What To Do When Your Job Search Takes Longer Than Anticipated

Let me just start off this blog post by saying that I am writing this in late 2020 while we’re still very much in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. But, all of the tips I am going to provide in this post will apply far beyond this current situation. 

There are times when a job search takes longer than expected for one reason or another. The job market is constantly in flux, and certain skills might be in abundance right now in your area. Or, perhaps budgets for hiring haven’t been approved yet, slowing down the hiring process. 

Many times, the reason you’re not getting a lot of responses to your resume as you might expect has nothing to do with you or how qualified you are. So please don’t let this affect your self-confidence or deter you from applying for more roles. Often, it’s just a numbers game, but I am going to give you some tips to help your chances to get the offer you deserve.

5 Tips to Navigate a Lengthy Job Search

Here are some tips to help you improve your chances if you’re in the middle of a job search that is taking longer than you anticipated:

Revamp Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile

Resume writing is a very specialized skill and many job seekers try to DIY their resume by searching online for examples that they then cherry pick to “Frankenstein” together into something passable. Does this sound familiar?

If you don’t have it in the budget to hire a professional resume writer, don’t worry. What recruiters and hiring managers are most looking for is quantifiable data points. Did I make or save your last company some money? How much? Did you exceed sales goals? By how much? Use actual numbers and percentages to demonstrate your value. 

On LinkedIn, make sure the same quantifiable value is easy to find on your profile. You have a lot more room there to talk about your accomplishments, so make sure you do so! Your LinkedIn profile should be fully populated, and ideally, full of recommendations from former colleagues and supervisors.

While you’re at it, do a Google search for your name and make sure nothing unexpected comes up, like an old embarrassing photo from that college house party or an expletive-ridden tweet from 2016. If you can find it, they can find it.

Talk to a Coach or Mentor

Working with a career coach is one of the best investments you can make, and the money almost always comes back to you in the form of a higher job offer. Why? Because a coach can show you how to really market yourself, how to nail the job interview, and how to counter an offer (with tact) that isn’t quite where you need it to be.

If you’re not getting interviews or follow-up interviews, it is definitely worth it to talk to a coach and see where the disconnect is happening. Most career coaches will offer a free consultation call so you can be sure it’s a good match. Be sure to check out their website, blog, and social media channels to see if they are a good match for someone in your season of life. 

A mentor is another great option. This might be someone who is local to you who is working in your industry already or it might be someone you follow online who has your dream job. Reach out to that person and ask if they would be open to a 30 minute virtual coffee date. Most people are more than happy to help someone advance their career. 

If they agree, prepare some questions ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is waste their time, especially if they’re meeting with you out of the kindness of their heart. Be sure to follow up afterward with a heartfelt note or email or even a small gift of appreciation.

Add Relevant New Skills to Your Arsenal 

You know that saying that says, “Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway.” That 100% applies here. If your job search is taking a while, why not use that unexpected time to your advantage and learn a new skill that will round out your resume?

Do your research and if possible, try to find someone with a similar job title or someone who works in that department at the company you’re trying to work at. Ask them what skills they would recommend you add in the next 3 months. Then, learn it. Maybe you take a class on LinkedIn Learning (formerly lynda.com) or seek out a volunteer opportunity where you can learn something new!

Think Outside the Box

If you have only been considering salaried positions, it might be time to think outside the box a little bit. Instead, you may want to weigh the option of a more flexible work arrangement, at least in the short term. For example, do you have skills that would translate to freelance work? You might try offering your services online and see what happens. Sometimes, it just takes one client with a large contract to make up the salary you had at your last role. 

Or, if you just need something to pass the time until you get a full time job, you could consider contract work instead. This used to carry a bit of a stigma because people had the perception that contact work was just for low-paying, entry-level positions, but these days it can actually be a beneficial option if you’re looking for something short-term or with added flexibility!

Take Care of Yourself

Lastly, focus on taking care of yourself as you go through this often stressful process. Don’t let the job search consume your entire life. Find things that bring you peace and joy because your mental health matters just as much as landing that new role. Sometimes, the best opportunities come after you take time away to rest and restore.

If you’re too stressed and burned out, you won’t be able to go into a job interview with the confidence and charisma you need to make an amazing impression. So, find things that help you recharge your batteries and make time every single day to do those activities.