5 Things Running is Teaching Me About the Job Hunt

Finding a job is marathon, not a sprint.

Over the past two months I've found myself trapped in a seemingly endless loop of searching for jobs on LinkedIn, cold messaging potential networking contacts, and looking for a way to make my résumé stand out. Scrolling through job sites all day can drive a person crazy, so I started looking for a way to get moving.

Enter my old foe: running.

What started as a way to get off my couch, turned into a lesson on how to approach success. Here's what I've learned:

1. Take It One Step at a Time

My Penn State public relations classes emphasized always pursuing specific, attainable, relevant, and timely (SMART) goals.

I knew that if I tried to go straight from the couch to running a 5K, I would quit in the first week. Instead, I planned to achieve it in 8 weeks, with each week divided into specific goals. I also promised myself that instead of worrying about speed or looks, I would put in the hard work and focus on progress.

The same can be said for the job search. With the rise of Application Tracking Systems (ATS), applying for jobs can feel like throwing my résumé into a black hole. Social media makes it easy to compare myself to those around me.

By embracing the process and focusing on making each application my best effort, I'm practicing mindfulness. Creating smaller, more manageable goals allows me to celebrate victories at any level and build up to finding the right entry level job.

2. Don't Let Failure Stop You in Your Tracks

Not every day is a good day - on job sites or on a jog.

There are days when I don't meet my goal distance. When I get side stitches or blisters or the sun is too hot and the hills too steep. When I get another rejection letter in my inbox for a position I know I could tackle.

In those moments, grit is important. I could quit. Give up. Save face by doing something easier.

Or I can get up and try again. I can lace up my shoes, update my LinkedIn, and get out and conquer the world. Success lies in determination.

3. You Have to Earn It

No one can run the race for me. Even when I'm running with other people, it all has to come from me. My energy, my body, and my mindset.

There are a lot of people who are helping me look for a job. Family, friends, peers, and alumni have all offered their advice on résumés and networking, but at the end of the day, I'm the one who has to fight for what I want. No one can do this for me. I have to be the one who puts in the effort and embraces opportunities.

4. Breathe

This was (and is) the hardest lesson of all.

My former vocal coach once told me that I carry 'the Bermuda Triangle of tension' between my shoulder blades. Carrying that kind of stress in my upper back hurts my breathing and my stride when I run. On the days when I forget to loosen up, I get tired easily and I don't reach my distance goals. By focusing on my breath, I can let some of that energy go and settle into a comfortable run.

Job hunting carries a different kind of stress, but the same rules apply.

The unknown is scary, but worrying about it doesn't make it easier. Lost sleep doesn't make a hiring manager call me back faster, and anxiety can cripple my confidence. When someone asks me (again!) about where I'm working and then stares at me blankly when I don't have an answer, I breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Keep moving forward.

Be afraid and then do it anyway.

5. The Finish Line is Coming!

A few days ago, I ran 3.5 miles. For some runners, that's a warm-up jog. For me, it's practically a Christmas miracle. On July 4th, I made good on my promise to myself and ran my first race.

Although it was only a 4K, in honor of the holiday, I ran it knowing that I could have conquered it even with another kilometer tacked on. It wasn't fast or particularly graceful, but it was 100% faster than if I had sat on the sidelines like I had in years past.

After all the work, sweat, and soreness, my effort paid off.

I haven't reached the end of my job search yet, but I've set goals and am ready to put in the effort it takes to succed. The finish line might not be visible right now, but I'm doing the work with the knowledge that I will get there eventually.

Until then, I'll focus on putting my best foot forward.