How I Got a Job in this Market
If you’ve been keeping up with me, you knew I was in the trenches of job searching. And what better time to be searching than right now, right?! (Well, statistically, literally any other time.)
And when I say trenches…I mean 1917’s Lance Corporal Schofield in the trenches of WWI, trenches.
Every single day was a struggle between feeling inadequate and maintaining my optimism. It was questioning my worth and questioning my sanity and telling myself over and over that I will be in Chicago. Toxic optimism administered straight intravenously every single day, despite my growing disdain for both optimism and needles.
And folks…
After 10 months and 1,300+ applications….I SIGNED MY OFFER (in August)!!
I wasn’t expecting the phone call that day to be congratulatory when I answered. I was just standing there in shock. I didn’t negotiate. I didn’t take time to mull anything over. I accepted right then and there (it was also one of my top picks). 10 months of 9am-9pm job searching will take the picky right out of you lol.
I immediately called Noelle, screamed into the phone that I got the job, and we both celebrated (me in my room, her on the toilet at work…god I love that girl).
On a serious note— here are a couple pieces of advice I can offer as someone who was getting 5 interviews a week (sometimes up to 10) after making some adjustments:
1. Apply to listings in the first couple of hours. Constantly refreshing job site pages made me want to rip my eyeballs out but I hate to admit it increased the communication I got with companies (be it a rejection email or interview). Having your name at the top of that list prevents you from being buried amongst the hundreds upon hundreds (sometimes thousands) of other applicants. When I started making it my mission to get in early, I immediately saw an increase in my frequency of interviews. I actually think this is the reason I got so far with the three positions I was in late-stages with before my offer.
2. Write the cover letter. I won’t lie, I don’t know if this had -that- heavy of an impact because I was writing CLs from the beginning, but I think including a CL shows to them you’re taking the time to write one. Has anyone ever mentioned my CL a single time in interviews or recruiting? No. Did I continue because I was afraid I’d look lazy without one? Yes. Fortunately all of the roles I was applying to fell into two categories so I had two CLs I would edit slightly for each listing. And include some keywords into your CL, people (your resume too while you’re at it)!
3. Hot take here but reaching out to people on LinkedIn did nothing for me. I never received a single message back. And I like to think I have a pretty cared-for, up-to-date profile. Maybe because I don’t have the LinkedIn subscription, but who knows? I suppose this could work if you have a stronger network than mine or pay to stand out. To be quite honest, I’ll be happy if I never have to open LinkedIn again (and I’m tired of hiding my opinion on it!!).
4. Apply directly on the company’s website. I had five sites open at all times (LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Indeed, HiringCafe, and BuiltIn— sometimes others if I was feeling extra) and would just refresh throughout the day. From there I’d go to the company’s career site and apply. And when the application asks how I found the listing— why…the company website, of course! I monitor your site because I’m that enthusiastic to work here!
Side note: ‘Easy Apply’ on LinkedIn didn’t score me a single interview ever. Maybe a couple of phone call screenings with recruiters but I never found success there overall. I found the easier it was to apply, the more applicants and therefore the worse your chances.
5. Lensa, Nexxt, Swooped, etc. only clogged my email. I got to the point where I unsubscribed from emails from these types of companies because it was just the same job reposted ten times every day. I felt like it was eating away at my soul. Like with every email I got flaunting these apparent “bountiful” amounts of jobs, I was somehow being taunted.
“Look at all these jobs you won’t even get an email back from,” they’d say.
“But why?” I’d whisper back.
They never gave me an answer.
The less emails flooding my inbox, the better. Highly recommend you do the same for your sanity.
6. Interview like you’re human. You are. You know that. But when I say interview like you’re human, I mean crack (appropriate) jokes and break the ice and ask about the person you’re speaking to and make them feel seen. They speak to a million people a day so it’s easier to get lost in the ocean of candidates than stand out. I turned one very simple question around on an interview and she was in genuine shock. She said no one had asked her about herself the entire process. It stood out. It made her day. And, at the very minimum, even if you don’t get the job, you reminded yourself you’re still human and there are other humans all around you being human too.
7. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! I can’t tell you how many times I saw no light at the end of the tunnel. I was very fortunate to have savings and a great family who understood patience is the key to success, but it’s equally important to hold that kindness to yourself. Take a break. Go for a walk. Do something you enjoy.
Funny enough, I got this offer the week after I decided to restructure my approach and stop driving myself insane sitting in front of my screen for 10 hours a day. I would check in the morning, go for a walk, make some lunch, check again, do something creative or pleasurable, and check again before unwinding for the night. I spent time with family, hung out with friends, anything to take my mind away from what had been consuming me for months. It definitely helped reframe my mind into a healthier, less-job-obsessed space. And that’s when the universe decided I was ready.
Thank you, girlfriend.
8. Lastly, I can’t stress to you enough the importance of not giving up. As annoying as it is— the only thing that will get you out of this is toxic optimism. Blinding, unrealistic optimism. The kind that annoys even the most happy individual your mind can fabricate.
Another rejection email? No big deal. Wasn’t meant to be!
Got ghosted after four rounds of interviews? Eh, wouldn’t want to work for a company that does that anyway. Onto the next!
100+ applications these last couple weeks and not a word back from anyone? Give it time, something will bite!
I got frustrated too, yes. Angry, yes. Devastated on occasion, yes. But the world will keep spinning and this is just part of the ride.
And eventually— when you least expect it— the good news will pop up like a beautiful little bud on the flower you planted months ago.
So here I am: three months into my new job, three months into my new life. Happier than ever at the endless possibilities of my dream.
If you’re going through this now or in the future, I want to say I understand how you’re feeling. It will work out. You will get a job. You will make it out of this better and stronger and more patient than ever before.
And if you do get the good news and want to share it with someone— I will celebrate with you. Tell me in my Contact Me section and I’ll jump for joy on your behalf.
Good luck, soldier. You’re gonna do great things.
You’re so loved.
Xoxo,
Alli
