The Silent Treatment: The New Normal of Job Hunting?

The Silent Treatment: The New Normal of Job Hunting?

It’s a familiar story: you’ve dusted off your resume, meticulously crafted cover letters, and tapped into your network. You’ve sent out countless applications, followed up with persistence, and yet, the silence is deafening. Where once a phone call or email might have offered a glimmer of hope, now there’s just an endless void. Is this the new normal of job hunting? It can feel like you’re all by yourself on a new planet.

It’s disheartening to invest time and energy into building relationships, only to be met with radio silence. You might question your skills, your experience, or even your worth. It's easy to feel isolated and discouraged. This lack of response can feel like a personal rejection, even though it's likely just a symptom of a larger issue.

The job market is saturated, competition is fierce, and companies are inundated with applications. Automation has streamlined the hiring process, often leading to impersonal and generic responses and most of the time, or at least in my case, or none at all. Afterall, finding a job these days can be a numbers game, and most days, I must confess, I feel like just another number or not even a number.

Yet, despite all of these negatives, it's important to remember that self-worth isn't defined by job offers. The skills, experiences, and potential you’ve acquired over the years are valuable. This silence doesn't reflect your abilities; it's a reflection of a system that is overwhelmed and automated. So much that the automation has broken and doesn’t account for your feelings, etc.

So, what can be done? Keep fighting the good fight! Be a goldfish (see my previous blog) Keep reaching out, but also focus on self-care. Continuing to network strategically while building skills, can give you the runway to explore other avenues. Remember, every "no" brings you closer to a "yes." It sounds trite, I know. While it's tough, it's essential to maintain hope and resilience. Can you tell, I’m coaching myself?

This silence might be the new norm, but it doesn't have to be what keeps you silent and stifled. Be encouraged to keep pushing forward and remember, you're not alone. Call a friend, take a walk, sit and enjoy something beautiful. Do something that makes you laugh. Good luck in your search.

Have you experienced this job search silence? How have you coped with it? Share your thoughts and experiences and drop me a line.