Hunting for your next job in pharma can be draining and it can sometimes prove difficult to stay motivated.  Unemployment can be a miserable time and no doubt sometimes the only thing you will want to do is curl up in a ball and escape reality. Though it may be hard to pick yourself up and dust yourself off, you can do it.

So what are the best ways to keep motivated? Well it’s not easy.

Last week CK Clinical conducted a poll on Linkedin to find out just this. Here is a list of the 15 most popular tips:

- Create a schedule- Construct a plan for each day – once you have completed a task tick it off, this will make you feel like you are a step closer to finding that pharmaceutical job.

- Set yourself goals for the week – For example:

• No. of CV’s you send out
• The amount of networking you do
• No. of interviews
• No. of follow ups you make.

- Keep your Linkedin profile up to date and attractive to recruiters – Make sure you include lots of keywords; this will increase your chances of being found.

- Try volunteering for an organization within the pharmaceutical industry – This is a good way to get noticed, to keep your skills current and to keep connected with professionals in the industry.

- Make sure you get out and see real faces- This will lift your mood!

- Vary your job search – Spend a certain amount of time in the day job hunting on the internet, some on networking etc.

- Spend an hour a day away from your job search – Exercise, go out with friends, spend time with your family. Doing things like this can take your mind off your worries.

- Keep learning– being unemployed is a great time to perfect your skills.

- Avoid negative people who are going to bring you down- If they start to sound negative change the subject. It’s your career not there’s and you do what YOU need to do.

- Avoid applying for roles that are CLEARLY not suitable- There’s nothing wrong with pushing yourself to the next level but in some cases an unrealistic application like a recent Graduate applying for a Clinical Director role is really setting yourself up for a punishment you don’t need.

- Keep active- The more applications you put forward (make sure they are quality applications and appropriate) the more likely you are of getting a job. Be persistent.

- Build a rapport with a recruiter – Candidates that have gone the extra mile to build relationships with their recruiters will inevitably receive more 1 to 1 coaching and support.

- Stay focused - If you’re looking for another pharmaceutical job while you are working it is important that you stay focused on the reasons you want to leave.

- Savour your past successes – Remember your past successes, this will increase your self belief and confidence.

- Don’t take rejection personally – Recruiters and hiring managers will usually have a very specific picture in their minds about exactly what kind of person they want to take on.  Therefore, it is often something very small that stops you from being short listed. Always try to get feedback regarding why you were unsuccessful and use this to improve on your areas of weakness.

Found this advice helpful? Please see below for further job hunting resources from CK Clinical:

• 10 Ways to Banish Interview Nerves
• 25 Interview Mistakes
• Clinical Research Job Interview Questions
• Competency-based Interview Tips
• Coping with Redundancy
• CV Writing Tips
• Data Management Interview Questions
• Dress to Impress at Your Interview
• How to Handle a Bad Interviewer
• How to Write a Cover Letter
• Interview Preparation
• Interview Tips
• Linkedin Profile Tips
• Online Job Hunting Mistakes
• Questions You Should Ask Your Interviewer
• Regulatory Affairs Interview Questions
• RSS Feeds and Job Hunting
• Social Media Job Hunting Tips
• Telephone Interview Tips
• The Best CV Buzzwords
• Using Recruitment Agencies