Content Menu
6 top tips for surviving (and thriving) during your job hunt
Martina, CFG Ambassador and upcoming Analyst shares her experience of tackling today’s job market when looking to transition into her first tech role. Martina guides you through what to expect when starting your job search, how to set expectations, and her go-to tips to ensure you stay positive.
How to Survive your Job Search in a Competitive Job Market
Let’s face it, the job market is a tough environment and can easily take you down a negative path. During my own job search, I remember how easy it was to doom scroll on social media and come across sensational headlines like ‘I’ve applied to 758 jobs with no luck!’ which only fueled my fears of failure and being stuck in an endless cycle of ‘apply, get ghosted, rinse, repeat’.
While I enjoyed my previous job, I was eager to transition into a more technical role that would allow me to refine the skills I’d developed through my education, including courses like CFG’s Coding Kickstarter Classes. However, my desire to career shift made my job search more challenging than I had anticipated. Job hunting is rarely a smooth process, and I won’t pretend it was all straightforward. But with the right approach, it’s possible to navigate the challenges and secure a great new role.
So, without further delay, here are the key insights I wish I had known before diving into my job search.
Job Hunting Tip #1: Start early
It’s true, the early bird does get the worm. Heading into my job hunt, I thought I’d secure a new role in just a few months. Spoiler: I was sorely mistaken. After applying for a few opportunities in vain, I began to see that it would take me longer than expected. My tip is to anticipate your job search taking at least 6 to 9 months, if not longer.
This can vary depending on what it is you’re looking for, the industry and the job role, but it never hurts to face it as a marathon, rather than a sprint. Specifically, changing industries is a bold and brave leap and just because it takes time to find a new position, it does not mean it isn’t worth it.
This leads me to my second job-hunting tip…
Job Hunting Tip #2: Set Realistic Expectations
You are not alone in thinking the job market is hard, in fact, you’re joined by 12.7 million Brits who are also actively job-hunting every day. This is why it’s very important to set realistic expectations, not only related to the length of time your search could take but also the job itself, salary expectations and what positions you’re suitable for. I found the best way to manage this was in two categories – things you can control and things you can’t.
Things you can’t control.
This is where knowledge and research are your best friends. Looking to work in data? Investigate salary bands at different job levels and industries and explore what kinds of positions are broadly available in the sector (e.g. data engineer, data analyst, data architect etc.) and what qualifications they require. Doing so will help you build realistic expectations. Take a read of our career pathway blog posts to understand more about the roles available in tech and what’s involved.
Resources such as Glassdoor, Reddit, LinkedIn, TikTok and blogs are great for hearing first-hand experiences, though be sure to treat everything you see on social media with a pinch of salt.
Things you can control.
When I started applying, I thought I could feasibly apply to 5+ jobs a day, and now, looking back, I see this was way too ambitious as a goal for me alongside a full-time job. Putting in a good application takes time and goes beyond just submitting your CV. Be honest with yourself and know your limits. You can always strive to build up a schedule, but be wary of those shrugging off applying to 10 jobs and sending out 40 cold emails a day like it’s nothing. Chances are, you won’t be doing things the same way as they are.
12.7 million Brits are actively job-hunting every day, which is why it’s very important to set realistic expectations.
Job Hunting Tip #3: Know What You’re Looking For
Knowing what kind of position you are looking for does make the process easier, but it’s ok to enter your search not knowing exactly what you want – I initially didn’t! It’s a balance: it’s good to have direction but also to be open-minded. Remember, the choices you make are nearly never permanent. Change can always happen.
Dismissing a role that didn’t tick all of your boxes, or you aren’t fully qualified for, can cause you to miss out on a great position with plenty of learning opportunities. Don’t be scared to go out of your comfort zone and reach out to the recruiter (who is sometimes listed on the LinkedIn job post). You might be surprised and you’ll learn more about the role and even yourself.
Job Hunting Tip #4: Have a Routine and Use Your Time Wisely
Having a routine was my saving grace when job hunting! I would recommend setting aside a bit of pre-established time each day (like 1 or 2 hours in the evening) dedicated to looking and applying for jobs. It’s like making your bed every morning or brushing your teeth – it eventually becomes another habit. Knowing the search has a daily start and end time will also prevent you from letting it take over your life, which is the surest path to burning out.
I also suggest making a to-do list at the start of your daily job-hunting slot to make the process more manageable and to feel a sense of accomplishment – this can be as small as replying to a recruiter or researching a company. Remember, your job hunt doesn’t need to feel like a punishment; in fact, it can be enjoyable! I always sat down with a nice (big) cup of milky decaf coffee to sip on as I was working through my to-dos (I also put my phone on silent in another room).
Job Hunting Tip #5: Job hunting is Not Your Life
Even when the job search felt overwhelming, I made it a strict rule not to search or apply over the weekends. I prioritised rest to ensure that job hunting didn’t take over my entire life.
It’s important to learn what works best for you: How often do you need to rest, and how much? Do you prefer working during the week or on weekends? Would you rather take shorter, more frequent breaks, or longer ones? Ultimately, the most important thing to remember is that, no matter how long it takes to land a new role, this phase is temporary and a small part of your broader career journey. So, be kind to yourself and take time to enjoy the small, everyday moments that keep you grounded.
Job Hunting Tip #6: It’s Never Personal
My final, and perhaps most important tip, is to avoid making assumptions about rejections and remember that it’s never personal.
While some hiring managers may offer feedback (and I encourage you to ask for it if they don’t), there will be times when you’re left in the dark about why you didn’t make it to the next stage. I’ve found that dwelling too much on the “whys” and “what ifs” can be counterproductive. Job hunting is tough, and it’s easy to focus on perceived weaknesses, but this journey also highlights your strength and resilience, bringing you one step closer to your dream job. And honestly, if that’s not worth it, I don’t know what is.
Dwelling too much on the “whys” and “what ifs” can be counterproductive. Job hunting is tough, and it’s easy to focus on perceived weaknesses, but this journey also highlights your strength and resilience, bringing you one step closer to your dream job.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to starting your job search, but the good news is that by reading this, you’re already more prepared than many others! One key way to get job-ready is by ensuring you have the right qualifications and skills to apply competitively. You can build these through numerous free resources and courses, like Code First Girls Tech Tasters or Coding Kickstarter Classes.
Make the most of your time by continuing to learn, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you occasionally fall short of your goals. Instead, adjust them to make them more realistic for your situation and find ways to work smarter, not harder.
Secured an interview? Congratulations! Check out our expert tips on how to ace your interview and leave a lasting impression.
