If you’re getting zero or next to zero interviews, take a step back and start with these 4 things:
📜 Your Resume
– Your resume is no different than a product’s sales/landing page. It needs to quickly hook the audience (i.e. a recruiter or hiring manager), communicate your value, and quantify your impact.
– Another way to look at it is that you have 5-10 seconds to clearly communicate who you are, what you bring, and why it matters.
– Additionally, be consistent with your formatting, careful to not overdo it (you want it easily scannable by both computer AND human). Unless you’re going for a highly creative/design-focused role, avoid using colors.
🛠️ Address Your Skill Gaps
– Even though your technical skill alone is not enough to land a new role (or secure that promotion or raise you’ve been gunning for), it still is a table stack factor in that there will always be a minimum acceptable level of know-how.
– Consider YouTube, Udemy, eDx, etc. to pick up new skills. If it produces something tangible, highlight it on a portfolio along with any other past work you can show off.
– Take caution that you don’t continuously learn to the point where you’re actually using learning to procrastinate. Learning is useless if you don’t apply what you’ve learn in real situations.
🤝 Learn How to Cold Network
– Find people in the space you’re interested in and reach out to them. Take a genuine interest in learning how they got where they are and what advice they have to share.
– Networking is one of those things that starts off slow, but as you work on it, eventually hits a “critical mass” where you look back and go “oh, that’s why networking is so valuable.”
– To make it crystal clear — if you’re not networking now, you must start. The best time to network is BEFORE you “need” it. People are more likely to help someone who they got to know before they had an opening versus someone who’s first interaction only came when they had something (a job) they want. This is also one of the most effective ways to get around a poorly configured “screening bot” (for lack of a better word) when cold applying for roles.
🏖️ Take Care of Yourself
– Regardless of what you may see out there, the job market is in one of its roughest, most unforgiving states yet. There will be things in your control, yes, but even more out of your control. You could do everything “right” and have all the skills/experience the company needs and still get rejected through no fault of your own.
– It’s okay to take a breather and relax. Get a massage. Go on a mini-vacation. Treat yourself to your favorite restaurant. Be honest to yourself and your body; if you need a break, TAKE IT. You help no one if you keep on pushing through at less than 100% because you’re running on fumes.
But, I get it. Times are tough and it’s far easier said than done. For all our sakes, at least try the above (especially the bit about taking time to take care of yourself). You have nothing different to lose otherwise.
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