Job Search Mindset Tips

Make sure you're taking a long-term view while searching for your next role - that's how you build a career, not just land a job! Three pro-moves: 1. Respond with grace to every rejection and use it as an opportunity to reaffirm your interest in the company more broadly. Why: If you make it pretty far through a process (past the hiring manager), the company likes you and sees a strong match. You would likely do well there, even if another candidate wins out for this role. A positive reaction to a rejection helps strengthen the relationship with the team, and let's them know the door is open to the future. Real Life Results: I've seen others share their successes; I can personally tell you I've received 3 offers from places that have previously rejected me, and 2 were when they circled back within a few weeks to months of a rejection, with another opportunity. Ex. "Thank you so much for this update! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed because COMPANY was truly my top choice, and a place I know I would thrive, but I'm so glad you found a strong match for this opportunity, it's an awesome role and team!! This process has been wonderful and only strengthened my interest in working with COMPANY so I hope you'll keep me in mind for similar opportunities - I'll be keeping my eyes peeled too. Careers are long and I hope we'll have the chance to be colleagues one day!" 2. Take that interview, even if something about the opportunity is less than ideal. Why: Maybe the comp is low, maybe title isn't quite what you wanted. But it's still a chance to learn more and network. If the company is of interest to you, take the chance to learn more. Yes there's an opportunity cost in terms of your time, but it may be worth it to get some networking in. Real Life Results: I've shared before that the initial salary range I was quoted for my job at Zapier was lower than what I would have expected...I continued any way, and fortunately managed to get leveled up which landed me an offer I was happy to accept! In the past, accepting an interview for a job in a location I was not willing to go to also landed me a great opportunity. Ex. There isn't one. Just say yes if there's something appealing - you might decline this opportunity, but open the door to an even better one! 3. Keep in touch with people after networking chats, interviews, etc. Why: Anyone you've met with once is in your network. When you share updates, you keep the lines of communication open. This makes it easier to make an ask in the future, and also keeps you top of mind for them! Real Life Results: This approach has helped me get referrals or connections to hiring managers, some of which have led to offers. Ex. "I know we chatted a few months ago - since our conversation, I completed my certification through PMI, and moved into an agile-focused role in my dept. I'm still interested in opportunities with COMPANY in the future, so certainly keep me in mind in the future!"

We lost the humanity in hiring with auto-reject emails. People are now applicant numbers & keywords. When clients come to me, they're often beaten down and questioning their value and worth. It's not their fault. The job search strips away everything human about you. Your career is widdled down into two or three pages. You get ghosted by people who demanded your time. It's brutal and you have to look out for you. Here's how to protect your humanity: 1/ Create non-negotiable self-care boundaries ↳ Your brain needs rest to perform, so shut the laptop and protect part of your day. 2/ Have a daily practice that isn't job searching ↳ Whether it's pottery or powerlifting, find something that brings you joy even on tough days. 3/ Set daily limits on applications ↳ Send 5 thoughtful and tailored resumes out and call that your "done point" for the day. 4/ Talk to someone daily who sees you ↳ Find that friend who remembers your talents when you've forgotten them yourself. 5/ Document three non-work wins weekly ↳ Maybe you made perfect coffee or helped a neighbor. These small victories matter. 6/ Take rejection as redirection ↳ The "no" saved you from a toxic culture or bad fit that would have made you miserable. 7/ Connect with other job seekers ↳ Join online groups where people understand the sting of rejection after five interview rounds. 8/ Celebrate the small victories ↳ Getting to round two is growth, even if you don't get the job. Progress is progress. 9/ Write yourself a recommendation letter ↳ When imposter syndrome hits, read your own words about your accomplishments. 10/ Help someone else in their search ↳ Making job searching a team sport keeps you accountable and makes the process bearable. Make your search easier with my FREE resume guide: https://lnkd.in/eTWdKUrG Your job search doesn't define you. Your response to it does. Stay strong, I believe in you. How are you taking a break this weekend? 👇👇👇 ♻️ Repost to help a job seeker take care of themselves 🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily career help

When employed, people have routines. When unemployed, suddenly having 8-12 hours of spare time a day feels unnatural, therefore it must be filled with job search, right? Not right. But that’s what most people do because they crave the routine and feel productive — and that’s how job search fatigue sets in. I need a job → I must apply → I’ll spend 12 hours applying → I’m not hearing back → I’ll apply to even more jobs It’s an endless, exhausting cycle that gives the impression of productivity while in reality, it’s a recipe for burnout. What’s the solution? Create a productive routine by allocating a fixed number of hours to your job search and sticking to it. Adjust as needed, but be sure to leave time for rest and human interaction. By job search I don’t mean just applying to roles, but also: >Upskilling >Resume edits >Interview prep >Salary research >Filtering job boards >Practice negotiation >Networking or informational interviews Treat this new routine like a job. You clock in, do your job, take breaks, clock out. This way, your applications will be quality-focused instead of quantity-focused, which will eventually lead to more interviews and more offers. Spending 12 hours “on call” isn’t healthy, sustainable, or productive.

66% of job seekers are burned out from searching and workforce confidence has hit a 5-year low. The job market isn't just competitive anymore; it's emotionally breaking people. If you're feeling burned out from job searching, here's how you protect your mental energy and still move your job search forward: 1. Research companies BEFORE you apply. Don't waste emotional and mental energy on companies that don't value you as a candidate. Check Glassdoor for recent "Interview Experience" reviews. Look at their careers page; do they mention candidate experience or just requirements? If their application process is clunky or requires re-entering your resume info, that's a preview of their culture. 2. Set realistic expectations. 70% of job seekers expect to get hired within 10 applications, but hiring has slowed 6-7% each month. Triple your timeline expectations and cut your application volume in half. Ten carefully researched applications (with network outreach) will outperform 50 generic ones. 3. Protect your energy for quality opportunities. You're not being picky by walking away from poor processes. 35% of job seekers abandon applications that take too long and 21% decline offers after a poor interview experience. Your time has value. Focus on companies that show they respect candidates as humans, not just data to process. Their hiring process is your preview of company culture. 36% of people leave jobs within 90 days because the role didn't match what was promised. Trust what you see during the application and interview process, it's telling you exactly what working there will be like. And you're not imagining it, this market is harder than before. But by being intentional about where you invest your energy, you'll not only preserve your mental and emotional health but actually improve your success rate. Sources: 2025 Job Seeker Nation Survey (Employ, Inc.), LinkedIn Economic Data, Bloomberg #LinkedInTopVoices #Careers #JobSearch

Rejection after a serious interview is rarely about capability. More often it comes down to fit, timing, or how effectively you communicated your strengths. Those are very different issues, yet most of us experience them as the same thing. When a dream role slips away, it feels personal. But what hurts most is not the decision itself. It’s the story we tell ourselves about what it means. The fear that you misread your potential. The fear that this was your one shot. The fear that you should pull back instead of trying again. That is where we go wrong. Rejection is not a verdict. It is information, and your next step depends on interpreting it correctly. When a role does not work out, try diagnosing the outcome through two lenses: 👉 Skill gap There was a core capability you had not built yet. This is fixable with practice, training, or targeted experience. 👉 Signal gap Your background was strong, but the way you framed your experience was unclear. Your examples did not highlight the strengths the hiring team needed to see. These are different challenges, and knowing which one applies saves you months of guesswork. Career progress is almost never blocked entirely. It is often redirected. Competitors hire for similar roles. Adjacent positions develop the right skills. Vendors, partners, and feeder teams can be strategic pathways into the work you want to do. And if the company truly mattered to you, stay visible. Send a thoughtful note. Track their growth. Keep the relationship warm. Timing shifts faster than most people realize. Rejection does not define your potential. It reflects alignment at a single moment in time. People who stay stuck internalize that moment. People who move forward learn from it and keep going. Follow for clear, steady thinking about career strategy.

7 Simple Ways To Manage Job Search Anxiety & Burnout: 1. Set The Right Expectations Early When a process frustrates us, expectations are usually the culprit. Setting them correctly changes your mindset. Here's how: 1. Understand the benchmark outcomes for each activity in the job search 2. Cut those in half Ex: If the data says 2% of online apps land interviews, expect 1% to start. 2. Identify And Reallocate Your Energy Your job search activities fit into two buckets: 1. Energy Drainers 2. Energy Creators Make a list of every activity. Label each as a creator or drainer. Try to automate, delegate, or eliminate drainers. Then double down on creators. 3. Use A Job Search Framework Job searching without a real plan is the fastest way to burnout. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try a framework like the 5:50:5 Method: 5 Job Search Tasks 50 Minutes Per Day 5 Days Per Week Having a structure like this can help you know when you’ve done “enough.” 4. Create A Support System Tough journeys are even harder when we go them alone. Finding a community of people on the same path is a game changer. It could be: - A few friends - A professional community - A bootcamp class - A career coach - A therapist Whatever it is for you, make it a priority. 5. Create Non-Negotiable "Me" Time It's not healthy to spend every moment of free time job searching. You need to find time for the things that fill your cup: - Exercising - Reading - Meeting Friends - Making Art - Watching TV - Etc. Make a point to spend at least 30 minutes / day on those things. 6. Fully Unplug When You Need To Sometimes 30 minutes isn't enough. You need to completely unplug.  But that feels scary. We tell ourselves, "we're not working hard enough" or "we're wasting time." If you feel burnout creeping in? Take a full day off. If you need more time than that? 7. Get Professional Help If therapy is in your budget, I wholeheartedly recommend it. For anyone. I've spent a lot of money on coaches, courses, and programs. But the money I've spent working with my therapist is easily the best investment I've made in myself, my mental health, and my career. PS - I'm not a mental health expert and this isn't medical advice. I've struggled with my fair share of mental health ups and downs though, especially when I was job searching. I've also coached thousands of job seekers through their own. These tips are the ones I've seen help the most in both of those cases. Take it, here’s your permission.

Rejection hurts. Job searching can feel relentless. You spend hours: - Tailoring your CV - Crafting applications - Preparing for interviews You go through multiple rounds. Each one building your hopes higher. And then an email lands in your inbox: “We regret to inform you.” It’s brutal. I’ve been there. Years ago, I was rejected 50 times before I landed my dream job. And now after helping thousands of graduates land their dream roles too... Every job seeker needs to know this 1 thing. Rejection is NORMAL. It’s not a reflection of your worth or potential. Here's How To Turn Rejection Into Success: 1️⃣ Ask For Feedback ↳ Find out why you weren't selected. ↳ Apply what you learn for future applications. 2️⃣ Customise Your CV For Each Application ↳ Highlight results & use keywords from job description. ↳ Adopt the employers language. 3️⃣ Practice Interviewing ↳ Don't relax once you land an interview. ↳ Rehearse answers, record yourself & refine your answers. 5️⃣ Stay In Touch With Interviewers ↳ Send a thank-you message, even if you’re rejected. ↳ Ask for future opportunities. 6️⃣ Track Your Progress ↳ Create a tracker for applications, follow-ups & feedback. ↳ Spot patterns in your approach (e.g. applying earlier = more success). 7️⃣ Take Care Of Yourself ↳ Rejection is tough - give yourself time to process it. ↳ Celebrate small wins to keep your momentum going. Every rejection brings you closer to the right opportunity. Trust the process. Keep learning, improving & moving forward.

Job hunting is NOT a numbers game. But everyone keeps telling you to "apply to 100 jobs" and something will stick. This advice is destroying careers. I see it every week in my inbox: "I've applied to 127 jobs. Zero interviews. What am I doing wrong?" "I finally got hired after 200 applications, but I hate my new job." "I got laid off again after 4 months. Back to square one." Here's what's really happening: You're spending weeks crafting applications for roles you don't actually want. You're taking interviews for companies with toxic cultures. You're accepting offers out of desperation, not excitement. Then Monday morning hits. The Sunday Scaries never left. You're already planning your escape. Six months later, you're job hunting again. The cycle repeats. Your confidence is shot. Your savings are drained. You’re feeling stressed. All because you followed advice that treats you like a commodity instead of a human being. Here's what I see with people who land roles they actually love: They get ruthlessly clear on what fulfils them first. They research companies and roles like they're investigating their future happiness. They network strategically instead of applying blindly. The result? They interview only for carefully chosen roles. They get multiple offers. They pick the one that lights them up. No Sunday Scaries. No regrets. Just work that actually matters to them. Want to see the exact process? I've documented how this works in a detailed case study. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/eaMz25VJ

Laid Off in Tech? Make the Next 30 Days a Comeback Plan—Not a Panic Spiral Layoffs are a tough reminder of a simple truth in cloud: there are no “safe” jobs, only priorities that are currently funded. If you’ve been laid off—or you can feel the ground shifting—the goal isn’t to sprint into random applications and collect certifications like talismans. The goal is to regain control, quickly, with a plan you can execute. Start by stabilizing your runway. A layoff is a business event, not a personal verdict, and you make better decisions when you can see the numbers and the timeline. Get clarity on your cash runway and burn rate, your benefits and severance windows, and what those dates actually mean for your decision-making. Once you’ve removed the fog, you can stop reacting and start choosing. Next, stop “job hunting” and start value positioning. The market doesn’t pay for buzzwords; it pays for outcomes. If you want to stand out, communicate impact in terms leaders understand: cost removed, risk reduced, reliability improved, and delivery speed increased. A profile that reads like a skills inventory blends in. A profile that reads like an operator who ships measurable results gets calls. Then choose one lane and go deep. Panic-skill-spamming is just anxiety with a receipt. Focus on work that survives budget pressure and executive scrutiny: FinOps and cloud cost optimization, security/governance/compliance, platform engineering and reliability, modernization tied to real ROI, and production-grade data engineering. Depth beats scatter, especially when companies are making hard trade-offs. Finally, treat your search like operational excellence. Build a 30–60–90 day plan, ship a few tangible artifacts that demonstrate how you think and what you deliver, do targeted outreach instead of broad spraying applications, and sharpen your interview stories around metrics, constraints, and trade-offs. The fastest path back isn’t “more effort.” It’s better positioning and disciplined execution. If you’re in this right now, you’re not alone—and you’re not powerless. Which lane are you doubling down on over the next 30 days? Subscribe to my channel here: https://lnkd.in/g7hJvmXv #cloudcomputing #aws #finops #platformengineering #sre #cloudsecurity #governance #digitaltransformation #techcareers #careeradvice #layoffs #leadership

If job search was graded, most people would get an A for effort and a D for strategy. I once worked with a client who had: 📌 Sent 1,000+ applications in 10 months 📌 Got just 2 interviews 📌 And felt completely drained When we started working together, I asked him to pause the mass applying. Instead, we identified 10 senior-level contacts and crafted a targeted outreach. He got a response. From a real decision-maker. And his reaction? “Shub, are you sure this is the right approach? It feels like I am not doing enough.” That is the trap. We confuse being busy with making progress. We think more applications automatically mean more chances. But in reality, job search math is broken. Quantity does not equal results. If your job search feels like endless effort with very little outcome, it might be time to stop doing more and start doing what actually works.