9 Things to Remember While You Job Hunt
Six months into a global pandemic and “it’s been a year” feels wholly inadequate – but let’s face it, it’s HARD out here. As well as navigating the endlessly evolving shitstorm of local restrictions, attempting to maintain some form of social life and do the washing up three times a day (seriously though, where does it come from??), thousands of people are losing their income.
Full disclosure – this isn’t expert advice from a qualified recruiter. But hopefully these tips can offer you some solidarity in what is essentially the weirdest, shittest year most of us have lived through, especially if you’re dealing with the added pressure of being made redundant.
Don’t be disheartened. While many applications seem intentionally time-consuming, unfortunately not all employers will respond to your application, or even get back to you after an interview. This is poor practice on their part – but try not to take it personally, pick yourself up and persevere.
Know your worth. If you have the right (or even some relevant) experience for a job, don’t sell yourself short because you’re grateful for the opportunity. A 2019 survey found that 25% of women have never asked for a pay rise because the subject is too awkward. Awkwardness be damned! When you know you’re bringing all the right stuff to the table – don’t be afraid to ask about a higher salary – it’s not arrogant, it’s what you deserve.
Look after yourself. Between looking for an income and swallowing rejections, job-hunting is stressful enough in “normal” circumstances; throw in the urgency of a pandemic, and it’s a full-blown trial by fire. If you can, make sure you get some down time between applications, doing something that reminds you of your competence… a few hours away from your laptop can work wonders.
Feedback is your friend. When an employer does get back to you with the dreaded “unfortunately you did not meet the required criteria” waffle, you’re completely within your rights to ask for something less generic. You have nothing to lose, and the advice you get could land you your next role!
Keep an open mind. You might have a clear idea of what you’d like to do for work – if so, it’s very tempting to only apply for the jobs you really want. But if, like me, you have a humanities degree which trains you for nothing in particular, then you may need to broaden your horizons. In an economy such as this (cheers Rishi), it can’t hurt to consider the alternatives – especially if finding an income quickly is your first priority.
Fill your time. It’s so easy to get bogged down in pandemic lethargy if you’re between jobs, stuck in a rut of guilty lie-ins and waiting for motivation to arrive – spoiler alert – you get stood up. Try getting up at a regular time, putting a few doable targets down on paper (we LOVE a list) or fitting in some practical errands to make each day feel more accomplished.
Take on small projects. While you don’t have a job, why not spend some time volunteering or learning a new skill? Being productive in a different capacity will keep you on your toes and stave off the unemployment blues. Simply put, there has never been a more vital time to help out in your local community; head over to Doing Good Leeds to read about volunteering opportunities.
Ask for help. Have a question about a specific industry? Sure you can Google it, but don’t underestimate the power of a chat. Ask friends, family, friends of friends – the majority of people will take the time to help, and you could end up building a valuable network. If you’re really not sure where to start, speaking to a career coach can help you suss out your initial options.
Remember it won’t happen overnight. This is easier said than done, especially if your circumstances are urgent. Those who fall into their dream jobs with seemingly no effort are the exception (and could probably afford unpaid internships for two years), but most of us have to pay our dues. Don’t worry if you can’t get your foot in the door straight away, just try and take a step in the right direction – even if right now, that’s just a step towards a reliable paycheck.
Lastly, if you’ve been made redundant, please believe us when we say it is NOT your fault. It’s so easy to internalise these circumstances as a sign of personal failure – but we are literally living in a dystopia.
Need a hand getting interview-ready? Smart Works is a brilliant UK charity which ‘harnesses the power of clothes and confidence’ to help unemployed women find that perfect outfit for an interview, as well as providing useful interview training for a wide range of industries.
Contact or donate to Smart Works.
Cover image by the brilliant Natalie Byrne.
