The Job-Hunting Buddy System: The Secret to Every Job Search

Job hunting is a stressful experience, especially when you badly need a job. Many do it alone, which adds to the pressures of the job search. Adopting the buddy system is a great way to lessen the stresses that come with a job hunt.

This article will discuss the benefits of a buddy system in your job search and your shared responsibilities.

Why You Need Buddy System for Your Job Search

The buddy system in a job search is like scuba diving. Divers never go alone and need someone to bail them out when they get in trouble. Likewise, your buddy will save you when you need help on a job hunt.

Below are a few more reasons you need a partner while job hunting.

1. Safety

   A job hunt may be dangerous to your emotions due to the risks of rejection or disappointment and countless goal changes. These may be too much for one person. The buddy system helps you stay emotionally safe and keep your mindset in check, so you don't think negatively.

2. Shared Experience

   The buddy system alleviates the loneliness of a job hunt. Since your buddy is also looking for a job, you empathize with each other, making the job hunt more manageable.

3. Support

   Looking for a job requires patience and measured optimism. The buddy system can keep you grounded when you're being too unrealistic or pull you up when you feel low.

4. Accountability

   Everyone can always expect burnout in a job search. It makes looking for opportunities more difficult. Your job search buddy can act as your accountability partner to help you stay consistent on your goals.

5. Encouragement

   Consecutive rejections are discouraging. Opportunities that are too good to be true can cause self-doubt. A co-conspirator on a job search encourages you to persevere and take the leap you're too afraid to take.

6. Motivation

   Your partner can also be a motivational coach to help you through the struggles. You can also serve as role models for each other to stay inspired and motivated.

What are the Tasks of a Job-Hunting Buddy?

The advantages of a buddy system go both ways-they support you while you support them. Below are the ways you can help each other.

• Willingness to hear honest feedback

  Not many may be willing to tell you what you are doing wrong, but your buddy will. Since job hunting buddies are typically acquaintances, they are more open to providing you with the painful honesty you need to improve your work.

• Willingness to share honest feedback

  You need to be willingly honest with your buddy, too. Avoid holding back on giving your feedback since they deserve your honesty. You don't have to worry about tarnishing your relationship since your buddy is typically someone you aren't close with.

• Daily check-ins

  One of the core tasks of a job-hunting buddy is to keep each other accountable. Checking in on each other daily ensures that you are both working towards your goals.

• Weekly plan review

  Your job search plan today may not be the plan you had before. Reviewing each other's plans weekly helps you plan how to find more job opportunities for the both of you.

• Shared metrics

  You can share the same metrics despite not applying for the same positions. Tracking metrics with your buddy is a great way to know which area of your efforts should improve.

Don't Make the Job Search Even Harder

A job search is hard, and doing it alone makes it even harder. The buddy system helps you overcome the emotional and mental struggles common to a job hunt.

Reaching out to someone who may reject you will take courage that you need to discover over and over. But it will be worth it in the end. Once you have created your buddy system, visit Career.com to start making your job search easier.