How to make a global development job hunt less stressful

Looking for a new job is one of the most stressful things you’ll do in your career, especially in a sector as complex as global development. The uncertainty, constant pressure, and the fear of rejection can take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. But there are ways to ease the strain and take more control of your job search. “The main thing that causes us stress are the things that are out of our control,” said Simone Anzböck, an international coach and development careers expert, during a recent Devex digital careers event in which she offered practical advice to help job seekers maintain their motivation and mental health while seeking their next development role. One strategy she offered involves establishing your circles of control, influence, and concern. The idea is to identify as many factors as you can that might impact your ability to successfully land a role. You can break this process down by focusing on these three categories, which will help you shift your focus and reduce worrisome thoughts. Here’s how to understand and implement this helpful approach to job hunting. Focus on what you can control The first category, what Anzböck referred to as the “Circle of Control,” represents the elements of a job search that you have the most control over and can have the most impact on, and thus, are the things you should be focusing much of your attention on. “These are things like preparation for job interviews, tailoring your applications, your elevator pitch, your Linkedin profile — these are things that [are] directly within your control, and these are things that you can direct your time and energy towards, because they are within your control,” Anzböck said. Consider what you can influence The next category, the “Circle of Influence,” includes additional aspects of a job search that you may not have direct control over, but that you are able to have an impact based on the actions you take. Examples that fall into this circle may include “the way you show up in public,” or your personal brand, Anzböck said, as well as “the way you cultivate your relationships” and how “you write your emails.” In these cases, you may be able to influence the perception others have, “but you can't really directly control it.” Drop what is out of your control The final group, the “Circle of Concern,” is “where the real stresses come in,” Anzböck said, because these are things many job seekers spend a lot of mental energy on, yet they are aspects of a job hunt that cannot be helped. “We can't control who is going to apply to these jobs. We can't control the job market. We can't control how many people we’re up against, whether or not they’re going to take the job down after we’ve interviewed,” she cited as examples. “These are completely actions out of our control … and we shouldn't really spend much time on [them].” Instead, to reduce stress and feeling overwhelmed, “we want to focus on our circle of control [and] a bit on our circle of influence,” she said. Anzböck went on to lead a brainstorming exercise with the audience to help them identify what parts of the job hunt are worth their attention, and provided further guidance on how to make the job search a more exciting and rewarding journey. Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.