Is it Possible for a Job Search to Actually Be Fun?

Let's face it, a job search is kind of a drag for most people. There's a whole host of different unpleasant experiences to deal with along the way, including hard work, rejection, frustration, uncertainty, and disappointment.

But at the same time, a job search usually also brings anticipation, challenge, excitement, and accomplishment. It's a high-stakes game of preparing yourself to a greatly elevated mental state, then quickly finding opportunities and applying every ounce of your strengths to break through obstacles and take advantage of those chances.

In other words, it's like any great sport. And that's exactly how you should think of it. When viewed in that way, a job search is one of the best games on the planet. And the rewards can be better than any other intramural effort you're likely to engage in.

Here's how to find the sport in what most people consider one of the most torturous of tasks.

Focus on the Process
Most people go into a job search fixated on the end results they're seeking. Take a deeper view. Look at it as a process -- a journey. It can be a pleasure. You just have to always remember that if you put in the time and do your best, good things will happen. Then relax and enjoy the trip.

Think of it as Sharpening Yourself No Matter What Happens
Divorce yourself from the results. In any job search, great things happen no matter what the outcome ends up being. You learn more about yourself. You see things that help you understand what you want from life. You get more opportunities to talk to people and understand them better. It's all good, whatever the actual outcome.

Concentrate on the Whole Job Search "Season," Not Just One Event
Setbacks happen in every job search, just like sports teams have losing games and bad days. But champions don't get stuck on them. Focus on the next round (or game or race if you prefer those analogies better). A job search isn't won on the basis of one performance. It's a collection of moments, punctuated by breakthroughs from time to time. Just keep plugging away like any other player on the tour. Your time will come if you're in there giving it your all every day.