It doesn’t take a genius to understand that the longer you have to look for a job the more difficult it is to keep motivated. If you have been searching for a new opening for a while, don’t get too despondent as it is very often external factors such as a lack of buoyancy in your industry that are to blame. The trick is to make sure you do everything possible to make yourself employable. In doing this you will keep active and this action will breed motivation.
These advice pages should tell you everything you need to know about searching for a job; but if you are feeling a little dispirited, here is a run-down of everything you should be doing to give yourself the best chance of finding employment.
Make a list of the skills and experience your industry/position requires. Do you possess everything on your list? If not, work out ways of gaining the skills you need, perhaps you need to enrol in an evening class or take up a voluntary position. Learning is probably the best way to stay motivated.
With learning in mind, try to view every application form and interview as a formal training exercise. If you are unsuccessful always ask for feedback, it is your right.
Network. Keep in touch with old contacts and try to make new ones. Staying ‘in the loop’ will boost your motivation levels as well as keeping you on top of recent developments on your industry. For more advice on how to build a network of contacts, please look at the relevant page in the "Manage Your Career" section of this site.
Keep on searching for jobs! It sounds obvious but it helps to set aside a period of each day to job hunting. Once you are in a routine you will find that you are applying to more new positions
Remain flexible and open to new possibilities. An opportunity may come up that isn’t exactly what you were looking for, but perhaps it is what you should have been looking for.
Take a break. Don’t forget about your regular pastimes as these will take your mind off the job search for a while. Work hard - play hard is particularly applicable here.
CareerPlayer offer advice on how to stay motivated on a job hunt: