Feeling Stuck in the Endless Job Hunt? Here’s some advice.
Job searching can become a time-consuming and daunting process. Sometimes it feels like there’s barely enough time to do your own job then add on hours of looking for a new one and you’re instantly overwhelmed. Below are some of my suggestions when you’re feeling stuck in what seems like the never-ending job hunt.
1. Make sure you’re in the right headspace.
Job searching can be a tough process. First and foremost, make sure you are in the right headspace to tackle a job search. Searching while already in a low mental state will not do you or your next company any good. Sit down and ask yourself why you are looking for a new job. Then determine if this new job will provide the solution. If the answer is no, you should create a list of solution items that you are looking for in your next role. Maybe you discover that the problem is a personal issue and this is something you should work on before considering a new job. If your mind is clouded with other issues, it can be hard to give the job search your undivided attention. Plus if the problems you are currently facing will not be solved by finding a new job, then you are likely to remain unhappy in your next role.
2. Determine what stage of the interviewing process to focus on.
Staying organized will help you easily understand at what point in the interviewing process you are getting stuck. This is the first step in determining a great strategy on how to improve and move forward. Read through the stages below to determine where to focus your efforts.
The application stage: if your application numbers don’t line up with the number of companies you hear back from, it is likely a problem with your resume.
The screening stage: the screening process is the initial call where a recruiter will reach out to put a voice to a resume and to ask you about your work experience. If you are getting calls, but not hearing back from recruiters then you are stuck at the screening stage.
The interviewing stage: the interviewing process is very specific to each company. It is tough to say what might go wrong at the interviewing stage. However, if you are consistently interviewing and not receiving any offers this is the stage you should focus on.
The offer stage: The offer stage can become a problem if your salary is not discussed at the very beginning of the interview process. If you find yourself interviewing and making it to the offer stage only to be shocked by the offer that was made, this is likely the area you need to focus on.
3. Improve for the future.
Hopefully, by now you’ve read through the stages and discovered where you’re getting stuck. Great news because the advice provided below will help you re-strategize for the future. I’ve included some common mistakes at each stage as well as tips on what you can do to improve.
The application stage: The most common mistakes I see here are generic resumes, resumes that are completely unqualified, or resumes that are messy and have many grammatical errors. Triple-check your resume for errors and make sure you cater your resume to the job descriptions you are applying for. Remember it’s not about quantity, but quality. Share your resume with industry professionals for feedback. Consider reaching out to a resume writing expert to get their advice on how to craft your resume for the roles you are looking for. If you are looking to switch industries, consider a resume expert. They have the ability to help you understand the buzzwords that you should be including, how your resume performs compared to other candidates applying to similar jobs, and many other suggestions that will help you improve your approach.
Already tried the steps above? Start taking matters into your own hands. Reach out to recruiters or employees on Linkedin at companies that you are interested in. Be strategic in how you reach out and be sure to send a follow up if you do not hear back within a week. Start attending virtual networking events and making connections. Consider checking any alumni networks or connections through your school that you can leverage for guidance.
The screening stage: Depending on the company, the screening process can vary. My best advice would be to prepare for your calls. I have been on countless calls with candidates who aren’t even aware of the company they applied for or what the company does. Research the company and make sure you have a solid understanding of what they do. Recruiters aren’t expecting candidates to be experts, but you should at least review the company website, articles that were written about the company, and review senior leadership backgrounds. At the end of the day, you could be working for this company in the future. Don’t you want to know what you’re getting into?
Review the job description before the call and share relevant experience that is closely aligned with the job duties of that role. If you are unsure of anything on the job description, be honest with the recruiter. As questions and make sure you understand what is required of the role (including anything that might not be included in the formal job description).
Know your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest and share the weaknesses you have, it’s okay, we are all human here. Candidates struggle with sharing their weaknesses but acknowledging that there are things you have to work on shows self-awareness. Share your weaknesses and be sure to mention that you are working towards a solution.
Know why you are looking for a new role. Many candidates get lost in the process. After a while, the interviewing process can get pretty monotonous. Be sure that you regularly evaluate the reasons why you are searching for a job. If necessary, take a break from the process to re-align.
The interviewing stage: The interviewing process can look very different from company to company. However, the most common mistake is showing up unprepared. Being unprepared will also make you more nervous and you won’t perform at your best. My best advice would be to practice, practice, practice. Do all your research and create a list of interviewing questions. Have a friend or family member ask you those same questions. Select someone who will be honest and provide you with constructive feedback.
Research the interviewers on Linkedin. Look at their backgrounds and see if you have anything in common. You never know what you might find. If you can’t find a connection, that research will still come in handy during an interview. For example, you can ask questions such as, “I saw on Linkedin that you have worked here for X years. That seems like a long time, tell me more about your experience and why you’ve stayed?” or “I saw on Linkedin that you are fairly new to the company, what made you move over to this company and how has your experience been so far?”.
Always ask hiring managers specific questions regarding the role, the team structure, and the training. As a candidate, you should want to know every last detail of what the role entails. Nobody wants any surprises once they start. If possible, try to meet as many people as you can. You want to understand the dynamics of the team and if you would want to work with them or not. Ask about training and make sure you feel confident enough in learning any new skills, tech, etc. with the training provided.
Know why you’re a good fit for the role and know what makes you stand out. When considering this stand-out question, don’t just default to “I’m competitive”, “I’m a hard-worker”, or “I will get the job done” type of responses. Try to share an example of when you went above and beyond for a project. Sharing a project-specific example makes the answer more genuine and hopefully transferrable to the role itself.
Stay away from any questions that are more appropriate to ask a recruiter. For example, salary questions, start dates or vacation policies, benefits, and any sort of next steps. For next steps, it’s okay to re-iterate your excitement to the interviewing team and share that you’re hoping to hear back soon, but any specific next steps are usually left up to the recruiters.
Don’t forget to send a follow-up note thanking all of the interviewers for their time. Be sure to share some top-line bullets of why you would be a good candidate for the position. Feel free to also share your LinkedIn and let them know that regardless of the outcome, you would love to stay connected for the future.
It’s also important to note that you are assessing the company for a fit just as much as they are assessing you. Do your research, make sure your questions are answered, and determine if you could see yourself working there. Regardless of the interviewing outcome, always act with grace as you never know who you might re-encounter in the future.
The offer stage: Where things tend to go wrong at this stage is if this is not discussed during the initial screening. You have every right as a candidate to share your desires for a certain salary. The recruiter should be honest in letting you know if this is in line with the salary band for the role. Be sure to set those expectations from the beginnings so there are no surprises when you finally make it to the offer stage.
4. Come up with a game plan on how to stay motivated.
Rejection after rejection will often lead to a defeated feeling and if left unresolved this can add up and ultimately feel like a reflection of your self-worth. Constantly remind yourself that many factors play into rejection and it is not a reflection on who you are as a person. Instead, be purposeful throughout the process and treat every rejection as a way to improve. I find that it helps to keep everything super organized to be able to track and make sense of where the rejections are happening. Feel free to reach out to recruiters to connect on feedback as well!
Celebrate the small wins. Maybe you made it to the screening stage, but not the interviewing stage. Making it to the screening stage is a huge accomplishment. There are hundreds of other candidates that didn’t make it to this point. Maybe you made it to the interviewing stage but didn’t perform your best. Don’t sweat it, there will be other opportunities and at least you were able to practice your interviewing and networking skills.
If it helps and you have the opportunity, take a break. List out your priorities and revisit the job search in a few days or however long it takes. I can promise you, there will be another role waiting once you are ready to tackle the job search again.
