Quite frankly, the job market sucks right now. People are finding themselves laid off and furloughed left and right with no end in sight. The job search fatigue is so real, and it’s setting in more and more every day.
Slowly companies are hiring again. Despite these positive signs, though, there are more candidates applying than ever. Rejection emails are never ending, roles are put on hold, and ghosting from recruiters is at an all time high.
You probably feel like throwing in the towel altogether and weathering out the storm. You tell yourself you’ll start searching again when things are back to normal, whenever the heck that might be.
Wayne Gretsky (and Michael Scott) was right, though, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Taking your foot off the gas pedal means other candidates get considered for your ideal job while you miss out.
The key to weathering the job searching storm is to never let up. Apply, apply, apply, even if you’re mentally and physically exhausted and feel like you’ll keel over if you have to write another cover letter. If you must, though, take a week to yourself and get back on the horse.
The work doesn’t just stop after the application, though.
Follow up on your application, even if it’s just with a simple email pushing your resume to the top of the stack and asking for a status update on the role. When I was in high school applying for part-time jobs, my mom pushed this idea so much. Like a typical teenager, I didn’t listen (sorry mom). I thought I’d be perceived as annoying or pushy instead of looking like I could advocate for myself. I might have gotten a few more calls back at least.
Outside of your applications, do some serious networking. Step your LinkedIn game up by adding more connections, interacting with said connections, and asking former co-workers or bosses for potential job leads they’re aware of. If you want to become more of a LinkedIn wiz overall, checkout my two posts on the topic.
Make sure you update your settings to reflect being ‘Open to New Opportunities’. As a quick reminder, here’s how to indicate you’re open to new roles: Go into your ‘Settings & Privacy’ tab on LinkedIn and click on ‘Job Seeking Preferences’ on the side. From there, you’ll be able to select ‘Open to New Opportunities’. This is essentially an easy way for recruiters to know you’re at least interested in new jobs and that it’s a safe bet to reach out to you. If you’re looking for work but prefer a bit of anonymity from your current employer, this is a great option.
Also take advantage of the #OpenToWork feature rolled out by LinkedIn during the pandemic. This provides great visibility to your profile and displays the message to everyone. They also give the option to hide this status from your current employer.
To enable this, go to your profile, select the add profile section button, and click the down arrow next to intro. Click on ‘looking for a new job’, fill out the information, and voila!
You’ll now have a handy dandy green ‘Open to Work’ circle around your profile picture as well as a notification on your profile. Another great option to utilize is the #OpentoWork hashtag when posting a status, which alerts your network that you’re interested in being passed roles.
Don’t forget to include fully remote roles in your search as many companies are switching to this method permanently. While these positions might be more competitive, they could pay off in dividends later on (and save you time during the morning commute).
Freelancing can be a great way to make money while building up your skill set, as well. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are great places to start.
Building up a network of local recruiters with contract opportunities never hurts either. Worst case scenario: you say no to the role they have open at the time. Chances are, they’ll come back and present additional roles when they become available. Don’t be afraid to follow up with them too to push yourself to the top of the stack.
Overall these tools will help you job search effectively, rather than just applying and praying for a response back.
The job market will get there. By using many of these strategies, you’ll find yourself back in the game a lot quicker.
This article is my own and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TEKsystems.
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