This time, looking for a job was a bit different. In the past when you looked, there always seemed to be a few options out there you could choose from. At the very least, a list you could rank and go after a few based on priority. These days it seems you may still see what appear to be quite a few options out there, but unfortunately the times they are a changing as the saying goes. I don't want to sound dire, but between new factors that have chipped away at what you see and what you actually get. It's quite a bit more difficult out there right now. Because of that, I wanted to jot a few things down to see if I could help about my recent experience. So whether you're in the midst of your job search or about to embark on that journey, here are some observations that I think could help.
Things aren’t totally what they appear to be. Between AI being tier zero to any job applicant, and the fact that companies are posting ghost jobs just to compile data, my first takeaway from that was to cast a very very very wide net. The fact that lots of job postings garner absolute nil in response is new to me—you at least used to get a courteous autoreply. It has been a while since I went job hunting at large scale, so I realized right away that limiting myself in any way was not a good idea. I was using the major job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed, and of course the very specific Mac Admins Slack channel, but I also started looking for smaller job boards and recruiters that are specific to the technology world and were somewhat regional. Websites like Dice, TEKsystems, Kforce, Robert Half, and Insight Global. I was even browsing subreddit threads looking for specialized opportunities. One of the other things I tried to keep in mind was, just like any other facet of our lives these days, we are flooded with information and interactions practically every moment. Even when we don't want it, or are trying to get away, it always seems to find us. All interactions are not the same. Trying to be prudent on this made me really keep a priority on which interactions make the most sense. Let's use LinkedIn as an example. Once you flip on that status switch to "Open to work," you are constantly being messaged with all manner of job offers. They are clearly being autogenerated and then followed up on by a person once you interact.
Because of this, I put a massive emphasis on personal and networking relationships. This is nothing new, but it felt like I had to take it into overdrive. It felt like I was telling anyone and everyone that I was looking for work. But I would sometimes have people reach out when I least expected it. If you aren't already participating in user groups—either local, national, or even global—find them and make your presence known. I know it's not always easy, but do not shy away from these spaces; they are there specifically for you and others from your work community. The point is to take advantage. I was surprised by people offering their own personal anecdotes and suggestions on job hunting while just in passing. Obviously, this is not new knowledge, as the age-old saying is "who you know," but I just want to emphasize how much it helps cut through the fat of all the information overload. Networking absolutely introduced me to unadvertised positions.
One of the other things I tried to keep in mind—and had a difficult time with—was mental wellness. This all might seem obvious to some, but job hunting is really hard work. And for me, I'm used to having tasks, projects, and goals for work, and when those complete, they just roll into more. So I would set timelines in my head, and then beat myself up sometimes because I didn't feel like I was meeting them or moving on to more. I realized an overall frustration as a whole was pushing me to not think about the bigger picture. If I built in time for breaks, short bits of exercise, or even set aside a day or half day to focus on fun for myself, all of those things led to a clearer headspace. At the end of the day, the saying "all we have is our health" is spot on. Don't let your mental health suffer.
