12 Ways on How to Keep Yourself Busy When Job Searching

Feeling lost after graduation? 

Ready to take your next big step but struggling to stay motivated and productive? 

Whether you are waiting for a job offer, taking a gap year, or navigating newfound downtime, you are not alone.

It’s normal to feel stuck, anxious, and unmotivated during this transition. But this is actually the perfect time to take charge of your life and turn your uncertainty into an opportunity for growth and self-discovery!

Here is your productive girl guide with 12 exciting and empowering ways on how to keep yourself busy while setting yourself up for future success.

Continue Learning

Do you feel like your marketing education didn’t fully cover everything you wanted to learn? Maybe there are areas you didn’t get to explore in-depth, or you feel like you need more experience to feel confident for the job you are applying to?

If you are currently feeling underqualified or feel like you lack marketing experience, nearly 50% of graduates feel this way, too. 

But don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to fill in the gaps in your education. Here are a few to ease your worries:

• Enroll in a digital marketing accelerator program (Sky Society)
• Get certifications that are credible and recognized in the industry like HubSpot, Semrush, Hootsuite, Google Skillshop, etc.
• Attend professional workshops to gain hands-on experience and build connections
• Write blog posts to improve your copywriting skills
• Freelance your skills to small businesses, non-profits, or marketing agencies
• Work in a contractor position to build connections and showcase your skills, with the potential for it to turn into a full-time position
• Complete mock projects that showcase your creativity and analytical abilities
   

Not only will this keep you busy, but it will also show employers that you are committed to improving and growing your skills. Just because college is over doesn’t mean the learning stops.

Do research on the skills you need in the industry you are wanting to break into and always ask questions.

Remember, knowledge is power!

Build Your Personal Brand

 
During college, your focus was on passing class, studying to get good grades, and juggling work. For these reasons, you might not have had time to figure out who you are beyond your student identity and that’s okay!

Now that you have more free time, it’s the perfect opportunity for self-reflection, identifying your goals, and deciding what kind of life and career align with the personal brand you want to build.

Having a growth mindset and applying your personal brand to all aspects of life will help you develop a clear vision for your future self and career.

Start by asking yourself these key questions:

• What is my backstory?
• What is my “why”? (As Simon Sinek has said, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”)
• What am I passionate about?
• What do I want others to say about me when I’m not in the room?
• What do I want to be known for?
• What value can I give others?
• What are my unique skills and strengths?
• What do I stand for?
  
  

Let’s put it this way. Think of your personal brand as your very own TV show on Netflix. 

Have you ever watched a show that was all over the place without a consistent plot? It can be confusing and hard to follow, right? So much so that you lose interest and move onto the next.

The same goes for your personal brand - if you lack consistency, it will be hard for others to remember you and can become overwhelming for people who want to follow your journey but can’t seem to connect with it.

Your social media content, resume, portfolio, interviews, and even networking interactions will play as episodes of your show. If your storyline is easy to follow and unique to you, you can build a community of people that look forward to what comes next!

Once you have your personal brand figured out, you will be able to market yourself more effectively, remain memorable, and stand out from the competition, both professionally and personally.

Level Up Your LinkedIn Game

LinkedIn is an extremely powerful tool, both during and after graduation, for building your professional network and opening doors to career opportunities. 

Posting for the first time can be scary, but remember to start out small. Even the smallest actions can be impactful when approached with the right mindset.

If you are someone still in the early stages of your LinkedIn grind, this is how you can gradually build your confidence every day toward your very first post:

• Begin by reacting to different people’s posts, whether it’s liking, celebrating, or reposting their content. 
• Then work your way up to leaving supportive comments on people’s posts (Tip: Try leaving questions to deepen the conversation!)
• Take it a step further to create “announcement” posts like a new job or internship, a new certification, graduation, etc.
• Once you are ready, start posting content with pictures, videos, and own experiences and opinions!
  
  

All of this can boost your visibility, grow your network, and positively impact your personal brand. You just need to know how to effectively use the platform.

Make sure that your profile is fully optimized and tells your own unique story. From the aesthetics of your page to the actual content you post, you want it all to reflect your personality and journey.

To stand out in the competitive job market, ensure that every section of your profile is complete and up-to-date:

• Give your resume a refresh
• Get an updated professional headshot
• Create a compelling headline that associates with your brand
• Make your ‘About’ section memorable and personalized to your journey
• Optimize your ‘Skills’ section to your industry
• Showcase your work in the ‘Projects’ section
• Add your certifications to the ‘Licenses and Certifications’ section
• Ask previous employers, coworkers, or professors to add a recommendation to your profile
• Engage with other posts and show support to your connections
• Share your experiences and perspectives

With the right approach, LinkedIn doesn’t have to be a scary place! 

To all the marketing girlies, let’s all inspire each other and take the necessary steps toward achieving our career goals!

Create Industry Connections

 
If there is a company you really want to work for or a specific job title you want to pursue, LinkedIn is the perfect place to make connections and learn directly from others who are in those roles.

If you are afraid to ask for an informational interview or coffee chat, take a step back and remind yourself why you are doing it. This can help ease your anxiety.

Remember to ALWAYS personalize your connection requests and make the interaction authentic. These professionals have extremely busy schedules and most likely get flooded with messages, so you want to stand out while remaining respectful to their schedule.

Make sure you do research on who they are. Do you have something in common with them like having graduated from the same college? Maybe there’s a specific project they’ve done that you admire and want to hear all about.

All this to say that you should avoid sending mass connection requests with the sole intent of employment.

People can tell when you’ve just skimmed through their profile and are sending an AI-generated message. Don’t ever do this!

Go into each conversation with intention, thoughtfulness, genuine curiosity, authenticity, and a willingness to learn. 

Ask thoughtful, tailored questions about their career path and any advice they might have for someone in your position. Clearly express what you’d like to learn so they can understand how to best support you.

At the end, thank them for their time and express your appreciation with a thoughtful note. Don’t forget to include something you learned from your conversation with them that shows that you value their input.

Ultimately, these connections are about building meaningful relationships. 

Although this person may start out as someone you have never talked to before, they can end up as mentors that empower you to become the marketing professional you aspire to be.

Connect with Other Marketing Girlies

Out of all the ways on this list, this may be one of the best things you can do in your post-grad life! 

Networking during college can be extremely tough, especially if you are shy or introverted, have work right after class, or are a commuter who isn’t always on campus.

Now that you’re outside of college, you may be thinking that it’ll be even harder to network with people, but actually, it can be easier with the power of virtual networking!

Online communities and following women-led marketing accounts are game-changers.

By immersing yourself into the marketing world by joining LinkedIn groups or Instagram communities with like-minded women, you get to connect with people who are facing similar challenges and are striving toward similar goals. 

Having this sense of community can do wonders for your motivation and provide you with so many resources that you didn’t have before. Here are a few women-in-marketing groups and companies I recommend following:

• Sky Society
• Social Girls Being Social
• Pretty Little Marketer (Paid membership)
• Girls in Marketing (Paid membership)
• Grad Girl Marketing
  
  

Within these communities, you’ll discover advice from different women in the industry, job boards, career coaching, marketing events, and so much more! Most importantly, you’ll find support in an empowering and uplifting environment.

Ever feel nervous to post on LinkedIn because you think no one will engage? Once you build a community and show support to others, they’ll show it right back.

Make a goal for yourself to join at least 2 of these spaces and connect with 5 marketing girlies in them.

You never know when a new connection could lead to valuable insights, personal growth, or lasting friendships that will inspire you to keep pushing toward your dream career!

Clean Your Space

 

Congratulations! You finished your finals! These exams likely caused you a lot of stress and anxiety, meaning your room and workspace got messy.

Take a look around. Are there piles of clothes on the floor? Are printed PowerPoint slides and notes scattered across your desk? Empty water bottles taking over your nightstand? 

If you answered yes to all, that is totally normal! Finals can be intense and finding time to clean everything may seem out of reach during that very stressful moment.

Remember, cluttered space = cluttered mind. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by stressors happening in your life, so whether this cleaning project of yours takes a day or several days, progress is progress.

Watching different Youtube videos of other girlies cleaning their room is a great way to stay motivated if you are looking for ways on how to keep yourself busy.

Put on comfy clothes, get your cleaning supplies, turn on some good music, and boost your mood by taking unneeded stress out of your life - AKA give your cluttered room some TLC.

Start Posting on Social Media

Bestie, this is your sign to start posting on social media.

Become a UGC creator or start creating content that showcases your personal brand! 

Whether you’re passionate about beauty, lifestyle, or marketing, posting on social media could be what you are missing on how to keep yourself busy in your post-grad life.

Not only will you be able to use these videos in your marketing portfolio, but you will get hands-on experience utilizing different platforms to prepare you for your first marketing job.

This is your time to explore different filming techniques, analyze your analytics to understand what performed well and what didn’t, and experiment with your picture and video editing skills!

KEY TIP: Remember personal branding? Keep this in mind when creating your content. What message do you want to show to others and what do you want to be known for?

Are you a creative storyteller? Do you like making relatable content that creates a safe space for others? Do you have expert advice you want to share and inspire with?

Whichever path you decide to take, always stay authentic and build your very own niche community of people who resonate with your content.

Providing value is key!

There’s no more waiting for the “perfect” moment to start posting on social media because everyday you wait is a missed opportunity. The time to start is now!

Get creative, have fun with it, and let your personality shine through. Whether it’s creating TikToks, Instagram Reels, or long-form YouTube videos, you’ll be building your portfolio and developing valuable marketing skills.

Remember, every post is a chance to learn and improve. Stop caring what others think and don’t let anyone make you feel embarrassed because those people are not your true friends! 

What are you waiting for? Don’t let that video keep sitting in your drafts, post it!

Explore New Hobbies

 
If you are stuck going back and forth on what to do and how to keep yourself busy, trying new hobbies is the best place to start.

After graduation, some may find themselves missing the sense of routine that college provided and struggle to stay motivated.

If this is currently you, try to give yourself something to do every day. This can revitalize your excitement and provide the structure you need to keep moving forward on your journey.

The key is keeping yourself in a productive, positive, and healthy mindset. 

Here are some hobbies you can start in your productive girl era:

• Start crocheting to create cute pieces for yourself, friends, or loved ones.
• Learn how to bake cute pastries
• Try out cooking and experiment with new dinner recipes
• Tap into your creative side by learning photography, painting, drawing, pottery, graphic design, or adult coloring books (buying cute stationery is an extra motivator!)
• Make your own charm bracelets or necklaces with supplies from Hobby Lobby or Michaels
• Capture memories through scrapbooking
• Learn a new language to enhance your future travel experiences
• Read books with genres that will have you hooked from start to finish
• Listen to podcasts on topics that you find interesting
• Create beautiful floral arrangements to decorate your home with
  
  

Hobbies are such a great way to reinvent yourself, create new friendships, have something to talk about, and elevate your daily life.

Find yourself constantly scrolling and relying on screen-time for entertainment? If you start adding new hobbies into your life, you’ll find yourself not needing to anymore!

What hot girl hobby are you most interested in trying?
 

Take the Plans out of the Group Chat

 
For the girlies taking a gap year, this is for you! 

Book that flight, take the weekend trip, go to that concert you’ve been dreaming about. DO IT! 

Getting out of the house and creating new memories will boost your mental health, and you will be so happy you did it (don’t forget to take cute pictures!).

Creating memories doesn’t mean you have to go far either. You can create memories at local spots or nearby cities with friends or family. 

Break out of your normal routine and experience the new things in life. Take the time to explore, have fun, and enjoy time around people that make you happy.

You deserve to treat yourself after all of your hard work!

Find the Workout That’s Right for You

 
Hot girl walks, pilates, yoga, hitting the gym, dancing. There’s a reason why all the girlies are doing them!

These are all fun ways to stay active while prioritizing physical well-being. 

Incorporating at least one of these exercises into your routine will have you glowing, confident, energized, with improved stamina, reduced stress, and a boost in endorphins. 

Your health is the foundation for everything you do. 

Finding an activity that you actually enjoy makes exercise feel less like a chore and more like self-care, overall making it easier to stay consistent.

If you’re feeling nervous about going to the gym for the first time or are anxious about joining a yoga class, remember - everyone starts somewhere.

It’s never too late to start something new. 

Once you see your progress, you’ll be more motivated to keep going and end up with a healthier mindset and lifestyle!

Build a Work Capsule Wardrobe

 
Now, it is very important to learn how to manage your money and watch your spending habits after graduation. But hear me out. This is girl math!

Investing in yourself by buying staple pieces means you will save more time in the mornings and increase your confidence when you walk into your marketing job every day.

No more staring into your closet for 20 minutes not knowing what to wear!

Your shopping trip is justified because this is no ordinary retail shopping. These are INVESTMENT pieces - meaning they will last you a long time!

The worst thing you can do when thinking about how to keep yourself busy is impulsive spending. You must stay strong. Remember, if you don’t need it, DON’T buy it!

Instead, focus on building a work capsule wardrobe with versatile, high-quality pieces that can be worn in multiple ways and for various occasions.

Think of timeless blazers, tailored trousers, classic button-downs, non-see-through full-length tops, and a pair of comfy yet reliable and stylish shoes. 

Quality over quantity will be the mindset to have when curating your dream work wardrobe. Think about what your dream job requires and envision how you want to bring that to life.

Remember that picture of the girl boss on your vision board from earlier this year? It’s time to become her!

Prioritize Self-Care

 
The most important part when finding ways on how to keep yourself busy after graduation is to ensure you’re well-rested with a good mental state.

Did you know that women need more sleep due to worse quality sleep and sleep disruptions? If you’re one of those people getting less than 7 hours of sleep daily, it’s time to prioritize your rest and self-care!

Prioritizing self-care means knowing when to slow down and taking reset days so you can come back stronger and more empowered the next day.

Take the time to recharge by giving your body the sleep it needs, enjoy slower mornings, live in the moment, appreciate the small things in life, and don’t feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing.

When you wake up, avoid immediately looking at your phone.

Instead, take a deep breath, do some stretches, journal for 5 minutes, lay with your dog or cat, and focus on the things that bring you fulfillment and peace of mind.

If you are able to, take advantage of your less hectic schedule by going to those doctors appointments, getting your yearly eye check up, scheduling your dental cleaning, and making time for therapy.

Self-care isn’t selfish. This is an essential part of life that will help you succeed in other areas of your life, such as your job, relationships, and personal growth. 

Embrace this downtime as an opportunity to work on improving your mental health so that you’re ready for new challenges and opportunities when they present themselves.

At the end of the day, your dream career is coming and you must trust the timing of your journey. It’s easy to become impatient and unmotivated after graduation but don’t let this transitional period hold you back.

Remind yourself that every small step you are taking right now is bringing you closer to your dream career.

This is your moment to invest in yourself, build confidence, explore new passions, and prepare for the exciting journey ahead - one productive day at a time!

✍️ Written by Stephanie Arellano