It’s not just you. In fact, many people are wondering why the job market seems so bereft of opportunities, especially for graduates.
It also seems to be an issue the world over, where outsourcing, AI integrations, and pure competition from more qualified people than ever have limited the prospects of new hires, and may have convinced companies to freeze any open entry-level positions. For an even more in depth inspection of these issues, please refer to our previous post.
While this state of affairs can certainly seem worrying and even demoralising, it’s fair to say that opportunities are still out there. Moreover, keeping at it, putting out your applications, and trying to fine-tune your approach will help you achieve a higher chance of success.
Don’t forget that every interview attended is another step on the path to your goals, and experience you can leverage from that point on. In this post, then, we’ll discuss how to cope in a terrible job market and how to avoid losing a sense of hope.
Always Ask For Feedback
It’s tough to hear a rejection after you felt a connection during an interview, but it’s the most useful tool you have right now for future success. If you don’t ask why you didn’t get the role, you’re often left guessing at what needs to improve, and that uncertainty can not only be quite upsetting, but it might frustrate you more. As such, it’s beneficial to send a polite, professional email thanking the interviewer for their time and asking for any notes they might have on your performance or your resume.
You’ll find that hiring managers are often willing to give a pointer or two if they see you’re genuine about wanting to grow. It could be that in the group test you were a little too quiet, or your experience didn’t quite match what they needed for a specific software tool. Try not to take it personally, it’s not an indictment of your entire personhood or professional standing, but it might help you learn what to change for next time.
Consider Jobs Forums
You shouldn’t try to deal with this difficult market entirely on your own, as isolation makes the whole process feel much heavier. There are plenty of online spaces where people in the exact same boat are sharing leads, advice, and warnings about bad employers – this last part is especially useful. Some community forums, like on Reddit (the UkJobs subreddit is considered quite useful), will discuss who is hiring and what the interview process looks like at specific companies.
In some cases, you may also be able to simply vent to people who understand the frustration you’re feeling right now because they are living it too. It’s not necessarily a healthy thing to do, but can make you feel a lot better in a tough market.
Attend Job Fairs
Strangely, meeting people face to face is still a powerful way to stand out. In a world of tiresome AI more genuine employers appreciate this, and it’s even a chance to hand your CV directly to a recruiter and make a personal impression.
Moreover, if you’re tired of waiting for response emails, you get to ask questions right there and then, which shows you’re proactive and willing to show up. Even if you don’t walk away with a job offer that day, you’re practicing your pitch and getting comfortable speaking with recruiters, as they’re just people too, despite how it seems when you think they have all the cards.
Consider Online Job Boards For Specific Industries
Unfortunately, the big aggregator sites are often flooded with thousands of applicants for a single position, and it hasn’t gotten any better with so many AI applications coming from around the world.
If you know what you want, it’s smarter to look at niche boards that cater to the field you want to enter, as the audience there is much more targeted. You’ll face less competition if you do, because the barrier to entry is slightly higher and the listings are less visible to the general public.
For example, if you’re looking for technical or software sales roles, checking out boards dedicated specifically to SaaS jobs or engineering contracts will yield more relevant results than a general search. Fishing in a smaller pond and with less competitors is going to be a better pursuit.
Be Aware Of Hiring Scams & Unpaid “Qualifying” Work
It’s unfortunate that bad actors prey on people who are eager for work, but you need to be vigilant about any offer that seems too easy. Be sure to watch out for emails from generic addresses or “recruiters” who ask for money up front for equipment or training, as no legitimate company will ever ask you to pay them to get a job.
It’s also important to watch out for companies asking for extensive free work as part of the interview process. A small test is normal because they need to see you can do what you claim, but building a whole marketing plan or coding a full feature for free is exploitative. Don’t take it.
Weigh Up Parallel Opportunities
Sometimes the full-time permanent role isn’t available yet, so looking at freelance or contract work is a smart may let you stay using your trained skills and keep some money coming in. It also keeps your CV active and stops any worrying employment gaps from forming. You might find that a short-term contract leads to a permanent offer once the company sees how well you fit in with the team, but don’t place all your hopes on this.
Sometimes it’s also worth considering roles that are slightly junior to what you initially wanted just to get your foot in the door. It’s much easier to move up once you’re inside the company than it is to break in from the outside at a senior level, at least in a vast majority of job roles. If you want to be a head of department for marketing, maybe a senior communications role is fine right now.
With this advice, we hope you can cope in a terrible job market. Hopefully things will improve soon.
Featured image: Andrea Piacquadio
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