Job searching can be a struggle. There are often hundreds or thousands of people applying for the same role at the same time. And although there’s nothing more frustrating than an unsuccessful job hunt, accepting a temporary role or giving up altogether isn’t the answer.
Did you know that you can revive your focus by making simple changes to your job hunting strategy? To help you get off this slippery slope, we’ve highlighted seven common reasons why job seekers give up looking for a job and ways you can overcome them. Let’s dive in.
1. Not Having People to Back You
In today’s cutthroat job market, an endorsement raises your chance of getting noticed by recruiters. But if you’re embarking on your job hunting journey alone, you may find it challenging to win the employer’s trust. A better approach is to switch tactics and start connecting with your acquaintances. Make sure you have referrals at the ready when potential employers ask.
Acquaintances may even know about a vacancy in their organization and might be able to endorse your resume. If your social network isn’t vast enough, consider participating in networking events to expand your group of professional peers.
2. Facing Rejection After a Lengthy Interview Process
Once a job seeker submits their cover letter and resume, it can be a couple of weeks, or sometimes more, until they get a response. Some organizations will also ask you to complete a lengthy application, undertake a personality test or share examples of your previous work. Afterwards, you may be asked to come for an interview over video, phone or in-person.
If all goes well, the employer may even conduct a second interview after a few weeks. This is a long period for a job searcher to be committed to the process for just one position. As such, discovering you didn’t get the job after a lengthy interview process is bound to be demoralizing.
Fortunately, you can always apply to other roles while you wait to hear back from the employer. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Until you are given a formal job offer, keep putting out your feelers for other opportunities.
3. Not Being Successful with Job Listings
While job listings are regarded as a goldmine of opportunities, you shouldn’t depend on them solely to find a new job. Instead, make a list of top organizations you’d like to secure a job at and then review their websites for potential vacancies. Unless you’re working with a professional recruiting agency, applying on company websites can be a better approach than applying via job listings.
You can also spend a good chunk of time on LinkedIn when searching for new employment. With LinkedIn’s smart algorithm, you’ll soon begin to receive job suggestions based on your education and skills, so you’ll be more likely to be hired by using this strategy.
4. Inaccurate Job Descriptions
Did you apply to a content writing job where the work requires you to create four blog posts a month, but now the interviewer is asking if you can write copy for their email campaign? If the company baited-and-switched you like that, wanting to give up the job search is more than understandable. The employer promised you something, but failed to keep his or her word – so why bother?
The best way to react to this situation is to keep a positive attitude. Maybe the employer sees you as a talented candidate, which is why they want you to take on more responsibilities. Of course, you should take this as an opportunity to negotiate a higher salary. However, make sure you can fulfill the additional responsibilities efficiently before making any commitments. Commanding a salary for something you’re just okay at could cost you a permanent job.
5. Not Having Enough Confidence
Lack of confidence is one of the biggest hindrances in job hunting success. A lot of people give up looking for employment because they lack confidence in their skills to do well in the position. Plus, they’ve been dismissed by an employer or two because they weren’t confident enough to sell their talent in the interview.
To become more confident, consult with colleagues and relatives who should be able to give you pointers. Set up mock interviews with friends and family to get more experience under your belt. Confidence comes like other things do—with practice. Don’t get down on yourself over a couple of negative experiences—everyone flops at some point. Get out there and create more opportunities to have positive experiences.
What Else Can You Do?
If you’re fatigued from an extended job hunt, you might consider doing the following:
- Update your application materials
If you’ve been searching for employment for several months, it’s a good idea to revamp your application arsenal. You can do this by adding new things to your resume, such as a new certification that you earned or a new hobby you recently took up, asking for additional letters of recommendation, etc.
- Acquire a new skill
If you work on your professional development or learn something new, not only will you gain a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll add a new skill to your portfolio. In the process, you’ll be making yourself a stronger applicant in potential employers’ eyes. Use your downtime to make yourself more marketable.
- Organize your job hunt
Lengthy job hunts that go on for several months can spiral out of control in a jiffy, so take the time to organize your job search strategy. This can be done by mapping out a timeline or spreadsheet that gives you a more concrete overview of where you’ve been and where you’re headed. While all you require is a Google Excel file or a spreadsheet, job search organization solutions like JibberJobber can also be of great help.
Besides all of that, you can work with a professional job recruiter to land the job of your dreams. A good firm will go beyond the conventional interview phase and get to know your aspirations, goals and personality. This helps you secure more than just a position – it helps you make for a satisfying career.