Navigating My Job Search Journey
"Even the best fall down sometimes" - pretty much sums up my job search journey. Now I want to give back by sharing how I pulled through despite the crazy labor market.
“Sometimes, it takes one step backwards to move two steps forward”
In May 2024, I experienced my first career setback when I got laid off for the first time in my career due to poor market conditions. Never in my life did I expect something like that to happen.
Processing: The First Step
Processing and Reflecting on Your Career Journey
Layoffs suck! I get it! Recall feeling numb and going on autopilot during my last week with my previous company. I was asking questions like “Why me?”
After those two weeks of processing things, I realised one thing: I have been banking on my professional life as a big part of my sense of self and identity. This is very common among career-oriented individuals. Not waking up to go to work felt like a personal loss. [1]
Processing means taking a step back before planning the next career steps. I took the time to reflect on what I had learned in the past before moving on to the next steps. [1] I considered the types of problems I enjoy solving and areas where I want to grow in my career.
One thing I regret is not reaching out to family and friends earlier due to my fear of getting asked more questions. It turns out all of them were there to support me, and they are well aware that layoffs do not reflect on me as a professional.
Two weeks later, I found the clarity I needed to begin my job search and establish my online presence.
Cutting Through the Noise
The first few months of the job-hunting process were a whirlwind of emotions, ranging from confusion to frustration. Taking a step back, I realised that I have been consuming a lot of conflicting information that’s supposed to help me in my job search. This information was mostly found on LinkedIn, which is now a cesspool of regurgitated content.
To mitigate this, I developed the habit of limiting my daily LinkedIn browsing time to 30 minutes. I also took stock of who I currently follow and who is most likely to offer sound career advice. In my case, the best people who gave advice were two former Google Recruiters: Jeff Sipe and Farah Sharghi. Their advice was helpful not only for my recent interviews at Google but also at other companies. I also take into account the advice of recruiters with whom I have closely worked in the past.
The rest? It’s all smoke and mirrors to me! That includes those who preach about the AI doom and gloom, where I noticed that these “enthusiasts” have no understanding of what AI really is and how it really works.
Crunch Time! The Job Hunt Journey
Your Profile and Resume. Wait, there’s more!
I found that it’s good practice to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date at all times. My profile tells a story of not just my career and academic life, but also my professional interests. You can further build your presence by writing LinkedIn posts that include your own reflections and thoughts, especially when announcing an achievement.
On the other hand, a resume is like a snapshot of your professional background. When dusting off my resume, I ensured the following, with the help of the wonderful career coaches at INTOO, the career outplacement services provided by my previous company:
Summary: Contains an overview of who you are as a professional, a high-level overview of what your strengths are, and what you’re known for.
Core Competencies: A list of your skills, including knowledge domain (in my case, IT Audit, Risk, SOX), technology/programming language (SQL, Python, Alteryx), and other skills (project management, cross-functional communication).
Work Experience: A short paragraph summarising your role in a particular position, while modifying some keywords to match the job description. The bullet points would include achievements with the format: Achieved x% or x number of <insert metric here> by doing y.
Education: Remove GPA (if low) and graduation dates to avoid unconscious age bias.
In addition to my resume, I also began maintaining a document I call the Resume Expansion Pack, which expands on the knowledge I gained from my work experience. This includes detailed information about some projects I worked on. This served as a database to build my stories, which I will discuss later. While I made it at the tail end of my job search journey, I started to document the following per work experience:
The job title and dates
Responsibilities and achievements (with more details than what is written on the resume)
Job Description per the job requisition. This should be saved in your files before the job requisition is closed, after you have accepted your offer.
With permission from HR, a copy of my performance records. This is something I intend to do going forward.
Applying and Asking for Referrals
I consistently applied for and requested referrals. I found that applying for multiple opportunities increased my chances of receiving an interview invitation. When applying, I tailored my resume to the company and the specific role I was targeting. Recruiters and hiring teams appreciate customised resumes because they show the applicant did their research. This can be achieved by using keywords based on the job description, provided you have the relevant experience.
I also practised meaningful networking because this increases the chances of getting invited to an interview, as the referrer would know how you work and whether you are a good fit for the company as a whole. If you don’t know anyone, you can always go to LinkedIn and search for current students, alumni or professionals in your desired role and industry to confirm your interest. Arrange a short call (15 to 20 minutes) and ensure you introduce yourself properly before asking intentional questions to learn more about the industry/company you are aiming for.
Interviewing
Prepare, but don’t overprepare.
Now that you have applied and been invited to an interview, the next step is thorough preparation.
The next step should be to do some research on the company. I make an effort to know more about its products and their values. For example, it’s beneficial to be familiar with Google’s culture or Amazon's Leadership Principles when applying for either company. Researching also helped me craft stories for my interviews, where I used the STAR method to clearly articulate my message across. There are also some companies, such as Google and Amazon, that provide guides on interviewing for their positions. Make use of that! Personally, interviewing for Google and Amazon has increased my confidence because of the high standard they set for candidates.
Finally, don’t forget to ask thoughtful questions. Consider asking about the company and team culture, as well as a deep dive into the team and performance expectations. Doing so shows interviewers that you are motivated and excited to join their team.
Interview Logistics Before the Interview
On the day of the interview, I always make sure of the following:
Internet connection is stable. Make a test call if necessary.
The surrounding area visible on your laptop camera should be tidy to demonstrate respect to the interviewer. After all, no one wants to see your underwear or socks lying around.
Dress appropriately for the interview - neither too formal nor too casual. It’s great to ask your recruiter for the company’s normal dress code policy to avoid making your interviewers uncomfortable.
Interview notes are visible in your periphery in case you need them.
If you are interviewing on-site, be familiar with the commuting routes and instructions for gaining entry to the building.
Post-Interview
Always end on a positive note by sending thank-you emails, which include what you took away from the interview and what you learned from your interviewers. Additionally, a study by HBR reveals that closing the interview with appreciation helps candidates stand out, as it demonstrates professionalism and interest in the job for which they are applying. [2]
Handling Ghosting and Rejections
Navigating the job hunt journey will likely bring you heartache and disappointment. How? You either don’t get a response or an email that says “we decided to move forward with other candidates” or similar.
It hurts, I get it! Don’t take it personally because it’s mostly a “them” problem, especially when you felt good after the interviews. It's possible that they found someone more suitable or with more experience than you. It doesn’t mean that you’re a failure!
Most importantly, allow yourself to grieve so you can process your feelings and move forward in your job-hunting journey. Your emotions are valid and need to be released for you to move on.
References:
[1] Shyamli, R. (2023, February 14). How to emotionally process a layoff. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/02/how-to-emotionally-process-a-layoff
[2] Thompson, L. (2022, November 30; updated October 11, 2024). How to write a thank you email after an interview (with examples). Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/11/how-to-write-a-thank-you-email-after-an-interview
Thank you for sharing. I am sure a lot of people would benefit not only from the tips but also navigating the emotions that go through with getting laid off. Kudos to you!