No Job?
No Job: What to Do When the Door Won’t Open
When you’re not able find a job and going through a lot of life challenges, it can be more than exhausting. You may be able to relate to spending your time applying for jobs, reaching out to hiring managers, sending out dozens (or hundreds) of applications, tweaking your resume, showing up for interviews, and still not get the result that you were looking for. It can feel like shouting into the void and you may feel like you are hitting a brick wall. Even more challenging, it can start to chip away at your confidence and sense of direction and make you continually doubt yourself.
You're not alone. Many people — talented, driven, hard-working people — hit this wall at some point. Here are some ideas to keep moving forward:
1. You Are Not Your Job Status
If you don’t have a job, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy, unskilled, or falling behind. It can be easy to go down that rabbit hole as everywhere you seemingly look, people are making money and in jobs. Job markets are complex. There are a number of factors that can affect landing your dream job. Some of which include timing, connections, industry shifts, and just luck. Your worth isn’t defined by a job title or how much money you make. Remember that you are enough.
2. Pause,
When rejection keeps happening, the natural instinct may be to keep trying harder. Sometimes a short pause can help you reflect. Take a day or two to breathe, reset, and reflect. Ask:
What’s working in my approach?
What can I do differently that I’m currently not doing? Is there something that I can try differently?
Is there a pattern in the feedback (or lack of response)?
3. Be Open to Asking for Feedback
If you’re getting interviews but no offers, ask for feedback from employers, recruiters, or even mentors. Sometimes it could be something small — your interview answers, your questions, the way your resume frames your skills.
If you’re not getting interviews at all, consider asking for someone to review your resume and cover letter.
4. Strengthen While You Search
Can you build your skills as the time passes? Some examples may include the following to help you build your confidence.
Taking a free or low-cost/subsidized course online
Volunteering in your field
Working on personal projects
5. Time to Re-Evaluate
Sometimes you have the hidden invitation to pivot when you are given time off from your job. Maybe the roles you’re applying for aren’t the best match for your strengths. Maybe you’ve changed and the industry no longer suits what you are looking for.
Ask yourself:
Do I still want this?
What makes me feel the most alive at work?
Am I chasing something I used to want and no longer have the same passion for chasing?
6. Stay Connected
Stay in touch with people — friends, former colleagues, mentors. Let people know you’re looking.
