This is an anonymous post from an Elpha member.

I could use some encouragement, been job hunting for 6 months still no offer.

Posted in:Advice Health & Wellness Misc Vents

I could use some words of encouragement as I've been on the job hunt for the past six months with no success in landing an offer. It's been a challenging journey, and despite my best efforts, I'm feeling a bit disheartened. I've fine-tuned my resume gone through two interview processes worked on expanding my network, but the desired breakthrough hasn't happened yet.

I'm reaching out to this community for support and perhaps some insights. Have any of you faced a similar situation, and if so, how did you navigate through it? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your support!

rachellevysarfin·Mar 05

I'm sorry you're going through this! I don't know if I have better advice to give than to continue networking (online and in-person), and to just be patient. I also know that you're not alone (not sure if that makes you feel any better, either). I'm sending you good vibes and positivity, and I hope that the right thing comes your way soon!

Linsey54·Mar 08

Thank you so much for this, I just needed someone to acknowledge the difficulty of finding work at this time. I am networking and I have gotten a short term gig and I can do that as I keep looking.

rachellevysarfin·Mar 08

First of all, that's awesome that you've found something, even in the short-term! Celebrate that!! Second, you're absolutely right, you can keep looking while you've got something short-term.

MelanieEllsworth·Mar 05

Hi Linsey! I'm going on my 3rd month searching and I can relate to the discouraging feelings you're having. Here are a few of my strategies that have landed me several interviews so far. However, we have to keep in mind that there are THOUSANDS of us out in this pool now with all of the layoffs. It's going to be harder no matter how good our resumes, networking, and skillsets are. Try to focus on the positives and maybe share your resume with us so we can provide feedback. 1) Identify the roles you're qualified for and focus on those open positions. I wrote a LinkedIn post on this - if you're having a hard time convincing yourself that you can do the job, you'll have a harder time convincing the hiring manager. Know what you're GREAT at and that's what you focus your energy on. Don't apply to every job you "think" you might be able to do. Know your niche and zoom into those jobs. 2) Be sure your resume speaks to measurable outcomes, not just tasks. As a leader who interviews others as well, I'm always looking for what someone's done in their role that's brought value, saved money, or improved efficiency. Numbers, percentages, ratings, etc. are all good areas to hone in on.3) Let others read your resume. We've got a story in our heads that we may "think" we're communicating in our resume, but that may not be how the recipient is reading it. Let others give you input on whether they can quickly and easily know what you're able to do for them. And make sure it's ATS compatible - that really does matter.4) Use tools to help with your cover letters (yes, they are still necessary for 95% of the jobs I'm applying to). I use chatgpt to use the job description and compare my resume and provide a 1-page professional, yet engaging cover letter that highlights XYZ. Then I go back to that output and make minor edits to make it mine (adding some personal details to the paragraphs) and it's been an incredible time saver, and I always have a well-crafted cover letter for each job.4) Get visible. If you're not commenting on LinkedIn posts or creating some of your own, you're missing valuable opportunity to showcase your writing style, your humor, your expertise in an area, etc. With SO many people in the same boat as you, it's important to stand out and be seen. I have an interview this week because a colleague of mine saw a recent post on how I didn't get a particular job I was really hoping for, and she messaged me a job opening in her company that I was perfect for. It's ok to be vulnerable about your situation so folks know if they might be able to help you. 5) This is an obvious one, but I've recently seen several really negative social media posts and I feel it needs reminding. Keep the aggressive negativity and bashing about the system off social media. I was shocked to see at least 3 posts last week from folks, similar to you with 8+ months of no work, completely obliterating the recruiters, companies, the universe, etc. on social media. I was so embarrassed for them because there is absolutely no way (in my opinion) any company is going to willingly reach out to this fragile person to offer them a job. If you need to talk to someone about the stress this causes you, please do - it's important we have a place to vent. Just remember that a potential employer is reading your post and making judgements before they even know what a fantastic employee you could be.Good luck and keep us posted. It's hard, I DO know. We're here for you if you need resume review, cover letter help, etc.

Linsey54·Mar 08

Wow , this is very comprehensive and I have particularly resonated with fine tuning the search. I believe in applying for jobs that have soul because ultimately and ideally I will work there so it means that if the role speaks to me so will the work and culture. I needed to be reminded of this and your post has done just that. So thank you!! I re-did my CV and its very action and results oriented am happy with how it looks now. Having gone through a couple of interviews has given me the feedback I needed to get my CV to this point. I have also reviewed CV's that I thought were impressive to just compare to mine and also gotten quite a bit of how to speak about my experience and achievements. I struggle a bit with visibility it sometimes makes me feel inauthentic and engaging in salesmanship. When I was younger my father was adamant that professionals should never advertise He was an engineer and for him it was unethical for certain professionals to advertise. I could use more guidance here, maybe a blog or video or any kind of resource because this an area where I can grow. On the public bashing, I kinda get the whole not having a break down online, am not very active online so this might be less risky for me but I get it. I empathise with the people who make such posts but it can be very difficult for employers to engage if a post like that has a wide reach and a bad moment becomes definitive for someone's brand.

rachellevysarfin·Mar 08

I also hear this! Sales has a bad rap, especially when it comes to selling yourself. If you're looking for guidance, To Sell Is Human by Daniel Pink is a great book. Also, I created a LinkedIn post which summarizes my skills and talents: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachellevysarfin/overlay/1708108512420/single-media-viewer/?profileId=ACoAAACVV04Bk8M4HhCWZ3HwnGYhcohOakjzCAQ. If you need help creating something similar, let me know!

rachellevysarfin·Mar 05

@MelanieEllsworth this is way more articulate and way more detailed than what I said :-D

szannora·Mar 10

Wow, Melanie, this was a wonderful post, thank you for taking the time to write it!

kanikayadav7·Mar 06

Hi @Linsey54 , I have been in a similar situation and I know what the struggle is. There are many competitive, capable, and high-caliber people out there to choose from hence it is tough to stand out and get that job offer in hand. My top suggestions to land in the job offer are as follows- Stick to your story make it strong enough with evidence, and skills that you have demonstrated in the past that closely align with the job description this is the key. - Ensure you stand out from the crowd by pushing yourself till that last interview, because trust me every single round they only tend to find ways to eliminate you, Prove them wrong with strong answers every single time for each question!- Practice, practice and practice, cannot stress on this anymore, the more you say things out loud you will improve and be natural at the time of interview, build answers around every situation and be prepared to take lemons- stay with community you are targetting for your role, interview with people take instant feedbacks, use pramp, exponenet they have free interview sessions you can schedule. people are helpful in general and this help you to improve. - stay engaged and keep on interviewing you will succeed! Do not give up!My best wishes with you :) You got this!Take care of yourself!

Linsey54·Mar 08

When I think about competing with people I get really discouraged because people are very skilled and I'm sure even in my last interview process it was me against someone similar to me. How can I win in such a situation? So the discouragement is that it comes down to something even more minuscule that can be harder to figure out. So I just hope the next interview I get I have that edge. Pushing myself each round, I had five rounds and the fifth one is where I was eliminated and I was so discouraged because it took 2 months to get there. Maybe some fatigue played a part in that so I'll pay attention through all stages. I have kept going and I hope the next two months bring some good news. There are two roles I am particularly excited about and I am looking forward to that.

kanikayadav7·Mar 08

My best wishes to you, Good Luck!

Linsey54·Mar 09

Thanks same to you!

thedailyem·Mar 06

I’m so sorry you’re having a rough search. The main thing that I hope you can internalise is that so often, getting rejected from a role is not because there is anything wrong with you…it’s just that there are so many good candidates on the market right now. Even a year ago, I was hiring and got to a spot where I had 2 awesome candidates and really had a tough time choosing. At the end of the day, it wasn’t that the person I didn’t go with was a bad candidate - I just had to make a choice. Job searching is hard. Make sure you’re taking some time for yourself as well. You will find a role, I’m certain!

Linsey54·Mar 08

I feel like the choice part is what happened to me as I felt I was a strong candidate and I had good rapport with everyone I was interviewing with but there was one role and ultimately they had to make a choice. It's just so exhausting to go through 5 rounds and not get a role and not even get anything. I took sometime and I feel really recharged now and I am applying, there are tow roles I am excited about and I hope I make some progress in the coming weeks.

joyceburke·Mar 12

I understand. I, too, have had a similar experience. I also feel disheartened sometimes. I have found that connecting with other people, even if there is no position, keeps my spirits up. It has helped to focus on the successes in my life and include the interviews that I get as a success. One thing I keep reminding myself is that you are competing against thousands that are out of work across the US, as most of the roles are remote. It is a very tough market; it is not you. If you would like, I am happy to connect.

SavitaYuniDevine·Mar 13

Thank you for sharing Linsey, It is a difficult process, like others have echoed you are not alone in this journey. It is reflective, emotional, and you can get into a negative space if you do not find ways to uplift yourself.Continue to feed your strengths, build new ones, and expand your professional network. It is crucial to know your value and to be authentic through this process. I always ask for feedback, interviewers vary in perspectives, take what criticism they may provide lightly because it is not always a perfect recruiting process.I’m facing a similar situation after nearly 15 years with my prior employer. I was part of a workforce reduction and earned my doctorate while employed there. In the meantime, I’ve been working on my podcast, branding my business in new market areas, completing research, working with an alumni career coach, networking, sharpening my creative skills, and staying well with mindfulness and exercise. After years of devotion to corporate America, I really feel the universe pushed me out of an environment where I could no longer thrive.Glad to connect if you need anything! Sending positive vibrations ✨~ Yuni

meganbouhamama·Mar 16

Hello! As others have said, your story is so important. Get it down to two minutes max and expand from there as needed. Once I did that it made a big difference and as I spoke with more people in an organization the story lined up as they compared notes. Also, for me, running became extremely important as a way to make progress in something besides job hunting 😊. I also volunteered at local nonprofits to give back to my community and met some amazing people. Good luck. Hang in there. And I know this may sound crazy, but try to make the most of this time while you have it.

racheledenr·Mar 22

Hi Linsey,First, kudos to you for asking for help and being vulnerable. I feel you, and have been on the market for 5 months. I recently started Never Search Alone (you can check out more at https://www.phyl.org/) and the program helps you take a step back, build a job search council, understand your candidate market fit, and get better at networking and asking for help. The thing that's been the most helpful for me is it's a structured program, with a built in support system. In addition, I'm always open if you want to connect and vent, and have someone listen. You're not alone. You will find a role.

charlotteschaefer·Mar 23

I can completely relate to what you're going through. I'm currently facing a similar situation, trying to transition into tech as a web developer after having finished a bootcamp.Maybe it helps to share what my instructor told us: "Good things happen to those who wait." I know it might not seem like that right now, but you'll eventually get there. And: It's okay to feel disheartened at times.I'm sending you lots of energy! 💜

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