14 Tips on What to Do When You Can’t Find a Job

14 Tips on What to Do When You Can’t Find a Job

When quickly securing a new job becomes a challenge, it’s important to remember that the whole process takes time and requires persistence. And you’re not alone. Waiting to land a career is a situation that many people go through at some stage in their lives. However, you have a range of options to explore, such as revising your resume and improving your interview skills. In this article, we discuss what options you have when you’re looking for employment and what to do when you can’t find a job.

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What to do when you can’t find a job

Here are some suggestions on what to do when you can’t find a job:

1. Make your job search a priority
Put your job search at the top of your priority list. Setting daily, weekly, and monthly goals is critical. Even if you aren’t working in a regular job, this can assist you in maintaining your focus. If you find that you’re only getting a few job offers, consider having someone check your resume and assist you with the interview process. For example, they might see something missing in your resume that you’ve missed.

2. Location
Some people relocate to a different city, province, or even country to find a job in their field. But if you’re looking for remote employment, you can likely work from anywhere. In that case, you should refine your search to focus on fields and professions most suited for remote work. To expedite your search, do some research. Find out who typically hires in your field and for what roles. If you are still struggling, you could also try broadening your job search in terms of field or sector.

3. Expand your network
Networking is one of the most effective strategies for meeting new people and generating job search leads. And it doesn’t have to be limited to physical events alone. You can find many opportunities for expanding your network virtually through online events that you can access from home.

Making good use of your existing network is also important when you’re looking for work. Ask your friends, family, and acquaintances for assistance. For example, if you hear of a job opportunity at a company, see if you can identify someone who works there. Connect with them to see if you can start building a professional relationship.

4. Work on your skills
Take on freelance work, an internship, or a part-time job in your chosen sector to supplement your skills and gain experience that could result in more full-time employment. Even if an internship doesn’t lead to a job, it could give you valuable experience to put on your resume. You might also consider obtaining extra credentials in your line of work.

5. Practice self-care
Take a break from job hunting. This doesn’t mean stopping your job search altogether or taking a month-long hiatus. Even having a day off now and then can help you feel rejuvenated, so you can return to the task of applying for new roles refreshed and ready. Allow yourself a day or two for something that energizes you and brings you joy. It’s also a good time to reflect on what is going well in your search. After that, you may discover that you have a renewed sense of enthusiasm and purpose when continuing with your job search.

6. Consider a part-time job
If you’ve been looking for a while and haven’t found a job, you may want to consider taking on a temporary role. Temp jobs are an excellent opportunity to get hired by a company, gain new skills, and expand your professional network. Temp workers, especially seasonal workers, are sometimes offered permanent roles once their contract expires.

7. Change your attitude
A shift in mindset could be all you need to achieve success in your job search process. Having the appropriate mindset is just as crucial as taking a break from your job search. Instead of feeling less enthusiastic about each new job search, strive to remain competitive and consider each application as an opportunity to fine-tune and perfect your procedure and find your new role.

Focus on the progress you’re making with each application. Use this time to improve your job search strategies, become more efficient with your application process, and learn what keywords to use for an applicant tracking system.

8. Consider your costs
As you’re looking for a new job, it may be wise to assess your spending. If you’re unemployed, you may wish to re-evaluate your living circumstances. Assess what you could live without and how you might reduce expenses to make your lifestyle sustainable. Drafting a new monthly budget can help because it will give you a better overview of all your expenses.

9. Go back to school
Your job search may be stalled because you lack certain key qualifications. To boost your chances as a candidate, you could consider further education to improve your skill set and qualifications. Calculate the costs and see if it might be a way to improve your salary significantly in the long run. You may even be able to pay off any loans needed to further your education.

Consider both the advantages and disadvantages of this option. It’s important to see if additional school is worth the time, money, and effort. Additionally, look into the average wage for a master’s degree in your field to see if it’s a good investment. To help pay for graduate school, you can apply for scholarships and financial assistance.

10. Make your application unique
When you’re applying to different jobs over an extended period, it’s tempting to use the same resume and cover letter with only minor changes. Some employers, however, want to hire individuals who are a great fit. Taking the time to tailor your application to each position can help you stand out. One reason you may be struggling to find a job is that your information isn’t being picked up by the applicant tracking system (ATS) based on keyword searches. Including important keywords that the ATS has been designed to look for in your application can give you an advantage.

11. Consider other industry options
Try applying for roles in a related field or new industry. You might find that you appreciate a new employment field a lot more than you expected, and you may be surprised at how many of your talents are transferrable from one field to the other. You might even discover that a career transition is an exciting and transformative time in your professional life.

12. Improve your online presence
Before inviting candidates to a job interview, most hiring managers check out a person’s online presence to see if they would be a good representative for the company. Ensuring your online image is up to date and professional is one of the most critical components of any job search. Take the time to tidy up existing profiles or build new ones that portray you well in a professional light. And update them regularly so that future employers can see you’re active on social media for all the right reasons.

13. Improve your interview skills
If you’re getting interviews without any job offers, it might be time to improve your interviewing technique. Rehearse with friends, relatives, or even other job seekers so they can give you feedback on what you’re doing well and where you could improve. If you have a good relationship with a career mentor or previous employer, ask them to conduct a mock interview with you as well. Finally, with many interviews taking place online, it’s a good idea to prepare for the remote interview procedure to ensure your success.

14. Create a backup plan
When you’re unemployed, it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan. While you’re looking for full-time employment, consider getting a part-time job. Or try temp work before you land a more permanent role. While looking for higher-paying work, you could take a job that pays well enough to sustain you, such as stocking shelves or waiting tables. You could also work on a small business idea as you look for a permanent role.