Now, more than ever, job seekers are being met with the roadblocks of rejection and unemployment. In today’s post, Acacia Blake, our HR & Talent Coordinator gives us a glimpse into her job search journey before landing her role with Envol. Acacia highlights the harsh reality of job searching during the pandemic and ways job seekers can regain control and alter the grim reality of job searching today.
The Reality of the Situation
From September 2020, I applied to over 200 jobs and received roughly 20 rejections before becoming an HR + Talent Coordinator at Envol Strategies. After the 1st rejection, I thought “That’s okay, I’ve got the next one!”. After the 5th one, “It’s not my time yet!”.
However, after the 10th rejection, I was demotivated, discouraged, and entered a dark chat with my imposter syndrome.
This is a grim reality for many of you right now. You are stuck in the cycle of receiving job alerts from Indeed, applying, and just receiving yet another rejection email. Or, you have applied to jobs and made it to the final interview to only be told that the employer will not be moving forward with your application.
Where to go from here
If the description above reflects your current job searching circumstance or your current thoughts as a job seeker, this post is for YOU. It is impossible to know the future of COVID-19 when the effects on the job market will lift, or even when your next job opportunity will present itself. It remains uncertain and uncontrollable. But what if I told you there was STILL a way to breathe life back into your job search?
The secret to landing your next opportunity is investing your time, energy, and money into efforts that you can control as a job seeker. These efforts not only increase your chances of landing a job but restore your hope and make the process easier. Here are 2 simple investments job seekers can make to improve their job searching and make it a little more hopeful:
Resume
Your resume is a marketing tool that advertises the skills, capabilities, and expertise you will bring to future employers. I am NOT talking about the basics of updating your resumes with your latest work experience or changing the format. I am talking about making edits that tell a story about you as a worker and present you as the top talent every recruiter wants.
This often includes:
- Emphasizing accomplishments instead of responsibilities.
- Using action verbs to entice readers.
- Quantifying your deliverables where possible.
These are only a few ways to revamp your resume, portray your skills, capabilities, and expertise in an effective and powerful manner, and attract the attention of recruiters.
Here are 4 ways you can re-vamp your resume while on a budget:
- Youtube: There are many videos and content creators that understand the struggle of resume writing and are willing to help for FREE. Just search “Resume Writing” or “How to Write a Resume with…” and watch your new resume take shape!
- TikTok: TikTok is not just a platform for laughs and new dancing trends. There is a growing niche of TikTokers that teaching people how to get jobs and write a killer resume. Here are a few that you can follow: @wonsulting, @moderrnesse or @rob_cancilla
- Google Images: A quick search of “How to Write a Resume” or “Resume Writing” will show you hundreds of resume examples for FREE. These images show you the do’s and do not’s of writing a strong resume.
- SkillShare: The website Skillshare has 100+ free lessons taught by resume experts and enthusiasts. They provide a class and lesson format that will teach you how to write a resume on your own for FREE.
Your Network
A formal application and resume have become popular ways of obtaining a job. However, it is not the only successful way with another approach that has been secretly emerging: NETWORKING. Now, more than ever, many job holders obtained their employment by networking and receiving a referral from someone within their current company.
One of the great things about the pandemic is the surge of online communications and networking that has developed. The loss of in-face interaction has resulted in us getting creative in our interactions using technology and social media. In-person networking events are not the only way for you to expand your networking circle.
Here are 3 ways you can use LinkedIn to expand your networking circle during the pandemic:
Coffee Chats
LinkedIn has become a great platform for professionals to connect and learn from each other. It is a great way for you to seek insight and guidance from those within your industry. You can find advice on various topics such as how to write a great resume, how to wow a recruiter in an interview, or what a particular company is looking for in their next candidate.
For example, you can:
- Reach out to those within a similar profession or industry and ask for advice and guidance.
- Set up coffee chats with potential mentors and networks to learn more about their stories and establish rapport.
Attend Virtual Networking Events
You can also build your network by searching and attending virtual network events that LinkedIn is advertising. Begin by searching for “Networking”, click on “Events”, and see all the amazing opportunities available to you!
Join Groups and Profession/Industry Pages
Use your profession and industry to join specific LinkedIn groups. These groups often share job opportunities, hold free networking events, and provide advice to job searching right now.
If you’re currently on the job hunt, check out some of our other blogs for more resources:
- How to Manage Job Interview Anxiety
- 9 Productive Habits that are Good for your Health
- What Recruiters See: Make your Resume Stand Out
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