We like to keep things positive here on the JobSage blog, but we’ll be the first to admit that the job search process isn’t always easy. Finding a job can take months and be filled with rejections, ghosting, and setbacks that leave you questioning your career path. 

Sometimes you need an extra dose of inspiration to get you through the next application. And we have just the thing: our favorite motivational quotes for job seekers. 

50 inspirational quotes for job seekers

Grab a pen and a post-it note, and choose your favorite to stick on your desk. 

Quotes about perseverance

Perseverance is all about maintaining determination and resilience despite facing rejections or setbacks. Each application and interview, whether successful or not, is a step forward on the journey to finding the right job. 

1. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
2. “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” – Walter Elliot
3. “The only guarantee for failure is to stop trying.” – John C. Maxwell
4. “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
5. “Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” – Theodore Roosevelt
6. “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding on the 20th.” – Julie Andrews

Quotes about confidence

Confidence can make a significant difference in a job search. Believing in your abilities and presenting yourself with self-assurance can impress potential employers and set you apart from other candidates. 

1. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
2. “With confidence, you have won before you have started.” – Marcus Garvey
3. “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller
4. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
5. “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” – Christian D. Larson
6. “Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” – Peter T. McIntyre
7. “Self-confidence is the memory of success.” – David Storey

Quotes about the growth mindset

A growth mindset involves embracing challenges, learning from feedback, and viewing failures as opportunities for growth. Adopting this way of thinking during your job search can help you turn those lemons into lemonade!

1. “Intelligence is not fixed, but constantly developing.” – Carol Dweck
2. “Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.” – Mark Twain
3. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi
4. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure.” – Colin Powell
5. “The mind is just like a muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.” – Idowu Koyenikan
6. “The expert in anything was once a beginner.” – Helen Hayes
7. “Change is the end result of all true learning.” – Leo Buscaglia
8. “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” – Ken Robinson

Quotes about overcoming failure

Like we mentioned earlier, failure is an inevitable part of any job search. But it doesn’t have to be a setback. Instead, it can be a valuable learning experience that propels you toward future success. 

1. “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
2. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
3. “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
4. “Every failure is a step to success.” – William Whewell
5. “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” – Truman Capote
6. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
7. “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” – James Joyce
8. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy

Quotes on finding passion and purpose

Finding a job that aligns with your passion and purpose can lead to a fulfilling and satisfying career. Pursuing what you love brings energy and dedication to your work, which can be incredibly attractive to employers. 

1. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
2. “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey
3. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
4. “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn
5. “Pursue your passion, and everything else will fall into place. This is your time. Don’t waste it.” – Tony Robbins
6. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
7. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Quotes on adaptability

The job market is constantly evolving, making adaptability a vital skill for jobseekers. Being open to change and willing to adjust your strategies and goals can make you more versatile and resilient in your job search. 

1. “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
2. “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein
3. “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl
4. “Change before you have to.” – Jack Welch
5. “The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings.” – Kakuzo Okakura
6. “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” – Japanese Proverb
7. “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle.” – Bruce Lee
8. “Flexibility in a time of great change is a vital quality of leadership.” – Brian Tracy

Quotes about networking and relationships

Building and maintaining professional relationships is a powerful tool in the job search process. In fact, as many as 80% of job offers come through thanks to networking, according to a Zippia study. Get out there and meeting people in your field can open doors to opportunities and provide you with valuable support and advice. 

1. “Your network is your net worth.” – Porter Gale
2. “The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work.” – Robert Kiyosaki
3. “Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.” – Michele Jennae
4. “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” – Oprah Winfrey
5. “The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own.” – Bob Burg
6. “The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.” – Keith Ferrazzi

Find motivation in your job search

Navigating the job search can be a challenging journey filled with highs and lows. However, by embracing qualities like perseverance, confidence, a growth mindset, and adaptability, you can turn obstacles into opportunities and transform challenges into stepping stones toward your dream job. Passion and purpose will guide you to roles that truly resonate with your interests, while strong networking and relationships will provide the support and connections needed to succeed.

You got this!

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