Chances are that you're probably doing nothing wrong. The job market has stagnated over the past year or so.
Just look at the statistics:
According to Korn Ferry, job postings are receiving significantly more applications than before. For example, the average corporate job advert now receives around 250 resumes, with only about 5 candidates selected for interviews—just a 2% success rate. Some jobs attract over 500 applicants, especially after #layoffs across various industries in 2023.
On average, job seekers now spend about 5 months finding a job, with many candidates reporting that they've been searching for over a year. In addition, the ratio of available #jobs per job seeker has reached pre-pandemic levels (1.2 openings per person, compared to 2 openings per person in 2022).
The widespread use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI-based screening tools has further complicated the job search. These systems filter out many resumes before they even reach a human recruiter, with 99% of Fortune 500 companies using such tools.
The job market has become an increasingly competitive landscape and job seekers are literally getting desperate.
Take for example Courtney Myers, a well-qualified, London-based graphic designer who was looking for a job for 9 months following a lay-off at a start-up. When she was forced to move back in with her parents when she could no longer afford rent, she made a bold move and changed LinkedIn's "Open to Work" banner to "Desperate". She even made it available for others to use!
What can you do if you're stuck in your job search?
👉 Sometimes retreat is the best #strategy: I'm not saying give up on your job search entirely but, reducing the amount of time you spend on scanning job boards may provide you with a much needed mental break. In addition, it might be a good idea to ease the pressure you put on yourself for getting so many rejections (or, even worse, getting ghosted). It's, most likely, not your fault. So, keep your job search to a predefined time slot of 2-3 hours per week and in the meantime, try to focus on other things.
👉 Find alternative solutions: Finding a great job might take a little longer than you hoped. So what other options do you have? One solution could be to make an internal move within your company. It could be a parallel move (aka, same level, not a promotion) that will help you expand your skillset and offer you a leg-up in your #selfdevelopment.
Alternatively, if you're struggling with your financial situation, you can pick up online project-work or combine it with a part-time job that is only there to pay the bills. It's not a #career move but it keeps the lights on and it keeps you active in the job market. Plus, you never know where an interesting opportunity might present itself.