Check These Seven Signs That Your Job Search Might be in Jeopardy

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice •


If you've been in an extended job search, you might wonder after a while why the right job opportunities haven't been coming your way. It's all too easy to become discouraged, distracted or set in your ways during a job search, and your search can be in trouble without you even realizing it. Here are some telltale signs your job search may be in jeopardy.

1. You Aren't Getting Interviews

This is a key sign your job search is growing cold. If you haven't even gotten a phone interview in response to the last 20 applications you sent out, you need to rework your resume and cover letter, and may need to rethink your job search strategy.

2. You Feel Overwhelmed

It's not unusual to feel anxiety and depression creeping in during an extended job search. When this occurs, take positive actions to break out of your funk. Get to the gym, set up some informational coffee dates or start doing some charity work to get your mind elsewhere.

3. You Find Yourself Getting Distracted

Has your job search slipped so far down your priority list that you find yourself checking social media or watching TV instead of rewriting your resume or cover letter? If you find yourself getting so distracted you neglect your job search, you need a wake-up call and a motivation boost.

4. You Skip the Optional Steps

Sometimes job applications ask for extra information or consider a cover letter optional. At other times, an employer might accept your LinkedIn profile in lieu of a resume, making the uploading of your resume an optional step. If you find you're skipping these steps, realize employers might only interview people who go the extra mile, and take advantage of every option presented.

5. You're Sending Out Too Many Resumes

It can feel good to send out 100 resumes online. However, if you're not also extending your job search to target specific people and companies with a more personal approach, all that effort is probably wasted. Don't "spray and pray" when it comes to resumes, but take a hard look at your job search strategy.

6. You're Not Networking

The internet hasn't replaced the need to network with potential hiring managers and co-workers as part of a focused job search. Whether you join groups to make your presence known, volunteer, attend meetings of professional organizations or maintain personal connections one-on-one, meeting people face to face is still a vital element in a successful job search.

7. You're Sticking to the Same Strategy

If your job search strategy hasn't been working, it's time to make some changes. Learning from your mistakes is a vitally important character trait that can stand you in good stead in your job search and once you land the job you want.

If job opportunities aren't opening their doors to you, think about whether you've gotten stuck and what you can do to get your job search back on the right track. Pay attention to these warning signs to turn things around and head on the road to employment.


Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net
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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Michael thanks for your comment. I truly appreciate what you are saying as well as what Keith said. It still is possible to find out who the hiring manager is so that you can personalize your cover letter. You could research the company on Linkedin and see if you can find out who might be hiring for the position of interest. Glassdoor is another way to find out more about the company and, again, maybe even who is doing the hiring. In addition, you might even know someone within that company who could push your application through. If you feel that the person won't give your resume to the hiring manager, you could still use their name in your cover letter - providing, of course, that you have a good rapport with the person. There are so many ways to find out information about a company as well as the employees. I agree that sometimes you might hit a wall with this approach but it's worth it just to take a few minutes to search them out. You know, the search could very turn up the reason why the position is open, too - and might make you change your mind about applying thus saving you the time to customize a resume and cover letter for it. Best of luck @Michael.

  • MICHAEL B.
    MICHAEL B. •

    Nancy, I think I see what Keith is talking about. Point #5 says "However, if you're not also extending your job search to target specific people and companies with a more personal approach, all that effort is probably wasted." The issue is most companies these days aren't looking for, or provide a job seeker with, any means to "target specific people" or to use "a more personal approach." Every job position I have applied for has been online, through a standardized application process (it's amazing how many companies all use the Taleo platform), and that's the only way those companies will accept any applications. There's no "specific people" you can contact directly, and there's no way to be "more personal" in the process. For the most part, those days are history. Networking only goes so far as well; you might get lucky and come across someone who's hiring, but even with inside help you still have to run the gauntlet of the online application process. Been there and done that too. There's also just so many different ways you can restructure a resume or cover letter and have them still make sense - been there too.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Keith thanks for your comment. Not sure which point above caused your rant but we appreciate your viewpoint.

  • Keith Enste
    Keith Enste •

    With the number of “Gate Keepers” a job seeker is “forced" to deal with; submitting stellar qualifications through the HR Department or HR Applicant Tracking System has become SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for even small firms. Any violation of such “hiring protocols” is all too likely going to have your wonderfully crafted credentials headed for the circular recycling bucket; or even worse the trash bucket. Try as one might there is little value in attempting to circumvent a firm’s hiring processes irrespective of how arcane, archaic, unfair or ineffectual such processes may be.
    As jobseekers we are on the outside looking in; such a violation is grounds to summarily; and, irrevocably disqualify any and all whom dare to not follow such arcane, esoteric and intractable process: from any consideration irrespective of such an applicant’s abilities to fulfill or even exceed the position requirements. Thus, I consider that these suggestions to circumvent those processes are extraordinarily unlikely to result in the desired outcome of an invitation to interview for such an opening. And, attempting to correct such an “egregious indiscretion” after the fact; usually only further negatively impacts one’s prospect; and yield nothing insofar as an offer of employment is concerned.

    Most employment pundits claim that the key to finding employment is to play the “numbers games” the more faces you get your credentials; in front of, the more likely one is to discover a prospective employer appreciating such.

    While I appreciate the reality that the HR Manager is not truly “solely” responsible for most hiring decisions; particularly at higher level; they are a part of the process: and not following HR procedures; be them arcane protocols more often than not results in such an individual’s credentials being discarded.

    Thus, I suspect that your premises regarding avoiding such only guarantees that one’s credentials will be discarded. And, therefore, such advice; like most other employment advice; while “well-intended” is in actuality far more potentially harmful than helpful. Obviously from the employers’ perspectives; if an applicant cannot even simply follow their antiquated and inscrutable application procedures; palpably they are considered a substandard applicant and are thusly crudely rejected and summarily disqualified from any and all consideration.

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