Don’t be a Desperate Job Seeker in 2021

There must be some way for you to find your truth and not get swept away by broad sweeping headlines of millions of job openings. Whether you’re unemployed or employed, hearing people land jobs right now when there are lots of job, when you haven’t yet, can trigger feelings of desperation.  You can appear desperate without meaning to appear that way.

It has already ready started:

From a CEO:

“I interviewed 12 candidates this week… 60% are looking for new roles because their current company is asking them to come back to the office 3+ days/week”

It’s happening

— Chris Herd (@chris_herd) July 3, 2021

It’s sexy to have left your job in May because you wanted to take this job and shove it. You’re not the first. But if you didn’t go without having another job lined up, then you might be feeling anxious and a little desperate. Somewhere at the intersection of your ego, pride, and taking a McDonald’s job is where logic should kick in. You were caught in the spirit of “The Great Resignation” but realize that’s not the spirit you were ready to be baptized.

If you didn’t interview well before you quit, and didn’t take any steps to improve, then it’s likely you still don’t interview well now. A movement where there are many available jobs doesn’t mean employers will be “wowed” by your performance.

If your resume sucked before quitting, unless you received help to correct your grammar, employers would just trash it now.

More available jobs never mean forgiving the lack of basic skills such as interviewing required by the employer.

If you’re feeling desperate at this moment or you’re experiencing intermittent anxiousness, there are a few things you can do to find some sanity and balance. Money is often at the root of anxiety. But that’s not always the case:

• Ask for emotional support from professionals with counseling experience. Please don’t take this lightly because people commit suicide more often than most of us think because of employment. It could go up if people are not connecting with opportunities when job openings are plentiful. My good friend and mentor, Damian Birkel, wrote a book some years ago about the emotional wave unemployed job seekers feel. It might be worth your time to purchase it for less than eight dollars. 
• It’s time to productively connect with people who can help you find a job. It’s OK to get a job that’s temporary or contracts. You don’t want to ask for jobs. Ask if they know someone who can connect you to the right person. This way, your network for now and for the future. New relationships can potentially introduce you to potential hiring managers. 
• If you need food or physical resources, dialing 211 is an excellent resource in some states, and in other states, the service is not active. You can try searching for help at 211.org. The most active organizations in providing food and other resources in many cities are churches.
• There are times when volunteer work becomes paid. You never know until you ask questions. I know someone who worked for non-profits organizations but started by volunteering for years. And get this, they never needed a resume because they made great impressions at past organizations.
• Let’s go back to temporary work. There are apps like Wonolo to connect you to temporary work that turns into full-time jobs. Wonolo encourages interested candidates to simply head to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and search for the Wonolo app to download. Open the app and submit all your relevant information in a matter of minutes. You can get working as soon as the next day.
• Right now, the restaurant industry is universally short-staffed. There are many resources with hot industries hiring now, but consider these as bridge jobs until you can find what you believe is desirable. 
• Career One Stop has a Worker ReEmployment program to train you for new skills and pay you for training. Each state has different requirements for participation, and they have thousands of resources if you feel hopeless. 

There is no quick fix for needing a job tomorrow. There is no one-fix-all strategy for a job seeker feeling desperate. What’s hard to hear, yet, true: stay engaged and keen on potential opportunities even when you have a job. 

About Mark Anthony Dyson

My name is Mark Anthony Dyson, and I am the Founder of The Voice of Job Seekers. I am a career advice writer, but more importantly, I hack and re-imagine the job search process.. I've worked with hundreds of job seekers one-on-one helping them to construct a narrative and strategy that appeals to hiring managers and recruiters. I present at colleges and organizations, and facilitated many workshops including my volunteer effort through a Job Lab. I write and create useful job search content on this blog and write career and workplace advice for blogs such as Glassdoor, Payscale, Job-Hunt.org, Prezi and more. Media Feature highlights: Forbes, Business Insider, NBC News, Glassdoor, LinkedIn's #GetHired, and NPR Freelance writer and content contributor: Glassdoor, Payscale, job-hunt.org, The Financial Diet, RippleMatch.com and more. Contact me to contribute career, job search, or workplace advice for your site at markanthonydyson@gmail.com.

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