HIT THE JOB JACKPOT
Looking for work? Here’s how to stay motivated in the face of rejection
It’s been a banner year for job seekers, but not everyone is finding success during the Great Resignation. While the unemployment rate is at its lowest point since the pandemic began, more than 2 million Americans have been out of work for more than 27 weeks, and about 5.5 million have been looking for more than 15 weeks, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
With so much activity in the employment market — and with their newsfeeds likely overflowing with new job announcements and promotion celebrations — those who are struggling to land their dream job might be feeling a little discouraged right now.
Despite these challenges, experts believe the new year is an ideal time to get back out there with renewed enthusiasm and confidence.
Emily Liou, a certified career happiness coach, says that for job seekers who “have been feeling discouraged because they’ve been applying and not getting results, it really is a great time to hit a mental reset and start the job search anew. You will eventually land your dream job, unless you stop trying.”
Here are ways to continue putting your best food forward in the face of rejection in the job market:
1. Manage your mindset
Those who have spent a long time applying without much success often become their own biggest obstacle. We often can’t help but carry with us feelings of rejection from previous experiences. “It’s a cycle. The less confident you feel, the more self-doubt kicks in, the more challenging it becomes to put your best foot forward,” Liou says, noting that it’s important not to take rejection personally, as there are many reasons why a candidate might be overlooked.
2. Put together a ‘brag list’
Liou encourages those who are feeling discouraged to come up with a list of accomplishments. She calls it a “brag list.”
“In this society we’re very achievement-focused, and often you’ll set a goal, meet the goal and then move on to the next goal,” she says. “It’s a mile marker that we’re constantly moving, and we forget to reflect on all of the things we’ve already achieved.”
Liou adds that the process of putting the list together will not only help candidates feel more confident but also help them recall accomplishments that they can include in applications or job interviews in the future.
3. Don’t throw spaghetti at the wall
Those who have been out of the workforce for a prolonged period may feel tempted to respond to a large quantity of postings in hopes that they get a response.
But this tactic, which Liou describes as “throwing spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks,” can ultimately serve to further discourage applicants because they either don’t hear back, or they do hear back but the opportunity isn’t a good fit.
She suggests asking yourself several important questions to determine what you’re looking for: “What organizations would I love to join? What impact do I want to make in that organization? How do I align my transferable skills to that role? How do I package myself as that candidate they must interview?”
Liou adds that job seekers also tend to put too much emphasis on submitting applications and not enough time considering other ways to get noticed.
“What I teach my clients is to apply online but also find a decision maker at the company, whether it’s a recruiter or a hiring manager, and reach out and introduce yourself,” she says, emphasizing that networking is also key.
4. Take baby steps
Job seekers who struggle to land a position often feel helplessly stuck in neutral, but there’s a lot they can do to drive their job search forward.
Rather than focusing on the ultimate goal of landing a job, it’s important to establish a series of smaller and more manageable goals along the way, says Octavia Goredema, a career coach and author of “Prep, Push, Pivot: Essential Career Strategies for Underrepresented Women.”
“Focus on one next step you can take,” she says. “Is it reaching out to the recruiter to check in politely? Is it getting some feedback on the latest revisions I made to my résumé? Is it reading a book that might be able to help me? Is it listening to a podcast of someone I admire in my field that might give me more motivation?”
5. Reevaluate your strategy
According to Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of Ladders, those who are struggling for a prolonged period in a hot hiring market are most likely making one of three common mistakes.
“It’s probably your résumé, your interview style or how you talk about your past boss,” he says. “The great thing is, all of those are super fixable.”
Cenedella advises those who are struggling to get hired to reevaluate their résumé and application materials, and ask for assistance from friends and family.
He also recommends trying a few practice interviews with those who can provide honest feedback. Most important, he recommends against talking negatively about a prior employer.