Job searching and making multiple applications in a competitive job market can feel overwhelming at the best of times, but this can be added to by frustration when you don’t hear back from recruiters or prospective employers.
Producing tailored applications and preparing thoroughly for interviews can be time-consuming and not receiving feedback on your content or performance can, understandably, leave you feeling despondent.
Read our guide for some practical tips on how to deal with a lack of feedback when job searching.
Be organised with your job search
One of the key things to consider with your practical job search and finding relevant opportunities is to ensure you are organised when tracking your applications.
By setting up a clear document to monitor the progress of your applications, including the initial deadline, any indicated interview dates, and when you submitted your final application, this will enable you to consistently follow-up with recruiters or organisations to ask for an outcome or feedback.
Many employers have several stages to their recruitment process, which might include an initial submission of your application, with further online screening tasks, such as pre-recorded video interviews or psychometric / aptitude tests, before reaching the formal interview stage. In these cases, it will be even more important to keep track of your progress, so that you can chase an outcome if you need to.
Being able to visually see the progress you are making across your applications will also help you to prioritise following-up on those opportunities you are most interested in.
Working effectively with recruiters
If you have registered with a recruiter to support you with your job search and to put forward applications on your behalf, then it is worthwhile being clear about expectations from the outset. Ask them to be honest with you about their timescales, especially in terms of receiving the outcomes of or feedback on applications they have made on your behalf.
A good recruiter will work hard to match you to appropriate opportunities and organisations, but if you aren’t satisfied with what they are offering, then it might be worth cutting your losses and seeking alternatives. Use review sites online to review the recruitment agencies you choose to register with – do they normally achieve positive placements for their candidates? Are they specialising in particular sectors or work areas? Can you see examples of placements they have previously made and how recent are these?
Draw on your support network
Not receiving feedback when job searching can lead to you questioning whether you are doing something wrong in your applications. We would encourage you to draw on the support network you have around you to offer you some advice and guidance.
Whether that’s friends or family, current or former work colleagues or previous contacts through education or training, it is worthwhile asking for their feedback on your applications, and to support you with preparation for future recruitment activities, such as presentations or interviews.
Drawing on your network might also lead to new opportunities through their own contacts.
Take time to reflect
Having drawn on others’ feedback and advice, it will also be important to carve out time for yourself to reflect on your progress, your achievements, and on your application content.
- What did you do differently for those applications where you secured an interview?
- Are there particular work areas or organisations who have been more receptive to your applications?
- Where do your strengths lie and how can you use these to your advantage moving forward?
- What are your key takeaways from your experience or mock or live interviews? What might you do differently in the future?
Taking stock on these key areas, will help to keep you focused on your successes, as well as identifying potential areas for development.
Showing resilience
It is very easy to say not to give up on your job search, but when you’re not getting the results you want, coupled with a lack of feedback, resilience will be key.
In order to keep up momentum and remain positive, consider setting small, measurable goals and ensure you have a routine. Make sure you celebrate effort, not just results – we know and appreciate the time and energy that goes into producing high-quality, targeted applications, and you will only continue to improve over time.
If you are rejected for applications or are unsuccessful at an interview, it is important to embrace failure as part of your career journey. Recognising that this does not define you as a future candidate is essential to maintain a positive mindset.
Utilising the time alongside your job search to continue to upskill yourself will only ever strengthen your applications. You might explore free online learning opportunities, attend networking events and/or pursue a new hobby or interest – all adding to the variety of what you have to offer as a candidate.
Overall, we acknowledge that it can be frustrating when you don’t hear back from a job or you have little or no feedback to work with in the future. However, by being organised in your approach to your search, working more effectively with recruiters, and by drawing on your established support network, this can help to build your resilience and will help you to secure a successful outcome.
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