It took me a whole year to land this job. I started applying for jobs in March 2019 after months of feeling restless in my role at the time. As soon as I made the decision to move on, I got to work — I updated my resume, wrote a new cover letter, and set up notifications on every job platform I could think of. At first, it was kind of exciting. I’d rush home from work, ready to spend the night furiously scrolling through LinkedIn. When I came across a role that seemed like the perfect fit, I’d get an instant burst of energy. I’d tweak my materials, fill out the endless application, and scour the internet for personal connections. I got a few bites early on in my search, and when I did, I felt lucky. After all, most people don’t even hear back from the companies they apply to. But that feeling quickly vanished. The weeks and weeks of interviews always ended the same — with that dreaded email: “We loved getting to know you, but we’ve made an offer to another candidate.” I tried to stay positive by telling myself that it was great practice, that I was making so many new connections. In reality, though, I was exhausted. My confidence was at an all-time low. I felt like a failure — not just at applying to jobs, but also at my career in general. Throughout the job hunt, there were countless ups and downs (including a job offer that I actually passed on), but a year later, I finally got the email I’d been waiting for. I got the job I wanted, partly because a connection I’d made during my search helped me seal the deal. Finally, all the work I’d put in had been worth it. Looking for jobs is the worst — I know. But in the end, when you find that perfect fit, it’s worth it. If you need some help getting through the process, from crafting the perfect resume to negotiating an offer, the videos below will help. P.S. You can find even more advice on Ascend’s new YouTube channel. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss any of our upcoming videos (P.P.S. Christine vs. Work is back for another season!) Recommended Reads (and Watches) How to Write a Cover Letter That Sounds Like YOU (and Gets Noticed) From doing the research, to starting off strong, to emphasizing your value — here’s exactly what you need to do to get your cover letters noticed by hiring managers. How to Negotiate Your Starting Salary Your starting salary will be the basis for all your future raises and bonuses. So don’t just accept the first offer. How to Network on Instagram (It’s More Than Just DMs!) LinkedIn isn’t the only way to make professional connections. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to network on Instagram and improve your chances of getting read and replied to. How to Write a Resume That Stands Out Writing a resume has always been hard. How do you condense all of your experience into one page (or even fill out one page if you’ve just graduated)? How do you make it look good, but still easily readable? Thankfully, there are some ways to make your resume work for you. How to Follow Up After a Job Interview Waiting to hear back from a company you’ve interviewed with is the worst. The anticipation, the worry, the dead silence. It can be challenging to get through this period of uncertainty, but there are things you can do to pass the time and even boost your chances of getting the job. Like what you see? This article is adapted from our weekly newsletter.
