Break The Wheel: How to Break Free Of The Job Search Cycle

Though the level of national unemployment is slowly decreasing, there are still a lot of people out of work. Still, the level of vacancies is on the rise, meaning now is a better time than ever to get out there and find a job – whether you’re finding one after being out of work, or just looking for a change.

We have some handy advice on how to get back into the workplace and free yourself from the often soul-crushing cycle of job hunting.

Get networking! (Sort of)

Many people assume that networking means attending open days or meetings and offering people your business card, saying that they should keep you in mind for any vacancies they have.

However it doesn’t have to be as routine (and boring!) as that. Networking here simply means just getting out and talking to different people. Meet up with some old uni friends. Message a connection on LinkedIn. Go out for coffee with someone you used to work with.

Even seemingly meaningless interactions like this offer you a chance to remain adept at talking to people, but also gives you a chance to hear about jobs that may not be advertised yet. Perhaps your old co-worker knows of an opening in head office that you would be perfect for, and will put in a good word. These things are always worth a go.

Make a change

‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’ Einstein knew it and so should you!

If you find yourself looking over the same set of jobs then why not change up your search slightly? Widen your search area, perhaps include different key words. This might be the difference between hopeless daydreams and your dream job.

If you find yourself reading the same rejection emails over and over, take a look at your CV. See if there’s anything you can change to help your application stand out from the crowd. And while we’re on the subject…

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback

When you get rejected from a job, it can be quite tempting to give up and start thinking that you’ll never find something. Receiving those emails is never nice but there is a way to make them work for you.

Ask the recruiter whether there was anything you could’ve done differently, whether there was anything about your CV that could’ve been different. Any feedback (as long as it’s constructive) is good, as it means you can learn from these experiences and know what mistakes to avoid making next time.

Don’t get disheartened!

Perhaps the most important piece of advice we can offer is this: don’t give up. It’s so easy to resign yourself to the fact that you’ll never find a job, or you’ll be stuck in one you hate forever but trust us, you won’t!

Finding the perfect job for you is a mixture of tenacity, dedication and knowing the right ways to go about it. Remain positive and know that you will find something. There’s a role out there that’s perfect for you, and it’s sure to be just around the corner.

Inspiring Interns is an internship and graduate recruitment agency. To browse graduate jobs, click here. For senior digital and mobile jobs, please see Inspiring Search.