going?’ and, ‘So what are you doing after uni?’, naturally, it’ll catapult you into thinking about the future. It can be hard to both think optimistically, picturing yourself in your dream employer’s building, and to think negatively, imagining an inbox of rejection emails.

The simplest way to cure that is to stay present. These possibilities are for future you and future you only to deal with, and if you need to stick a poster on your wall reminding yourself, ‘We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it’, go for it. All you need to do right now is try your best, do things you enjoy and stay present.