1st August, 2017

What to do if your job search is going nowhere

Searching for a job in Myanmar is not an easy task, and it’s definitely not a quick one either. However, sometimes a week-long search slowly turns into multiple weeks, which becomes months, and perhaps even years. By this point, you’re tired and frustrated and don’t really know what you’re doing wrong. You know you’re more than qualified for the roles that you’re applying for, and yet you never hear back from any of these companies. Before you give up completely and just take any role that’s offered, even if it’s not related to your career, take a step back and reevaluate your jobseeking ways with this list.

1. Don’t apply for anything for a few days.

If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re thinking about your job search while you’re showering or having a meal with friends (or even dreaming about it!) then you need to take a break. Close anything job-related for a few days, maybe even a week if you can afford to, and just go out and have fun and try to relax. Start a new book, catch up with some family, do some exercise, anything except looking for jobs. Your brain is tired of thinking about the same thing every single day, and you’ll do much better work once you’ve recharged and are ready to work hard again.

2. Prioritize quality over quantity.

The longer you are without a job, the more panicked you become, and the more applications you want to send out. While the worry that you won’t have enough money for next month’s rent is scary, it’s not a good idea to apply for five jobs every day with the mindset that that will increase your chances at getting employment. Instead, make sure you’re only applying for jobs that you actually want and that match up to where you are right now in your career — e.g. if you had a managerial role, don’t apply for entry-level jobs — and take the time to make those applications the best that they can be. One great application per day is much better than four okay applications a day.


3. Get a few different sets of fresh eyes.

While it might be scary to show your CV and/or cover letters to other people, doing so will help you a lot. Of course, you need to make sure that you’re showing them to the right people – don’t send them to individuals who you know will only tell you nice things, or will get great joy from tearing apart your work. Go to people you trust who know what they’re doing (such as a friend who’s in a similar profession) and will give you constructive criticism, pointing out both your strengths and flaws in your current applications and working with you to craft better ones for the future.

4. Let people know you’re looking for a job.

While online job portals like JobNet are a great way to find open roles, don’t limit your search channels. Tell friends and family that you’re searching for a new role, or get in touch with people you met through networking and ask if there are any open positions in their companies. Don’t be embarrassed to tell others that you’re currently unemployed — after all, how else are they going to know that you’re looking for jobs?