From Unemployment to Insights: Six Months of Job Search with @recruitingSHEro

When I started my job-seeking journey in March 2024, I thought I knew what to expect in the labor market. I'd made it a priority to stay informed. However, the labor market of Q1 and the labor markets of Q2, Q3, and Q4 have evolved. It's October 15, 2024, and I can't tell you I have the magical answer on how to land a job in 2024, let alone 2025. But I can tell you about my approach to job searching and the strategy I've used. The thing is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to job searching in any labor market.

I spent the first six months of my job search focused on six areas:

• Gaining a clear and real-time understanding of the labor market

• Staying consistent while trying my best to remain optimistic

• Following the 400% rule (is it a rule yet?)

• An application strategy

• Pre/Post application correspondence

• Setting myself apart

The labor market is always shifting, influenced by economic trends, technological advancements, and changing expectations of employers. In 2024, the terrain is particularly competitive, with more candidates vying for fewer positions. As I've observed this trend consistently for well over six months now, it’s clear that simply submitting the perfect resume, cover letter, and application is no longer enough (I know this is not new news for job seekers who've been seeking for 90+ days as of now). In order to compete in today's market, job seekers have to do all the things with great consistency and creativity to get close to landing an interview. Consistency is key in the current labor market. It's not ideal for many of us job-seekers without income coming in, but it's something that is massively important. I’ve learned that a consistent job-search strategy not only increases the number of opportunities I can pursue but also helps me stay organized and focused. By dedicating specific hours each week to job applications, employer outreach, network engagement, and whatever new creative idea I come with along the way, I can ensure that I’m continuously engaging with potential employers.

Have you heard about the 400% rule when it comes to job searching? Yeah, me either, until I did some research and realized folks in all industries and from all skill-sets and experience levels are having to apply to close to 400% more roles than job-seekers did in 2021 to get a single response (not even talking about getting an offer - just talking about getting a recruiter or hiring team member to reach out for more informaiton or an initial screen/interview). To get noticed in today’s labor market, I've had to prepare myself to apply for more jobs than ever before. All signs from job-seekers in 2024 indicate that candidates may need to quadruple and, at a minimum, triple their application efforts compared to the past. This means if I was applying for 10 jobs a week in 2021, I now need to target at least 40. For context in Q3 & Q4 of 2021 I was applying for about 5 a week until I landed a role in early December and started it in January of 2022. The difference was, I was employed at the time so less stress on me personally and professionally from that perspective and the economy was in a different place. The 400% Rule approach may seem daunting, but it’s essential for survival in this competitive labor market. Applying for 40* new roles per week is not as easy to obtain as one might think because, after all, I am making a great attempt to "do the most" when it comes to applying for roles. I am customizing everything I can and also doing my best to research and reach out to employers after I apply.

*I have not hit the 40 per week mark, I am increasing my out reach and search to get closer to that number but want to let job-seekers know, this is a tall order to fill.

While the quantity of applications is still crucial, I’ve found that quality cannot be neglected. I haven't always gotten it right and clearly still don't always get it right. To ensure I battle the labor market with strategy and vigor, I decided to invest in my search strategy by purchasing a subscription to Teal. I even ran an A/B test: three months without Teal and three months with Teal, and the results were surprising. It turned out that even though my resume and cover letters were run through and built within Teal, there was no change in outcome from the standpoint of getting interviews or replies for roles I applied for. However, there has been a positive ROI from the subscription. Using Teal allows me to tailor my resumes and cover letters much quicker than doing so without it. I've kept my subscription and continue to use this tool today - not for every job I apply for (because I've already tailored my resume so many times, sometimes I have one ready to go already! I am not endorsing nor not endorsing the product, Teal —just sharing my journey with you. When it comes to resumes and cover letters, always tailor your resume the best you can (this does not mean embellishing—don't do that!). Even though recruiters are typically NOT the target audience for cover letters, in this labor market, cover letters, as time-consuming as they can be to tailor, are imperative when applying for roles. Side observation over the past 90 days, I've also noticed an uptick in roles requiring a cover letter to be considered.

While I thought we were getting away from mandatory cover letters as a typical hiring practice, I understand how this market is reminiscent of the past with job and application requirements, and I've rolled with it. I am now writing cover letters 90% of the time because not everyone is. I want to set myself apart from other candidates and also do not want to be the only qualified applicant that didn't provide a tailored resume and cover letter. I wasn't always writing a cover letter previously.

Doubling down on my pre- and post-application outreach has also been a practice that isn't new, but is required if a job seeker hopes to have any chance of getting a response to the job(s) they've applied for. I’ve learned that outreach to hiring teams and recruiters post-application is not a nice-to-have; it is mandatory for anyone serious about landing their next role. Following up on my applications demonstrates my interest and commitment to the position. I use LinkedIn, Google, community groups, social media, and more to learn more about the companies I'm interested in applying to. I send out emails, InMails, DMs—whatever I can—to draw attention to my application, which is likely drowning in a sea of applicants that recruiters just haven't gotten to yet. You know—they are being inundated and often short-staffed, resulting in carrying far too many requisitions on a recruiter's desk to maintain any level of acceptable candidate experience.

In a sea of applicants, finding creative ways to stand out is crucial. I've focused on my own personal branding, attending in-person and virtual events, job fairs, workshops, and I'm doing my best to maintain an online presence that is not lost in the sea of job seekers and online users.

When I engage my network, I ask for referrals. Everyone should be asking for referrals; many organizations prioritize referrals as an example. One of the most effective ways to secure a job is through a referral. I’ve made it a point to reach out to my network to ask for introductions to hiring managers or to get recommendations. A referral can significantly increase my chances of getting an interview and will for most job-seekers. The short contract I just completed was from a referral! Social media is a powerful tool when it comes to job searching. I use platforms like LinkedIn to showcase my expertise and engage with others in my industry and beyond. Sharing articles, commenting on posts, and participating in discussions continue to help me establish myself as a knowledgeable professional. They key is authenticity and patience.

Job search can be disheartening—devastating, even—especially when faced with rejections and lack of responses, coupled with the stress of whether someone can pay their own bills, eat, or in my case currently, stay housed. I mentioned recently in a social media post that I am on the countdown. I believe, at the time, it was 45 days or something like that until I had to make the decision to either move all of my belongings into storage and live out of my car while occasionally couch surfing or not. To avoid becoming unhoused, I need to land a job. Today marks 25 days until I either have a job and stay housed or I do not have a job and lose my housing. I am only sharing this not for thoughts and prayers (but I will take those, too), but to illustrate the sheer gravity of the U.S. labor market. I know the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. It is really difficult at times for me and I know for other job-seekers as well. We must stick together and make sure we are also not completely withdrawing from our networks.

Admittedly, even though I know that, it is still extremely hard to maintain a positive mental attitude with only a 4.7% response rate to my applications, outreach from employers, and my own outreach to employers. I celebrate the small wins and text a few folks when I land an interview or apply for a job that sounds super cool and exciting to me. It is so easy to withdraw and just shut the world out around you when faced with such a volatile labor market and the increased possibility of losing housing—but I keep at it. Sometimes I am sad or frustrated, and there hasn't been a moment I haven't been scared since becoming a job-seeker. I am grateful for my extended professional community, friends, and family.

Adapting to succeed coupled with persistence and creativity is truly the secret to withstanding and surviving today’s labor market.

The need to do much more work as a job-seeker than ever before has been glaringly evident during my job search and the search of many others. Much more is required to land a phone screen or initial first interview, let alone a job! By applying for more jobs, reaching out to hiring teams, finding creative ways to stand out, and continuously looking for ways to improve my skills, I can position myself for success in this competitive market but that does not guarantee the success of landing a job. The whole point of this post is to make sure YOU know that you can do this too!

It's likely you learned something new from this post. It's also likely this post may seem like a broken record of what many others before me have shared about their job-seeking journey in 2024. We all have our own journey. We all will find commonality as well in the approach necessary to land an interview.

I know this is tough. I am living it with you. My entire world is about to be turned upside down if I do not land a job in 25 days. I may not be living your specific experience but I am more than familiar with the struggles and devastation of job-seeking in this market.

Wait...did you want to see some of the outcomes from my first six months as a job seeker from a data standpoint? I did, too. Warning: while I wanted to know just as much as you do, prepare yourself to get smacked in the face with the reality that this labor market is a dumpster fire.

It is important to note from 7/29/24 to 10/3/24 I was working a short term contract that I landed via a network referral on X (formerly Twitter) of all places. During this time, my job-search intensity did slow down compared to full-time job-search. I will share my Q4 job-searching experience once the quarter ends. You can expext me to also share additional details regarding interview interactions and much more after 2024 comes to an end.

Thank you for continuing to join me as I share my surprising discoveries and either confirm or debunk my own job-seeker assumptions along the way. I invite you to not only follow my job-seeking blog series but to be part of it by sharing your experiences by sharing below in this blog post's comment section. 

Whether it is day one of your job search or day 232, let's buckle up, and go on this job-seeking journey together! We are going to stay committed to the search and work on our patience to the best of our ability!