We keep hearing that the economy is improving and that more jobs are being added each month. But job hunting is still difficult. There are many people competing for each job and that means that more often than not, we aren’t hired. This often triggers anxiety, feelings of self-doubt, worthlessness, hopelessness. In order to persevere, we need to keep plugging away, applying for job after job and somehow remain at least somewhat optimistic.

For instance, my daughter was a child actress. She went on scores of auditions and didn’t always get the job. Conventional wisdom said that SUCCESSFUL actors (not stars) went on 60-100 auditions for each job they booked. Imagine the rejection! My daughter learned VERY quickly that only ONE person out of the hundreds who auditioned would get the job. If she got a callback, the crowd was now limited to about a dozen. A second callback reduced it further to 4 or 5. Eventually, it usually came down to two or three little girls. If she got a callback or certainly a second callback, she realized that she could have gotten the part. After that, final decisions were made based on all sorts of things that were totally beyond her control and had NOTHING to do with talent. She knew that she did a good job and was in the running. It was a matter of waiting for the next audition and knowing that sooner or later the stars would align in her favor. And they did! In the meantime, she had fun “acting” at the auditions and meeting new people.

The same thing holds true for job interviews. Especially these days. If you get a call for an interview after sending in your resume online, knowing that the hiring company is receiving hundreds if not thousands of applicants, you are doing something right and are hirable. If you are asked for a second interview, you have impressed them and they are seriously considering you for the job. They would NOT be wasting their time otherwise. If you don’t get the job, it’s a disappointment, but only ONE person can sit in that office chair. It is your cue to keep looking, keep putting your resume out there, and keep investigating whether you need to fine-tune your presentation of yourself, your skills and your professionalism. And above all, its important to look at each interview as another opportunity to meet someone new, to learn something, to practice your interviewing skills, to improve your odds. Remember, it’s not personal.

It isn’t easy, it can get you down. Push yourself to answer just one more ad, make one more call. Talk to people who are on your side, ask for honest feedback. Cultivate a group of cheerleaders who will remind you of your wonderful skills and qualities when it is hard for you to remember them. Take time to have fun and enjoy life – it isn’t all about work.

And, above all, KEEP BREATHING. Five minutes of deep breathing and meditation will help you relax, stay calm and refocus.