The Job Hunt: Our Favorite Reads

In her article, “Finding a Job When You Don’t Know What You Want to Do Next,” Ascend author Mimi Adoubaker outlines two broad categories that most candidates fall into. Avoiders: When the job hunt gets stressful, you tend to shut down entirely, overwhelmed with emotion and confused around what steps to take. You procrastinate, put off your applications, or become too anxious to act. Gatherers: When faced with the same dilemma, you act. Whether your goal is to get out of your current situation or land your first role, you apply to everything that catches your eye, rarely stopping to think about where you want to land. In my career, I’ve been both an avoider and a gatherer, and can confirm that Adoubaker is correct when she says that neither mindset is ideal. Inaction rarely ends well, and aimlessness often leads us astray. But in the early days, when I was just out of school, I had no idea where to begin. Two months after earning my degree, every job I came across seemed like a bad fit. Most companies wanted people with more experience than me. A few roles seemed doable but sat in fields that were completely unfamiliar. Some days, I would sit, charged on caffeine, and apply to every job that slightly matched my qualifications. Other days, I laid in bed defeated and binged episodes of The Walking Dead while the muggy summer air seeped into my apartment, weighing me down like a rock. If any of this resonates with where you’re at right now, I want you to know that your experience is valid. The job hunt is rarely fun and there are a million things that can make it feel terrible: when the market is slower, when you don’t know what you want, when you’re doing it all for the very first time. If I could wave a magic wand and make it different, I would. But the truth is that finding a job, even when the economy is booming, is hard. It takes self-reflection, intention, action, motivation, and resilience. It also gets easier the more times you do it—and yes—there is a light at the end of the annoyingly long tunnel. I want to give you a little momentum and some research and advice that I wish I’d had when I was going through it. I hope it will make your journey faster and easier—and remind you that you’re not in it alone. Recommended Reads Landing Your First Job in an Economic Downturn by Dan Richards The more flexible you are, the more likely you’ll find a good fit. Finding a Job When You Have Little Experience by Marlo Lyons Four strategies to gain the skills you need to stand out. Why Aren’t You Getting Hired? by Liza Kirkpatrick There are specific actions you can take to increase your visibility and demonstrate your value to prospective employers. How to Make Your Resume Match the Job Description by Joel Schwartzberg You should update it every time you apply to a new role. How to Get Hired in the Era of Generative AI by Nahia Orduña The top jobs of tomorrow, and the skills you’ll need to land them. Like what you see? This article is adapted from our weekly newsletter.

The Job Hunt: Our Favorite Reads

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