Your employment hunt appears to have stalled. There appears to be no new opportunity for you, and every job you’ve applied to has either not been a good fit or has outright ghosted you.
At times like this, it’s easy to feel demotivated and give up hope. I wouldn’t hold it against you if you chose to take a little break. If you’re serious about staying in the game and finding under-the-radar roles that could be a wonderful fit for you, there are plenty of things you can do during this sluggish period to prepare yourself for when the market comes up again.
1. Reestablish contact with hiring managers from previous job applications
Recall the roles you applied for a while back, maybe even a year or more ago. Those were the ones you thought were ideal for you, and you even went all the way to the final round before being turned down. Did everyone on the team, including the hiring manager, seem to get along with you? Did they reject you not because you lacked the necessary qualifications but because they found a marginally better candidate, promoted from within, or temporarily shelved the position? At that organization or on that team, there’s probably a chance for you that hasn’t been considered yet, or will arise when there’s more funding.
Staying in touch with recruiters you’ve met with before is a terrific approach to establish relationships that could come in handy later on and keep your name in the company’s head when hiring is rampant again. Hey, guess what? Using this tactic, I was able to get a job after been refused many times.
2. Meet up for coffee with friends, no obligations
It is easy to rely on your network for referrals when the market is slow. After all, it’s a tried-and-true method for being hired.
However, there are additional advantages to networking that you are neglecting if you are solely concerned with using it to find a job. The worst part is that when people see that your approach is only transactional, they will rapidly lose interest in wanting to help out when they have the opportunity to hire or refer others.
Instead, Woods recommends striking up conversations with strangers without planning to convert them into sales. In fact, establish right on that your only purpose is to converse and catch up. She advises her clients to “learn about them” whenever they engage in casual discussions or interviews. How did you end up in this position? Did anything work for you? Would you have any words of wisdom for someone like me who is trying to advance in our profession?”
Use their feedback to reevaluate your approach to finding a job or to brainstorm potential new areas of expertise and initiatives (more on that later). Be sure to get in touch with them on a regular basis and offer assistance with anything they may need, whether it’s for their employment, job hunt, or personal lives.
3. Network with other people who are looking for work
When things are slow, it’s vital to lean on other job searchers for assistance. Not only may they understand your situation, but they can also offer guidance in areas where you’re stuck or have more experience.
“I would suggest either locating additional groups of people looking for work or starting your own group and inviting other people in the same boat,” advises Woods. “And through that supportive community, we’ve been able to assist each other, share job leads, and practice interviews together.”
For something easy and low-stakes, try LinkedIn. Here are some of our top suggestions for attracting the attention of strangers on LinkedIn and increasing the likelihood that other job searchers will accept your requests for introductions.
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