I have been searching for a job since May, and am starting to get very weary.

12 Comments

1. Renelle NarineSeptember 24,2024 at 2:13PM UTC

   I'm in the same boat. I'm a senior graphic designer and looking for a remote role and have sent out 100's of applications and only had 2 interviews that didnt lead to an offer. I'm starting to focus on my own business. Maybe try being a virtual assissant. There's lots of people who need those services.

2. AnonymousSeptember 24,2024 at 2:14PM UTC

   I would point to the market first. Few are actually finding new jobs. It's just very very slow. Everyone is waiting for the election so companies can finally have a bit if certainty about planning their path forward. Have you been following the layoffs? There have been12,000 layoffs just in the past 45 days alone. That means those jobs are gone for now.

   It's corporations way of preserving the bottom line because their profits are falling. So hiring is frozen in most places and when they do hire it's at a much lower salary to replace folks who've left.

   So there is no magic recipe to gaining employment. Just keep trying and putting yourself out there. You will find something. Just keep perspective. Much of what's impacting your search is out of your control.

3. AnonymousSeptember 24,2024 at 2:27PM UTC

   I guess the advice I have: (1) Review your skills. (2) Map out which areas which they most apply to [Do not limit to 1 area. Should be 3-4 at least] (3) Rate the areas you will look for targeting your most wanted and most likely to get a job from (4) Go to a trade or conference to start making connections. Note that you do not go to these and ask for a job directly. (5) Research the companies that the contacts you made are from. (6) Ask general questions about work from contact. Perhaps what jobs are sometimes available in the areas you want. You do not ask the person to help you find a job with the company unless you are close. Remember you paid someone else for this service in the past even if it didn't work. (7) Try to contact a manager in the area stating that you talked to X person and it sounds interesting. The idea is to get yourself on the managers radar to look for you in the future. (8) Continue to work both your most wanted and most likely to get a job options. Note that if you get the teaching job you do not really want, you can still look for other options. (9) Be persistent in your job hunt. Hope this help.

4. AnonymousSeptember 24,2024 at 3:07PM UTC

   Would you be interested in trying Instructional Design for corporate/tech? I have multiple friends who have transitioned from a classroom role to creating learning content for adult learners on a variety of topics. It is also a field where there are a lot of contracts to get you started and some of them are short-term, so if you hate it, you can pivot fairly quickly. Look up Instructional Design or Learning Experience Design to learn more. And before you interview, brush up on ADDIE and adult learning techniques.

5. AnonymousSeptember 24,2024 at 3:24PM UTC

   Look in to a mental health or addiction case management role. You may need to get a certificate depending on your state. If you like it you can get your masters in counseling online and make decent money, sometimes WFH.

6. AnonymousSeptember 25,2024 at 12:29AM UTC

   Instead of teaching have you thought of entering higher ed? Are there jobs at your local college within a career center? Maybe you can also teach a university 101 class while working as a staff member. Look at higherjobs.com. Look at state jobs, maybe the library would be of interest as well. See if you can find a mentor in an industry of interest. I was a recruiter, people paid a lot of money to resume writers when a recruiter can be a better source to help. Check your Alma maters career center. Now are all the job fairs. Most allow alums to attend.

7. AnonymousSeptember 25,2024 at 1:10PM UTC

   Maybe take another teaching job now while continuing to pivot to something more meaningful. Job seekers have much more leverage & are more "appealing" if they're already employed...Get back in the game first & seek your passion :)

8. AnonymousSeptember 25,2024 at 1:46PM UTC

   Have you looked into online teaching? There are websites that offer free or paid classes and courses online that may be something you can do either full or part time.

9. AnonymousSeptember 25,2024 at 7:48PM UTC

   Have you thought about or looked into nonprofit work?

10. AnonymousSeptember 26,2024 at 12:23PM UTC

    Have you considered a training role instead? I work with several trainers who were teachers before. They are now using some of the same skills without the grading, or classroom management.

11. GirlBossanova934974September 26,2024 at 1:21PM UTC

    Having worked in a management role in "Customer Experience" department for 6 years, I don't quite know what a "Customer Success" role would entail without looking at the individual job postings. Just as a guess, I think you are applying for normal customer service jobs in call centers/chat centers. If so, I would go online and find resumes of people who work in these jobs and try to emulate their resumes. The next thing I would do is to make sure EVERY reference to your age is taken off your resume and make sure you do NOT go back any further than 15 years in your career. I would also find a service like DELETEME which for a $100 bucks or so will purge the internet of any directory listing where they list your birthdate etc.. Basically, this company takes your name out of a few dozen databases so employers CANNOT do a quite search and snoop around.......Worked for me.

12. Eva SteortzSeptember 26,2024 at 11:03PM UTC

    I'm a career coach. I am sorry you have a bad experience. I wrote an article about this. Hope this list helps.

    1. Create a compelling story.

    A short story with impact is the goal. Some call it your “elevator speech.” Express your skills, successes, and goals with a punchy creative narrative. Use a combination of creative adjectives, action verbs and keywords. This story works for your “about” section on LinkedIn, your outreach emails and is useful when networking.

    2. Refine your marketing materials.

    Ensure your resume and LinkedIn are thorough and polished with lots of detailed examples of your accomplishments. Some quantification is a must. They should also be easy to read—most people will only scan your materials for six seconds to determine if they will read further.

    How can you stand out? Create a portfolio and work case studies. Consider a video cover letter and a bio. Self-promotion is expected and required. This is not the area in which to be humble or shy.

    3. Network within your network and expand your existing network.

    Let everyone know that you are looking and what you are seeking. Ask for ideas, support, and referrals. LinkedIn research indicates 85% of roles are filled this way. I am surprised it’s not even higher. Make this your priority.

    Get fearless. Reach out and connect with people doing what you want to do in your dream companies. People are generous. Ask for 15-minute informational chats. Networking with strangers is a worthy strategy for adventurous dream career seekers.

    Yes, computerized ATS (applicant tracking systems) scan incoming resumes for keyword matches. But remember it's people who give us opportunities. Prioritize people.

    4. Develop a portfolio approach.

    Apply to jobs on Fairygodboss, LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor, and use the Google search bar to discover even more roles. Always use step two when you apply. Don’t just upload and move on. Networking remains the key. Don’t know anybody who knows anybody? You can find people at any company quite easily on Linkedin.

    Do not reach burnout. Applying to jobs can be exhausting. Give yourself a goal of how much time to spend on this per day. Then, commence networking which is more fun and the real way we typically find new opportunities.

    5. Do your research and practice your interviewing skills.

    Practice. Practice. Practice. Research each company and be ready to ask very specific, insightful questions related to what you learned.

    Zoom adds another layer of potential nervousness. Remember to dress up and show up just like you were in the same room. Make eye contact and be natural. Smile and enjoy meeting new people. You want to show you are qualified but also personable, relatable and, of course, likable.

    Preparation and practice will ensure you are confident, articulate, and well-prepared. You’ll be able to relax and just be your best self.

    6. Follow up with flair.

    Ensure your timely follow-up email doesn’t sound generic. Reference specific topics from your conversation, what you love about the company and show your passion for the role. Concisely recap how your strengths align perfectly with the job description. Bullet points are your friend here.

    Proactively send more work examples, recommendations and leave no room for doubt; show that you are the right choice, and you want this.

    7. Find an accountability partner.

    This is critical. Research shows that we are 95% more likely to obtain our goals when we have regular check-ins with someone who supports us and keeps us active and results-oriented.