How to keep going with job applications

Have you been applying for jobs with no success?

Do you at times worry that you will never get a new job? In this article, we shall explore how to keep on going when receiving lots of disappointing news throughout your job search.

Applying for jobs can be challenging at times. You may have spent a lot of time crafting the best applications that you can. You note where you applied, the application closing dates, when you should hear from them, and you follow up on the outcome. You apply for jobs where you meet all or at least the majority of the criteria. You submit one application after another. You put lots of time in, hoping that maybe the next application is successful. And often you may not even hear about the outcome. Understandably, you start to wonder whether it may be better to give up the job search and stop hoping for a more exciting position.

A friend of mine, Katie, works in the Higher Education sector. She has submitted over 20 job applications over the last 6 months. She takes every application seriously and only submits bespoke applications to apply for positions that she is qualified for.  It sounds like a difficult situation. Katie is facing financial pressures to look after her family. Her self-confidence is impacted by the disappointing news, and at times, she feels that her experience and skills are no longer valuable. Here is the advice I have given to Katie:

Look at the bigger picture

Some recruiters receive a large volume of applications. It can be hard to choose between well-qualified candidates who all meet the criteria. Although the candidate may believe they are perfect for the job, the recruiter could have different expectations and perspectives. They may need to choose from a wide pool of skilled, qualified and experienced professionals.

The following questions may help to uncover any potential issues within your application:

• Are you overqualified for the vacancies that you apply for?
• Are you trying to change the sector, e.g. going from Higher Education to Further Education
• Looking at the vacancy descriptions, is there any required experience which you do not have?
• Putting yourself in the recruiters’ shoes, what is one possible challenge they could identify in your most recent unsuccessful application?

Hidden jobs

Many jobs are not advertised, and you may find a position within your current workplace. Do take some time to consider what role you might be interested in within your current organisation and express your interest in the role. At times, changing the scope of your work could be easier than you may have originally thought. The traditional job market could be very competitive. If you have conversations with the relevant people within your current workplace, new opportunities could open up.

Build your resilience

Maintaining your resilience should be a daily practice. Even after a few challenging days, you may feel that you are physically and mentally exhausted. Taking time out is key, as well as being able to recharge the batteries on a regular basis. When we experience stress, it is easy to give up our good habits of exercising. Going out for a 30-minute walk every day could make a big difference to how you feel. Practising a few minutes of yoga, going for a run in the evening or playing table tennis with friends could be a great way to recharge. When going through challenging times, you might find it helpful to take extra care of yourself. Skipping meals, being wired on coffee and being glued to social media is unlikely to help. Instead, try to engage in daily physical activities. To read more about how to bounce back from challenges, visit the NHS’s website here.

Supportive environment

Reach out to your friends, family or trusted colleagues if you need support. It can be helpful to express your thoughts, worries and barriers. Your thinking may become clearer as you hear yourself talk through some of your challenges. If you tell people what kind of job you are looking for, they may be able to help you by introducing you to someone in their network, or they could keep an eye out for the kind of vacancy you are interested in.

Networking

Do you often get invited to networking events? If you have not got much experience in networking, it may feel daunting to attend events and to meet lots of new people. However, with a little bit of experience, you could develop the confidence to introduce yourself to others and to build professional relationships. You can network at conferences, workshops, seminars, courses, industry events and social media. These could provide you with opportunities to hear about new job openings, industry trends and to build your professional circle. LinkedIn is one of the most popular professional networking sites. If you have not got a LinkedIn profile yet, you could set one up within a few minutes. If you have a profile which you have not updated for a while, you could take some time to revise the content and make it more up-to-date and professional. Recruiters increasingly search online to get some background information on candidates. You might find it helpful to look at your social media presence and see if there is any content or images in these which would be best deleted.

Do not give up

You may be tempted to simply stop applying for positions altogether. However, if you really want a new job, it makes sense to continuously tweak your approach and keep on submitting new applications. You could ask a friend or a trusted colleague to take a look at your application materials and give you some honest feedback. At times, others can see things which are not obvious to us. You could also work with a career coach or a mentor and help you identify what could be holding you back. You could also find the National Careers Service’s resources helpful and talk to a career’s adviser about different career options available to you.

Building resilience as an employee | Webinar summary and recording

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