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Overwhelmed by Work Search Digital Clutter
To say that I am overwhelmed is an understatement. I've been job searching for quite a while now, and I receive various alerts from job sites, as well as networking groups. Besides creating an email address just for these items, what other solutions have you all have implemented that may be helpful?
I do not want to miss job postings, but I check my email, and each time, there are more job-related things to review and read. The digital clutter is really affecting me mentally.
VERONICA DEBOISBRIAND
36
11/04/20 at 6:36PM UTC
I get several emails daily from linked In, Indeed, Simplyhired, zip recruiter, etc. Not only do I get an email from them, I get MULTIPLE emails from them with the same job postings. And then Indeed and Linked In both post the same jobs. They also send emails with old job postings that I know have been on the sites for months. It is quite discouraging and takes away from the time I have to search because I am looking through all these emails. Then each recruiting company sends emails. Even FairyGodboss. I am overwhelmed with too many emails.
Laura SCommunications & marketing professional
223
11/03/20 at 8:27PM UTC
I was going through this a couple of weeks ago--dozens of emails every day, some of them with jobs barely related to my field, and feeling like I had to read each and every one of them with a magnifying glass so I wouldn't miss any corner where My Dream Job might be hiding, and then getting rejected from those jobs anyway.
My advice: Start giving yourself permission to be picky. You must realize that some of those emails don't help you, are consistently posting jobs you'd rather chew your hand off than take, or only re-post listings found on other websites. Unsubscribe from those now. For myself, I noticed that LinkedIn and Indeed were offering the jobs most relevant to my background, and between them listed every job I'd actually consider applying to. It took me some time of being where you are before I could give myself permission to unsubscribe from the others, but once I did I felt like a big weight was taken off my shoulders. It also saved time because I wasn't re-applying to the same job multiple times through different websites!
My second tip is to also give yourself permission to move your email alerts to once a week instead of every day or even as-they-happen. Yes, it's possible there's a job that will open and close before you can apply, but anything where that happens is probably a job that they already had a candidate in mind and were only posting online because they needed to. Your time is valuable and you deserve not to waste it.
My third piece of advice: Spend less time blindly applying to jobs and more time networking. If you see a job posted that you want to apply for, your first step should be going to LinkedIn and figuring out who you know who works at that company, or who can introduce you to someone who works at that company. It takes a lot less time to shoot off a quick email/SM note to someone than to go through the whole ATS system to apply for jobs. Work smarter, not harder.
Rebecca Lee VCredentialing Specialist
3.44k
11/03/20 at 2:55PM UTC
We I first starting looking I posted my resume EVERY WHERE and signed up for daily and weekly emails of job postings. What I learned from this and being a recruiter is you only really need to post your resume on three sites: LinkedIn, Indeed, and CareerBuilder. These are the sites most recruiters are using.
I was very specific on the job I wanted and tailored my resume and LinkedIn profile to match that. I did this because I don't have a large network of people to help so I had make this work for me.
I spoke with every and any recruiter that called or email, except the ones where the JD was no where need my skill set (sales or IT programing).
It was a tiring process to sift through the emails day after day but depending on the position you are looking for, that might not be posted. For example, my boyfriend is looking for a new position but the type of work he does, a company won't advertise because it is a C-level position. They use their network to locate individuals.
There were many tears shed and sleepless nights but after 6 months I found a job. A job I wasn't even looking for. They found me and although it is less than I was looking for, I saw this as an opportunity to a new career path. One which I can be successful at and growth.
Anonymous
11/02/20 at 3:08PM UTC
Oh I know exactly what you’re talking about - as I was trying to career transition after finishing two master’s degrees in 5 years; but that was before Covid19. Now, I’ve taken a crappy, demeaning job in my previous industry because it’s the one where all my REAL experience lies, but I’m making more than I have in years. I’ve stopped all searching and all alerts for the time being, maybe permanently. That in and of itself has reduced my anxiety.
However, I’ll be 60 next year. Who knows what the year ahead looks like. Sadly, this could be my last job, before settling for some sort of half-assed retirement.
One really awesome thing has started to happen lately. Since I’ve simplified my life and started disciplining myself to not feel guilty about how things turned out, and just decided, these are extraordinary times and all rules have changed- I’ve been much more at peace.
Bottom line, make your own rules, make your own brand of joy, and settle in for a bumpy cosmic ride until shit straightens out.
Anonymous
11/04/20 at 6:53PM UTC
I am in the same situation. I am 56 and I am wondering if this was my last job. I haven't stopped all the alerts or searching yet. I am sure that must feel great!
I have always kept up my skills but with all this extra time I have really been pushing myself to learn more. When I interview it doesn't seem to matter.
I have been in the same industry for many years. I have always enjoyed what I did. I had never had any difficulty finding full time roles. Now I can't even find PT or freelance work. Am I semi-retired but I just don't want to admit it?
I enjoyed your last line. I need to start thinking differently and find joy again.
Joy Matwale
87
11/01/20 at 4:37PM UTC
Hi Rebecca,
I had a similar problem a couple of months ago. I was getting overwhelmed by what felt like a bombardment of job-alerts. It got to the point where I stopped checking them because I was feeling so overwhelmed, which signalled that my strategy was not effective. I ended up deciding to streamline the criteria for each alert. I tested it out first on the job board website to see how many hits I would get and I had to get really brutal. The main goal was to reduce them to a number that I knew I could reasonably respond to (since it didn't make any sense to get lots of alerts that ended up just sitting there).
Let me know if you're inclined to give this idea a try and wishing you all the best with your job search.
