What to do when they don't hire me?

What to do when they don't hire me? Neither answer to this question is convincing. It is up to each of us to find the best way to move forward.

Before the pandemic, the work situation of many people was not the most convenient. A constant situation of anxiety about changes in companies, the toxic organizational climate of many companies with poorly managed management and pressure from senior management to obtain results at any cost were the constants of daily life. And this will always be the case in many organizations.

Then came the news of Covid-19 from Asia. Companies began to shake from their foundations and the changes, layoffs and reorganizations did not take long to arrive. We saw businesses closed, careers interrupted and dreams that did not become reality for businessmen and entrepreneurs.

Currently we see high unemployment in all countries in the Latin American region and beyond. Companies have started hiring, some timidly and others more aggressively.

Likewise, the situation of many professionals is not easy to manage. Unemployment lengthens and worsens with the months, debts do not decrease and family ties are put to the test.

What are some possible solutions that in my experience can help people return to employment? We are already witnessing it, we are seeing new behaviors in many people. For example:

1) Start our own business: Some people, with vast experience in professions and occupations, with some network of contacts and ease in business management, begin their “new profession” from their area of ​​greatest knowledge. We talk about self-employment. So, for example, we see accountants, lawyers, engineers, financiers and auditors starting their own consulting firm. Knocking on doors every day and promoting your services on social networks takes up most of the space in your free time. Employee hairdressers, cabinetmakers, welders or mechanics who previously were part of a company, today throw themselves, using their knowledge, into the business abyss. There are no parachutes, only the illusion of falling in the right place, thinking about starting that project that we have been thinking about for years, in what are perhaps the most atypical times we have ever experienced.

2) Join the family business: For many who started their family businesses, this is a new beginning. “Only rivers do not return” says the old saying. It doesn't happen in many people's professional careers. Returning to that place that once saw me leave and restart work with brothers, uncles and cousins ​​is today the norm. If the opportunities do not exist elsewhere, then the only way is to make our family company stronger. For many it is not the ideal pace, nor the best next step, however, it is the one that best suits us, the one that will allow us to cover my living costs more quickly.

3) Competition today is an option: To those who have been able to lead a corporate work life, competitors rarely seem like the ideal employer. This is not the case when unemployment knocks at our doors. Today it is an option to cross the street and knock on the doors of your former adversary. It is a quick solution, but uncomfortable and often very well accepted by the company on the other side. It is an adaptation to a new culture, to learn and unlearn quickly, to be able to establish our brand in a company that always saw us as its worst ally, its competition.

4) Explore in other countries: In some Latin American nations, by tradition, history and legacy, flying to the United States has always been the first option. At these times, no matter the academic degrees, schools and universities in which we study, we want to be where the opportunities are presented in a greater way, where the opportunities are numerous and where we can start from scratch without major inconvenience. Distance is difficult from our families, but it is a solution that we generally think of for the short term, but for many it turns into years of residence, often in irregular conditions in that country. Whether it is the United States, Canada or Europe, all these new adventures are now on the professional horizon of many people.

5) Presence on LinkedIn: Automation in talent searches is today's daily bread. Human resources companies and consultancies need to hire very quickly. Generally, searches for professionals are initiated early. Rarely, except for very planned projects, are contracts made within six months. We must recognize that opportunities arise due to variants such as: growing company in the market, staff resignations, changes in the profiles and skills of current employees, increase in services, expansion of new markets. Having a presence on LinkedIn today is equivalent to being present and visible. Not being part of this professional network of contacts locks us in the “dark room” of unemployment for months and months.

6) Contact networks: A normal phenomenon that we see every day is that of people who get a new job referred by acquaintances, former classmates, study colleagues or in any type of organization of which we are part. The results are evident and show that of 10 people looking for work, 8 find it through their contact networks, family and even neighbors. Knowing how to express our need for employment, knowing how to explain what we are excellent at and what type of companies we can add our value to is our best version for that next paid job.

7) Analyze the market: How many times do we hear people say: “I have sent 150 resumes and no one calls me”? When we analyze why they don't call us, we realize that sending the same resume to all companies is a mistake. We are sending resumes almost simulating “hunting butterflies.” The analysis of each company, putting together a list of them, describing the positions that we can perform and knowing how to present ourselves in the current virtuality of the world, are skills that can be learned and that are necessary to master in order to better dance in the dance of unemployment.

In reality, whatever our work situation, our profession, the many or few studies we have, we are forced to move where “the sun best illuminates us.” Rampant unemployment is for many households the worst threat to their stability and well-being.

It is up to us to look for the best options and, although not very popular and of our entire sympathy, there is no choice but to continue walking on our resumes until we reach the desired position or position. Motivating ourselves, being pragmatically positive and managing to develop greater “strategic thinking” in the face of our situation are differentiators that can help us better obtain that long-awaited next job… or entrepreneurship.

At Recruita, we are leaders in recruiting and retaining talent. We are ready to help you with this topic: contact us today.