Being unemployed for long periods of time can understandably have a negative impact on your job outlook. Actively participating in resume blasts without getting so much as an acknowledgement from hiring managers is discouraging. As the process goes on, and you continue to fail during your search for employment, you may develop the unemployment blues.

The unemployment blues is a common condition that haunts job seekers. It’s a condition that plagues job seekers by taking away their hope and optimism, as the idea of finding a job becomes less and less of a possibility. The bad news? Your job search will take a major hit if you attack it with the unemployment blues. However, the good news is, you can battle the blues to regain control of your job search! The first step of doing that is to stay positive. It’s hard to do, but it’s something that must be done if you are going to have any job search success.

Along with having a positive attitude as a job seeker, here are some other ways to battle the blues:

Find motivation

This may sound obvious, but a great way to lose the blues is to stay motivated. We recently posted a motivational video on the GetInterviews Facebook page. The most important quote from the video is “if you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived.” The truth is, failing is a good thing. If you didn’t fail, you would never need to better yourself. Find out what motivates you and leverage it in your job search.

Learn a skill

When you’re unemployed, it’s easy to lose focus. Don’t take your eye off the prize. In fact, stay sharp by teaching yourself a new skill that will help you in your job search. Whether you learn on your own, take an online class or even volunteer at an industry event, you will better yourself by expanding on what you have to offer.

LinkedIn is a helpful social network that will allow you to stay up-to-date on industry news. See what’s going on in your industry, interact with people, learn from the experts and start contributing to the conversation.

Stay fit

Stay fit! If you’re unemployed for long periods of time, consider evaluating your mental and physical health. If you find yourself with a lot of time, join a gym or go for daily jogs. The stress from being unemployed can be taxing on your body. Combat that by doing what you can to stay fit, eat healthy and feel good about yourself. This will help you maintain a positive image.

Consult an expert

If you’re submitting tons of resumes and still aren’t getting any interviews, it may be what you’re presenting to employers. Consider having a resume writing professional take a look at your resume. Experts know how to make your resume stand out and they also have a plethora of experience in the job search field. Contact an expert who can give you a free resume review and go from there. You’ll be surprised with some of the helpful feedback.

Networking and support

Don’t forget, in today’s job world, ‘who you know’ still matters. Networking is extremely powerful, so get out there and meet new people! Volunteering at an industry event will also help you meet new people in the industry. Networking can also help you acquire the support you need to stay positive. One of the worst things you can do when unemployed is become anti-social. Use your support system as a way to remain optimistic about the job search.

Remember: STAY POSITIVE. Don’t let unemployment get you down. Using these tips, you’ll be ready to attack the job search again in no time!