There’s no doubt about it; looking for a new job can be difficult and demoralizing. This is even truer when you keep getting rejected, or you feel like you mess up a job interview. But despairing about the situation and allowing yourself to get down about it is certainly not the answer.

Here are some ways to keep yourself motivated when times are tough.

Look at the Positive Side of Everything

If you ask me, there is a positive side to everything, and it’s important to remember this when job hunting. You might not have got a particular job, but you did gain some experience. You should build on that experience and make sure that you do even better next time you go for an interview. You should ask yourself what you did well and what you did badly after you come out of a job interview. If you are sure that you spoke clearly and confidently, you should do this the same next time. But you might learn that the research you did on the company was not as extensive as it could have been. Many employers like to know that you have taken an interest in the business before showing up. And that’s something you can easily improve on next time.

Take Inspiration from Others

You should also try to take inspiration from other people out there. Maybe you have friends who have just landed the job of their dreams. Instead of being envious of them and wishing it would happen to you, you should talk to them and find out what they did right. They might be able to give you some tips and advice that will help you to do the same as what they did.

And there are plenty of other people out there who can provide you with inspiration. Maybe you just want to emulate one person’s’ career in particular. Or maybe you could read some motivational books from people who have been there and done it before. For example, the industry leading book publisher Motivational Press offers this kind of stuff, as do others.

Focus on Your Long-Term Goals

Everyone has long-term career goals. And focusing on those goals can help you a lot when you are hunting for a job. There is no sense in getting down about a small setback when you have your eyes on a much higher prize. Everyone gets rejected, and everyone experiences setbacks. But the very best people can remain focused on the very reason that they are pushing forward in the first place. For example, maybe you want to manage a company one day.

This is not a goal that can be trashed just because you failed to get one job. Maybe it just wasn’t the right fit for you. Instead, you should do some more research and find businesses that have the best career opportunities. You can then focus on winning them over with your CV next time they are looking for an employee to fill a role.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it contains affiliate links.