If you’ve been unsuccessfully searching for a job for some time, you may hit a point where you just throw up your hands and say to yourself “there are no jobs!”
To that end, we went to a variety of career experts and them questions about what to do if you’re running into roadblocks on your search and feeling like there are no jobs.
Let’s dive in and see what they had to say.
Why Do People Say There Are No Jobs?
When it comes to why people say there are no jobs, Chris Kille, Founder, Elevate Outsourcing, offered the following perspective:
“Ah, the age-old conundrum. But let me be brutally frank – when people say there are no jobs, what they’re really saying is there are no jobs that fit my exact specifications. It’s like going to an all-you-can-eat buffet and saying there’s nothing to eat because they don’t have your favorite sushi roll. Job markets ebb and flow. While some industries may be contracting, others are blossoming. The trick is to be flexible, open-minded, and dare I say it, a little adventurous.”
Tina Grant, HR Manager, Aerospheres, discussed the difference between those that are proactive and those that are not when it comes to trying to find a job:
“There really are two sides to the story. You get those who are actively sending in their resumes and trying to find work. Then there are those sitting on the couch, doing nothing, and still complaining about the fact that there are no jobs.
For the ones who are seeking work, the problem will often be due to a lack of skill requirements. When there isn’t a lot of demand for the skills they have, it’s going to be difficult to land a job. Taking up a course to expand your skillset, in this case can be very helpful.
Those who are not actively seeking for a job will often find it much easier to actually land a position if they do some searching. A job isn’t going to come to you – you have to find it (except for top talents that are sometimes scouted, but that’s a whole different story).”
Why Are So Many People Not Working?
Lots of people these days aren’t working for a few different reasons. First off, the economy isn’t exactly thriving, which can spell trouble for businesses. When companies start feeling the pinch financially, they might lay people off to try and cut costs. Unfortunately, that means there are fewer jobs available overall, and more people end up without work.
Another big reason so many are unemployed is because they’re considered discouraged workers. That basically just means they’ve stopped actively looking for jobs because they don’t think it’s worth the effort – whether it’s due to low hiring rates or not enough opportunities out there. It’s understandable why someone would feel discouraged during times like these!
The above content was provided by Nate Nead, Principal, Recruiters.co.
Why Is It So Hard for Me to Find a Job?
I want to first say that it’s always been hard to find a job. Going through interview processes to receiving an offer as the best-fit for a desired firm is competitive. If you are struggling to get interviews, this signals that your resume is problematic. You are probably not using the right keywords for your industry to show that your skillset is a match for the role. To ensure you appear qualified, spend time reading the job responsibilities and qualifications section of open roles and incorporate these skill sets into your resume’s bullets.
The above content was provided by Melissa Trager, Founder, Resume All Day
What to Do When You Can’t Find a Job?
If you are having trouble finding a job, there are a few things you can do. First, you should assess your skills and education and make sure that you are qualified for the jobs that you are applying for and interested in. You need to make sure that your resume speaks to your goal. Many people make the mistake of their resume being a chronology of their past, rather than a story of why they are qualified for the current position.
Once you have confirmed that you’re applying to the right roles and your materials appropriately represent you, you can begin to network with people in your field to see if you can be referred to posted roles.
Finally, you should be persistent and keep applying for jobs, even if you are not getting interviews.
The above content was provided by Jamie Terran, Career Coach, Jamie Terran Coaching.
Conclusion
It can be frustrating feeling like there are no jobs.
However, the feeling that there are no jobs can often be a result of the criteria that you’re placing upon your search. At the end of the day, you want to be patient and thoughtful in looking for the right role, but you also need to be realistic to ensure that it aligns with your skills and background.
