Two of the hardest parts of job-searching are the emotional and mental aspects because it’s common to face a ton of rejection. When this happens, it’s easy to start wondering if you’re good enough and lose motivation. I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve also tried all kinds of methods to cope with the mental and emotional rollercoaster ride that is job-hunting. But I wanted to share my all-time favorite method — reverse bucket lists.
What is a reverse bucket list?
A reverse bucket list is exactly as it sounds. If a bucket list is a list of things you want to do, a reverse bucket list is a list of things you’ve already done. These can be useful during your job search for many reasons (several of which are outlined below) but also because reverse bucket lists can take as little as 5 – 10 minutes.
How will reverse bucket lists help me during my job hunt?
- You can see how much progress you’ve made
- When it comes to job-hunting, success is straight forward — land a job. The only problem is that before you can land a job, you’ll likely face quite a bit of rejection. Constantly facing rejection without a win can make all of the time and effort you put into job-hunting feel like a waste of time. But, with a reverse bucket list, you’ll be able to see all that you’ve accomplished and feel motivated to keep going.
- It creates a reason to STOP playing the unhealthy comparison game
- When you create reverse bucket lists, you’ll see what you can do to improve. This way, rather than comparing yourself to where you think other people are in their life, you can compare yourself to where you were yesterday.
- You gain self-confidence
- Seeing all of the effort and energy you’ve put into your job hunt on a peice of paper helps you see how much of a rockstar you are.
- It creates a learning opportunity
- I tend to get discouraged when I don’t get the results I want but have no idea what I can do to get the results I want. It makes me feel helpless. But, when I look for learning opportunities, it’s like finding a little bit of hope because if you’ve learned something, you’ll know what you can do to improve and possibly get the results you want.
How to create a reverse bucket list for job search motivation
When you look at the below steps, it seems easy because it’s simple to do. But depending on how much of a self-critic you are, it might not be as easy as you think. That’s why I included some pointers to help you out!
- Choose a period of time
- Since this is your first time creating a reverse bucket list, my recommendation is to think back to the beginning of your job search. But the next time you create a reverse bucket list, you might consider reflecting on the period between lists.
- Write down all of your wins
- This can be a tricky step because many people tend to be tought critics on themselves. So here are some examples:
- Got back into job-hunting after taking a much-needed break
- Grew my network
- Learned that I want to work for small companies
- Made it to the first round interview for a job
- Applied to a job I didn’t think I was qualified for
- This can be a tricky step because many people tend to be tought critics on themselves. So here are some examples:
- Treat yourself
- This step is all about celebrating the progress you’ve made. No matter how little progress you think you’ve made. I recommend simply deciding what you’re going to do to treat yourself and moving onto step four before actually treating yourself. This way, you can end on a high note.
- Optimize
- Now that you’ve acknowledged your progress (and decided how you’re going to celebrate), it’s time to decide how you can improve. This way you can continue working toward your goals while taking your learnings into account.
What’s next?
Now that you know how to create a reverse bucket in four steps, I hope you’re feeling more motivated and ready to keep moving forward. If you’re feeling a bit lost in your job hunt, download this FREE Career Roadmap to discover your path to your dream job.