Written by Sanya Mehra
I have come to terms with the fact that I will have to push myself very hard to get even a foot in the door for a single job interview in this market. You could apply to 50 jobs and hear back from 1 company or not at all (worst-case scenario). You could have contributed meaningfully to the community or have leadership roles in other places, but if you don’t have at least 2+ years of experience in the ENTRY position you’re applying under, your chances of getting in are very low.
That is the case, not only for me, but for so many people!
Looking for a job is very hard, but what is even harder is to keep at it. It’s like being told that you’re digging in a gold mine, but even though you haven’t gotten any gold yet after hours of digging, there might be some ahead. But for gold, wouldn’t everyone keep digging?
I know I would. That is what keeps me going. I feel like adjusting to the current job market is very difficult, but if you really want something, you have to keep at it.
Therefore, the key lesson in surviving this job market is consistency. Rejection is brutal, but so is not accomplishing your goal. You could have 20 rejections, but if you stop right there, that’ll all be what you are left with. And honestly, who would want that? I’ve gotten so many rejections that I’ve honestly gotten accustomed to them, but what keeps me going is my goal: I want to start working more. Because of my consistency, I’ve been able to secure and pass interviews this month, with only the choice of where I want to work left as my decision.
Next, be mindful of your goal and what you’re targeting. Ask yourself questions like “Why do I want a job?” or “Where do I want to work?” I know these seem like pretty standard questions, but they also give us motivation when we have it clear in our mind. For example, if X wanted a job because she wanted endless trips to the shopping mall, her goal would be financial independence. If she knew she wanted to work retail, she’d search up all the retail stores out there, apply to or call them up to know if they’re still hiring. So, knowing your target and running toward it helps a lot.
At the end of the day, know that you’re the only one who can make sure you get hired. Being confident in who you are as a person is very important as well! If you don’t believe in the fact that you’ll get this position, then the hiring team won’t either.
I always like to say positive affirmations, as a habit of sorts, to calm myself down before and after an interview. If one person can, so can you. Just believe in yourself and your capabilities, and you’ll be able to show everyone else that you can, too, survive this job market!