How to find a job when you feel like there are none

We share some of the best ways to get back on a path to career success 

In May, the Treasury estimated that around 1 million Aussies would be out of work during the pandemic. 

With entire industries forced to shut down for an indefinite period of time, there are a lot of people on the hunt for work with not that many jobs to go around.

Job hunting is exhausting, and when it feels like there are no jobs to actually apply for, even more so. 

But according to Toula Lambros, Beaumont People’s general manager of NFP recruitment, there are actually a whole bunch of ways you can get back on track. It might just take a little bit more time and effort than you’re used to. 

Take advantage of your networks 

More often than not, the best career opportunities are right under your nose. If you’ve got a bit of spare time, make the effort to get in contact with your networks to see if they know of any current or upcoming opportunities that they can put you forward for. 

Having a personal connection to the role will also put you way ahead of the other candidates. 

“No one’s going to knock on your door. You actually have to be proactive and reach out to people in your network,” Lambros says. 

Follow it up 

Because so many people are on the hunt for work, employers, HR teams and recruiters are inundated with applicants. This is why it’s important for you to make the first move a couple of days post-application. 

“Following up and introducing yourself and explaining that you’ve applied for a role, telling them a little bit about your skills and experience is a really great way to demonstrate motivation and proactivity when applying for roles,” Lambros says. 

While this isn’t a guaranteed way of landing a job, making yourself known to employers lays the groundwork for future opportunities. 

Expand your horizons 

It might be hard for you to swallow, but being open to a range of roles is important and can lead to other opportunities. Even if you’re only in a role for a few months, being in the workforce often gives you a better chance of eventually stepping into a great role than not being in the workforce. 

“Looking at roles where you can apply transferable skills and experience and being open to contracting and temp assignments is important when there’s not many jobs going around,” Lambros explains.

Spend your time productively  

Throwing yourself into a short professional development course is a great way to not only push yourself to learn a few new things, but put you in good stead for landing a job. 

“Exploring professional development, even if it means not committing to a long-term course, is a great way to expand your horizons,” Lambros says. 

And if the idea of going back to the books doesn’t appeal, putting your skills to use in a volunteer capacity is not only a great way to fill your day, but make yourself known to potential employers. 

“Volunteering is really good for mental health and keeping people engaged,” she explains.