16 Ways To Make The Job Hunt Less Brutal
By: Mariana Suchodolski
Tags: Self Care, Job Search, Jobless, Unemployment, Job Hunting

Join the crowd. We’re part of the hundreds of millions who are currently unemployed in what has been one of the toughest years of our lives. Unfortunately, I don’t really have much reassuring advice. Finding employment again will be a matter of luck, perseverance, and an economy that’s bouncing back. From the latter the only thing you can control is perseverance.

So how do we persevere after sending out hundreds of applications and scoring a few interviews that lead nowhere? Here’s how I’ve been dealing. So far I haven’t found a job either, I’ve just managed to make the hunt much more bearable. Hopefully, you can make use of these 16 tips to set yourself apart from other candidates while drowning out all the self-doubt, self-judgment, and fear that’s probably coming up. We’re in this together. Even though luck is out of our control, I wish you the best of luck.

Start A Pet Project

Find a hobby or turn your upskilling into a side project. Whatever you do, be sure to keep your mind busy. Beat anxiety by nurturing other parts of yourself that are unrelated to the job hunt. Be very careful not to bring all of that self-doubt and frustration into this space. Your creative project is meant to serve as an outlet for all of that.

Take Breaks

Spending all of your time job hunting is tempting. To some degree, it’s a numbers game. The more you put yourself out there, the greater the chances the right person will see you. That’s not necessarily true, and it’s definitely not healthy. The job hunt is draining and brutal. Don’t become obsessive. Set aside time for it and give yourself limits.

Share Positions With Others

I think this is a nice thing to do. If you find something that reminds you of a friend who’s struggling to find work, share the job post. Perhaps it’ll bring you good karma and that friend might return the favor. Plus it’ll remind you that you’re not alone in this battle.

Revamp Your Resume

Granted this tip works better if you work in a creative industry, but even if you don’t, a nicely designed resume can grab the attention of a potential employer. You can easily design one for free on Canva using one of the many resume templates they offer. No need to make it look arty, just give some zhuzh. While you’re at it, make sure you update your LinkedIn profile too. This will also serve as a reminder of what you’ve accomplished.

Upskill For Cheap

Not to sound annoying, but now really is the perfect time to learn something new. You probably don’t want to overspend, so go for affordable options. Test LinkedIn Learning or Skillshare with a free trial. Sign up to audit Coursera classes. Watch YouTube tutorials. Volunteer your time to help friends or family with their business. Or just kickstart something new and learn on the go. I’m playing around with WordPress and have spent $0 on it. *Adds web dev to resume.*

Join Subreddits

You can find anything on Reddit, including gigs. Join /forhire /freelance_forhire /jobopenings /jobs /slavelabour /beermoney for a chance to find odd gigs here and there. You should also check to see if there are any subreddits within your industry. You might not find a job, but maybe you’ll find networks that’ll connect you to the right people.

Organize Your Cover Letters

After a handful of applications, you probably won’t be starting your cover letters from scratch. I keep all of my cover letters in one document. So with each new application, I can just mix and match from what I’ve previously written. On most websites, you can just paste your cover letter. No need to save it in a new file and clutter your drive with 50 separate documents.

Grammarly Knows Best

When we’re doing the same thing over and over again, our work can get sloppy. Make sure any written communication between you and a potential employer is free of spelling mistakes. Grammarly will alert you to the more dire mistakes. It’s free. Don’t miss an opportunity because of something like dis.

Talk Feelings

This one’s big. We often feel like a failure when we’re unemployed. You are not a failure, the world has failed you. There’s no shame in being jobless, especially during a pandemic. So many of us are going through the same thing. Talk it out and you’ll notice that we’re all on the same aimless, unpredictable boat. It feels a little less awful that way.

Don’t Act Bitter

Let’s say the interviews went well and you seem to be the perfect person for the job. They say they’ll be in touch in a few days, then they ghost you even after you ask for an update. It happened to me. You’ll be tempted to call them out on their behavior-don’t. Don’t burn any bridges, you never know what the future might hold. Maybe their first choice rejects the offer, you’ll wanna be there for sloppy seconds.

Subscribe To Email Notifications

Most job sites will give you the option to get notified via email for fitting positions. Sign up for those so that they can do the filtering work for you. If getting these reminders in your inbox makes you feel anxious then cancel that subscription and do your thing manually.

Tap Into Your Network

Connect with past coworkers, acquaintances, people you follow on social media. Ask around to see if they have any advice, need some help, know of someone who’s hiring. You probably already know that 70% of all jobs are not published publicly on jobs sites and as much as 80% of jobs are filled through connections.

Look Everywhere

Companies share job posts in so many places, you have to keep your eyes open. Besides job sites (many of which have different jobs available), look at social media from brands you like as well as #hiring hashtags, search company websites, and check newsletters. Jobs are kinda the hot thing right.

Feel Your Feelings

Give yourself time to feel depressed, anxious, angry, whatever comes up for you. It’s not fair, it’s not okay and it’s not small. Also be wise enough to know when to end the pity party. Take as long as you need, but don’t drown yourself in your negative emotions cause you’ll end up hurting even more.

Interview Prep

When you get an interview, make sure you’re ready for it. That means you should research the business, have questions, and practice responses. Do this even if the job doesn’t excite you. It’ll help prepare you for when a more fitting job comes along. Plus, after getting to know the company and potential coworkers you might even change your mind. And don’t ever forget that you’re interviewing them too. The position, pay, and culture need to fit your needs.

Family Time

Remember that once you do find another job you won’t be able to spend as much time with your friends and family. Share your love and appreciation following regulations and common sense. If you can’t physically spend time with them then get used to zoom calls. Their support will help you during this tough time.