How to deal with a lengthy job hunt

Sponsored post by McLaren Recruitment

Job hunting can be a time-consuming and draining process at the best of times, but when you’ve been looking for a while without success, it can begin to feel overwhelming. The uncertainty, repeated rejection, and endless scrolling through job boards can take a toll on your confidence and overall well-being. If you’re in this situation, you’re not alone – and it doesn’t mean you’re not employable. 

Here’s how to keep your morale up, stay productive, and refresh your approach while you continue your search.

Refresh your approach

If you’ve been job hunting for a while, it may be time to reassess your strategy:

Review your CV and cover letters: Review your CV to ensure everything is relevant and that you have evidenced outcomes. Make sure you are tailoring your CV and cover letter to highlight the skills and experience relevant to each role, ensuring keywords match those in the job ad. Be upfront about any gaps in your CV.

Ask for feedback: If you’re getting interviews but no offers, consider asking for feedback from interviewers. If you’re not getting interviews, ask a mentor or professional contact to review your CV.

Expand your search: Look at roles you may not have considered but where your skills could be transferable. Temporary, contract, or part-time roles can help you get your foot in the door while you continue to look for your ideal position.

Network: Reach out to former colleagues, industry contacts, and alumni networks. Let them know you’re looking and ask if they know of any opportunities. Sometimes, opportunities arise where you least expect them.

Consider approaching a recruitment agency: Most recruiters have databases of potential candidates that they use either before or alongside a general job advert. Registering with a recruitment agency allows you to hear about jobs earlier and be alerted to jobs that you already know you have the skills or experience for.

Do some professional development: Think about whether there’s a short course you could take to address a skills gap or formalise some knowledge. Professional development doesn’t have to be expensive - there are lots of decent free courses and webinars available, and your local library may give you access to things like LinkedIn Learning for free.

Take care of your mental health

We know it can be frustrating if it’s taking a while to find a new role, especially if you’ve had a lot of “thanks, but no thanks” emails or made it to a few interviews only to not be selected.

Treating job hunting like a job

One way to stop job hunting from taking over is to treat your job hunt like a job itself. Set aside working hours during which you’ll look for jobs and complete applications. Write yourself a to-do list and celebrate your small wins along the way.

It’s also important to make time for activities that are good for your mental health, including:

Staying active: Exercise can help reduce stress and improve mood. Even a daily walk can make a difference.

Practising gratitude: Each day, write down three things you are grateful for to shift your focus away from negative thoughts.

Connecting with others: Isolation can worsen stress. Keep in touch with friends and family, and consider joining a job seeker support group where you can share experiences and feel less alone.

Volunteering: Volunteering in your community or within your industry is good for your soul, and (added bonus) it can help you gain new skills and add recent experience to your CV.

Good luck. And if you are searching for a new role, don’t forget to check out the Do Good Jobs job board or get in touch with us at McLaren Recruitment to see what roles we have available.