Recruitment: the silent search

In this article, I’m sharing my experience of trying to find a new job. (Spoiler: I haven’t yet found a new job.) I’m mainly doing so because I felt like crafting some cathartic* content; this is not intended to be a piece for clicks or engagement.

So, the job search. It’s presently a reality overwhelmingly defined by the rather-too-contemporary experience of being ghosted.

Yup. Ghosted. At least, that’s how it feels. Is perception reality? Possibly - albeit I really hope not in this instance.

I start with the presumption that the job search rules haven’t changed; best practice remains just that, while the guiding principles of courtesy and integrity are enduring. My approach to finding work is thus a blend of learning, practising and searching. Learning entails keeping myself current; reading, studying, listening, meeting, talking. Ensuring I’m on top of my professional game. Practising means keeping my hand in when I can; a little bit of consultancy, some advising, facilitating, some mentoring. Walking the talk, if you will.?

And then there’s searching. Finding vacancies is the easy bit. Too easy, perhaps. No longer do you reach for the Appointments section of The Sunday Times, or The Guardian if you fancied something a little more altruistic. LinkedIn is awash with them. I keep a regular eye on other job boards and recruiters' sites too. Finding >suitable< vacancies is a little harder, since I’ve chalked up nearly 30 years’ experience in this game, and have 30 years’ preferences and prejudices to accompany it. Or, to put it another way, there are things I’m simply not interested in marketing. Plus, there will always be fewer roles for senior marketers than junior marketers. It is, in part, a numbers game.

Nonetheless, the good news is that despite all of the above, I’ve managed to find **checks notes** around 20 vacancies since late Spring that appear worth my time; suitably senior, an interesting company, an exciting remit.

Of those 20 I’ve managed to get two interviews, and received no offers. There - that’s pretty honest. It’s tough, I’ll admit. What’s been hardest, however, is the largely one-way nature of the process. Being a diligent and professional chap (and a marketer to boot) I have sent emails, posted InMails, telephoned offices and left voice messages for every single company, recruiter and hiring manager, and effectively been ghosted by well over half. In fact, I’d say that about two thirds of the companies I’ve approached in some manner or other have simply ignored me. And, for clarity, this is both prior to submitting an application and having submitted an application.

You’re thinking: ‘Really? Get a grip, Christian’.

Well, yes. Ignored means - just that. I have not had any dialogue with them. No acknowledgement, no reply, no returned calls or follow-ups, nothing. My favourite example is a company that proudly stated, on its vacancies web page, that every application will be reviewed within 48 hours and every applicant will receive a message or telephone call as a matter of course. Naturally, I didn’t hear a dicky bird.?

My frustration is not how hard it is to get a job. My frustration - the reason for this piece - is the near-absence of engagement with businesses that are literally seeking to engage people. Something feels broken to me, as though the process of hiring is gently falling apart.

I’ve spoken with recruiters about this perceived phenomenon, and they’ve confirmed it’s a thing. Many are swamped by the sheer volume of applications and briefs and messages. Hiring managers using LinkedIn would seem to be inundated in (I suspect) low-grade applications from ‘candidates’ that really shouldn’t be clicking on Apply. Yet that doesn’t help me. How on Earth can I hope to find a job if I can’t even start a conversation??

Truly, marketing yourself is the hardest gig in marketing.?

Hacks, hints and tips gratefully received.

Thanks for reading.

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*OK, so maybe I’m having a slight moan too.?

Photo by Compare Fibre on Unsplash