Runners make their way through a Brooklyn neighborhood during the New York City Marathon
The latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the average duration for unemployment in the U.S. is currently 21 weeks. For most job seekers this means preparing for a marathon, not a sprint: spending the best part of six months on any new task takes resilience, and navigating the post-pandemic job market can be particularly grueling.
No matter where you are in your career, if you’re entering this job market, it is inevitable that you are going to hear “no” more than you hear “yes.” An open role results in one hire, but getting there often involves more than 100 applicants, of which typically 20+ will be qualified candidates. Usually only six folks will get through to in-person interviews with the hiring team. Therefore even getting to the interview stage gives you, at best, a 17% chance of success.
The asymmetry of information in the hiring process has a compounding effect: as a job seeker you only have as much information as the company is willing to share, and here in the US at least, it’s unlikely that you will receive much actionable feedback as you progress through the process. Preparation for a post-pandemic job search necessarily includes reaching acceptance that six months of activity will likely be conducted in what can feel like a cone of silence.
Get Clear About Your Personal Runway And Likely Length Of Search
In his paper “A Theory of Human Motivation” Abraham Maslow described a “hierarchy of needs” that need to be met in order unlock motivation. Often portrayed as a pyramid, the foundations of human motivation are basic needs such as food, shelter, and rest. Although this theory dates from the 1940’s, it is still relevant in today’s job market: a key factor in creating psychological safety for your job search is being really clear-eyed on what your personal financial runway looks like.
Before you do anything else, compile a basic spreadsheet so that you can understand your household “profit and loss” account. How much does it cost to keep the lights on, and how much do you have available in liquid assets? If your monthly cost of living totals $5,000 and you have $60,000 when you combine your available savings, severance payment and state unemployment insurance, then your personal runway is 12 months.
Getting a realistic view of whether you have enough to cover what will likely be a six-month job search creates psychological safety, but also allows you to plan ahead if it looks like it will be prudent to either try to trim monthly expenses, or to take a “bridge” or “survival” job.
Set Boundaries Around Your Job Search Activity
The adage “your new job is to find a job” absolutely applies, however the critical caveat is that you’re now your own boss, and you get to set the hours and location for this new job. Once you’re into the rhythm of your job search (leveraging the tools that make sense in your industry, but at a minimum setting alerts on job boards to serve you all new relevant postings every 24hrs) you can realistically get all of your daily tasks completed within a 90-minute window.
Whether you get your applications, networking and any interviews done in one sitting, or broken up into smaller chunks, do not allow yourself to spend the whole day doom-scrolling LinkedIn. Being caught up in a layoff is almost never desirable, but one of the small silver linings is the gift of time. Try to avoid squandering that time and confine your job search activity to finite windows, then use the rest of the day to pursue activities you typically wouldn’t have time for.
Get Outdoors, Find Community And Give Back
Job searching, especially for extended periods of time, can be an isolating experience. Finding community can help to replace some of the lost workplace camaraderie. It can be especially beneficial to use some of the extra time you now have to volunteer in your local community. Doing so helps return some structure to your week, it also gives you access to folks that you otherwise wouldn’t meet and can open doors in surprising ways.
Suspending your gym membership for the duration of your unemployment doesn’t mean that you must forego physical exercise. Wherever you are in the country you will find cycling, hiking and jogging clubs that offer up a range of (free) benefits. They give you structure, they provide community, they get you out of the house, and you burn calories along the way.
While your job search is unlikely to be enjoyable, building a framework and support structure for the endeavor is the best way to stay resilient whilst you look for your next opportunity.