Looking for work is stressful. Depending on your particular circumstances, searching for a rewarding and challenging job can be exciting, or it can be downright awful. Throw a global pandemic into the mix, and we're in unchartered territory. I've recently been through it, and let me tell you, nothing prepared me for the exhausting emotional whirlwind of highs and lows I experienced over the course of my nine-month job search.
That's right. It took me nine months to find a great opportunity with a top-tier employer. During that time, I applied to 449 jobs, had 39 interviews, two de-humanizing pre-recorded video interviews, completed three personality tests, prepared five presentations for hiring managers, and turned down two jobs that weren't right for me before finally landing the right role.
Throughout the pandemic, I've heard many social commentators and reporters talk about who has been hardest hit by COVID-19. Typically, women, people who work in the hospitality and entertainment industries, small business owners, and essential frontline workers top these lists. I don't fall into any of those categories. According to the pundits, I was in the so-called privileged group of people who were able to work from home. And yet, like hundreds of thousands of other Canadians, I lost my job during COVID-19. And let me tell you, COVID-19 hit me hard.
As anyone who's been through it can tell you, losing your job, frankly, sucks. It's right up there with divorce and the death of a loved one as one of life's most stressful experiences. Aside from the financial burden of losing your income, job loss can shake your confidence and bring up a range of feelings and issues tied to your self-worth. Fortunately, I have a supportive partner and network that helped me work through my negative emotions and self-doubt and adjust to the new reality of looking for work during COVID-19.
Before the pandemic hit, I felt secure in my job. I received positive performance evaluations and believed my work was contributing to the organization's growth. Managing a team, one of my biggest challenges was hiring new employees. The job market was tough then too. But it was especially tough for employers. Unemployment was low, and you had to work hard to attract qualified applicants. More often than not, the excitement of making an offer to a great candidate turned to frustration after learning they had accepted an offer elsewhere. Now it's the opposite. For every job I applied to, hundreds of other qualified applicants were vying for the same position.
Initially, I thought finding a job would take a few weeks. As those weeks grew into months, I learned how much the job market had changed and how dramatically different the interview experience had become. Even navigating how to dress for a ZOOM interview was a challenge. Do you wear a suit and tie when interviewing with an unshaven executive wearing a hoodie? Yup, that happened. And no, I didn't get that job.
At times weeks would go by without an interview. Then suddenly, three or four companies wanted to talk to me. I usually do well with interviews. So as time went on, I began doubting myself, re-evaluating my answers, and obsessively fine-tuning how to best speak to my accomplishments without sounding rehearsed. I read articles and watched countless YouTube videos on answering key interview questions to understand what I was doing wrong. Then it hit me. I was getting in my head. I was letting the extraordinary circumstances of the very competitive job market created by COVID-19 undercut my confidence. I was too preoccupied with saying the right things, forgetting to relax and allow my personality to come through.
What surprised me most during my job search was the frequency with which some employers just ghosted me. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect a response to every application, but once I've interviewed, I do expect resolution. Sure COVID-19 has changed how we do things, but on multiple occasions, after the third round of interviews, I heard nothing. Not even a standard email politely thanking me for showing interest in their company. I was equally surprised when one hiring manager informed me that I would need to supply my own computer and equipment. A few others assured me that the "senior" level job I was applying for would eventually allow for direct reports and a competitive salary.
But don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad. I quickly discovered many helpful, caring people in my network who offered their support. To everyone that reached out to me with a kind word, the offer to connect me with someone in their network, or information about a job opportunity, thank you from the bottom of my heart. To those of you still searching for work, be persistent, stay positive and professional, and don't be afraid to ask for help from your network. My best advice is don't settle. It's easy to give in to fear and jump at the first opportunity, even if it's not something you would pursue under more normal circumstances. Don't ignore your gut. If something feels off to you, it probably is.
I am thankful to be through this turbulent period. Yes, it was difficult financially, but I am so happy I held out for the right opportunity, and I'm incredibly excited to start the next chapter in my professional life.