Going back to work if you’ve had the holiday season is never easy, but going back to a job that you really hate, that you’ve finished and spent a chunk of the last year trying to get out of it… Well, that’s a different battle, but one that can be won.
The job market is tough right now. In July 2024, CNN reported that the unemployment rate had reached a three-year highdriven primarily by more people entering the workforce. We are a long way from the “great resignation” and job growth after COVID-19, when it was a labor market. Things have now changed the other way around.
So if you’re struggling during your job hunt, keep in mind that the conditions around you are not ideal – far from it. You may feel frustrated to keep looking while still working. Job hunting can be a job in itself.
But it’s a new year, after all. New year, new opportunities and possibilities. January is considered a good time for job hunting as roles that opened before the holidays but were not advertised due to the holidays will now go live. Budgets are being revamped and more people have an “out with the old, in with the new” mentality, which can cause more resignations.
Time to get back out there, again, for your best chance to change jobs in 2025.
How to restart the job hunt
Andrew McCaskillLinkedIn’s career expert knows how hard it is. “If 2024 left you job hunting without the results you wanted, think of the new year as an opportunity to reset. The current job market is undeniably tight, with about one opening for every two and a half applicants, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities, it just means you need a focused, strategic approach to find them.” First, he recommends entering the “programming age.”
Treat it like a personal “career audit month,” says McCaskill. “Look at which roles have gained traction in their industry, update your CV to highlight transferable skills and prepare to be proactive.”
There is an element of pragmatism, says McCaskill. If, for example, tech isn’t hiring a lot overall, but healthcare tech is, be open-minded and focus your efforts there, even if it’s a bit niche. “Don’t just apply for the same old roles – adapt. Ask yourself: Which industries are growing? What transferable skills do I bring to the table? If one door closes, find another to knock on. Staying ahead means spotting trends and leaning into roles that fit your skills, even if they weren’t on your radar before.” He also recommends using AI (though take it with a grain of salt) to review your resume if you don’t have a mentor. AI programs like ChatGPT may be able to spot a gap in your resume or suggest keywords from the job description to include in a cover letter. But of course, without a human looking at it, don’t take everything he suggests as gospel. The more specific you are with the questions you ask about AI, the more likely you are to get a useful answer.
Remember that “feeling stuck doesn’t mean you’re stuck, it’s just part of the journey,” says McCaskill. “Rely on your personal team of trusted individuals to provide guidance and support in various aspects of your career. These individuals play different roles, offering advice, guidance and assistance.” This can also be colleagues in your industry who are further along or more senior than you, with whom you trust to speak confidentially. It’s also a good time to build new relationships with people you want advice from — polite email never hurt anyone. Also, set up LinkedIn notifications for the jobs you’re hoping for so you’re always notified of new posts.
If it really doesn’t work…
Landing a new job can be a long process and may take even longer now than you’re used to. McCaskill says it’s important to take care of your mental health. “Find ways to decompress after the job search and remember it’s as much about the market as it is about you. If your job search timeline was about three months, prepare for a longer process—closer to six months or even a year—which may be more realistic, especially if you’re returning to a new industry.
It’s a good idea to consider your personal job search process. McCaskill says to ask yourself: You’re showing off your application skills and in interviews? Are you telling a compelling story about your skills that match the job requirements? Are you leaning on your network for the right things at the right time? There may be things you overlook or underestimate.
It’s also worth taking breaks from time to time. Job hunting every week can be exhausting. Natalie Whitcombe, HR expert and UK founder Whitcombe HRsays, “Take regular breaks from job hunting. This will allow you to have some time for yourself and regain motivation.” Just as you would take a break from other things in your life to come back to them refreshed, the job search is the same.
Also try not to take rejection personally. Whitcombe says it’s important to remember that “some companies don’t get back to candidates at all or in a timely manner” and that “the market has been very candidate-driven for years, but that’s shifted in 2024 to a more employer-led market, which means employers have a wider selection of candidates.”Many of us don’t separate our self-worth from our job search, but this will help you stay motivated when the things aren’t going well Job hunting is about a lot more than you — it’s about the company and how they fill vacancies, whether there’s an internal candidate, the timing of your application, your experience, the personality match between to you and the interviewer and many more besides.
Job hunting now is as much a test of patience and resilience as it is of real skill and experience. This is rubbish news, we know, but the end goal once achieved will be worth it.
This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.
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