4 reasons you’re not hired yet
Over the past 6 months, I’ve seen the pendulum swing from the COVID-19 hiring boom to watching layoffs live streamed over TikTok.
I’ve read heart-wrenching posts from tech employees struggling to find a new job despite applying to hundreds of open positions. The job market is clearly tough out there.
As someone who helps folks level-up their LinkedIn profiles with personal experience being laid off, here are my thoughts on why you may be struggling to secure your next opportunity.
1. You’re not leaning on your loose ties
While in my mid 20s, searching for fulfillment in both my career and romantic life, I read a book called Quarter Life Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties. More than a decade later, one piece of advice has stuck with me.
People enjoy helping people. And when searching for a job, the best place to start is with your loose ties.
What is a loose tie you ask?
A loose tie is that friend of a friend you met one time at a party or the coworker from a couple jobs ago or the recruiter who sent you a message on LinkedIn. These are the connections that will help you land your next role.
Before even starting to apply for jobs, check in with your network to see if you know someone (or know someone who knows someone) who loves their employer. Then ask if they are hiring for a position you might be qualified for.
2. You’re not leveraging LinkedIn
If you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re severely limiting your job prospects. This social platform’s sole purpose is connecting people to new career opportunities. But it can’t help you if you don’t start with a robust profile.
How do you create a robust profile?
Upload a cover photo of something meaningful to you
Add the #OpentoWork banner and a Headline that shares what you do at a glance
Write an intentionally crafted About summary that tells your story and lets potential employers know who you are and opportunities you’re interested in
Fill out the Experience section with your previous job duties and achievements
Ask former colleagues for Recommendations and Skills endorsements
Once you’ve completed the above, use LinkedIn to search for open positions, start applying.
3. You’re not applying with an open mind
One of the primary pitfalls many of my clients face is being overly precious about the jobs they are applying to. Whether it’s because they think they are under qualified or aren’t excited by the job description — my advice is always, apply anyway.
More often than not, job descriptions don’t match the duties advertised. Instead of focusing on the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, read Glassdoor reviews and the company website to see if it’s a good culture fit. You can find out more about the role itself during the interview process.
4. You’re not showing up in interviews
Sure, you’re showing up to interviews. But what side of yourself are you sharing with potential employers? From my experience, hiring managers care more about authenticity, adaptability and a positive attitude. And less about whether you’re able to nail every job duty out of the gate.
At the end of the day, hiring managers are human beings.
Treat the interview like a conversation and show curiosity about your interviewer and their organization. Share who you really are, not just what you think they want to hear. If the company doesn’t think you’re the right fit, it’s better you know before accepting an offer.
You’re doing all of the above and it hasn’t worked…yet
Finding a job is never cut and dry. Especially when there are real forces at work (racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, etc.) keeping you from getting noticed. You could be doing everything right and it still takes time to find the right role.
If you’ve already tried these tips and still haven’t landed a job, stay patient and consistent. Or consider hiring me.