They say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and Karen has come to believe that.

After wrapping up a successful marketing and publicity contract in the arts sector, she found herself six months into her job search and was feeling mighty frustrated, even a little depressed.

“I was starting to feel inadequate, like there was something wrong with me. I couldn’t understand why, after sending out hundreds of resumes, I wasn’t getting any interviews. I had been to job search classes, resume writing workshops and was even taking on some freelance assignments to keep my portfolio fresh. But none of that was working. I started panicking when my bank account was in overdraft and I had exhausted all my other financial resources.”

Finally Karen decided to contact everyone she knew, to say she was looking for work.

“At that point I was so close to giving up, possibly going back to school to start again and change career paths. Then I got a call from a close friend whose connections helped propel me back into the work force and even better, into my chosen field.”

She concedes she didn’t alert everyone until very late in the process because of something to do with pride, not wanting everyone to know that she didn’t have a job.

“But then I realized it didn’t matter, since surely most people could relate to being out of work. I decided it was worth any embarrassment I might incur to just get the word out.”

Searching for a new job can be a social, creative and rewarding process, but when your efforts don’t turn into an offer quickly, the task has the potential to become frustrating, demoralizing, even anxiety-provoking. Once you’re in that headspace, social encounters can seem overwhelming. Convincing someone we’re right for a position is the last thing most of us feel like doing.

Additional challenges may accompany a prolonged period of unemployment, for example financial stress and the loss of social interaction. The associations between unemployment and well-being are documented by the Institute for Work and Health, and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

But it’s very true that looking for work is a very normal process many of us will go through, likely several times in our lives. Searching for a perfect match is not unlike looking for a life partner — some rejection along the way is almost inevitable. Given experts say a job search typically lasts six months or longer, shoring up your resources can help you navigate this process and remain resilient.

The value of custom-made

First of all: what is the number one reason people don’t get called for job interviews? The consistent response by career counsellors, coaches and hiring managers is worth noting. Michael Mayne, managing partner and certified professional career counsellor at Catalyst Careers sums it up “Quality is better than quantity. It’s worth the time to customize your resume for each opportunity, rather than sending it out in droves.”

This means studying a job description line by line and taking the time to ensure your resume quickly and clearly demonstrates why you are a good fit for the job.

Cathy Arnold, employment counsellor with Times Change Women’s Employment Service, which provides a range of job-search help and resources for unemployed and underemployed (less than 20 hours per week) women in Toronto, advises clients to “try and see yourself in the place of the employer. They have a job they are trying to fill. Can you show you have the skills and abilities? An employer is just not going to read between the lines.” Mayne and Arnold also emphasize the importance of a cover letter tailored to the organization and position.

It’s time-consuming, to be sure, but employers strongly recommend putting more time into individual applications to yield better results.

Morgan Jaques, manager of communications and human resources at War Child Canada, explains that these days they can “cherry pick” even amongst the volunteer applications. For paid postings, they may receive over 600 applications for a single Toronto-based job. And with a total staff of about 22 people based in Toronto (200 international field staff) and no dedicated human resources department, she says, “in our screening procedure, unfortunately we may not even have five minutes to spend, so make it very apparent that you have the right skills and experience.” Otherwise your application will be passed over quickly.

The numbers can be daunting, but it’s best to focus on what you have to offer, and where you can find a good match. The task is to search for that specificity and make appropriate connections. And like searching for a good partner, remember it’s not just a numbers game. Keep working at it — there will always be an element of chance and surprise. After months of searching and then letting everyone know she was looking for work, Karen said her wonderful phone call seemed to come “out of the blue”.

While you may feel you’re doing a good job search by sending out several hundred generic resumes, it’s wise to dispense with such a driven approach and to diversify your strategy and your energy. Diligently review jobs postings and spend time applying for jobs, certainly — but only those for which you can demonstrate you’re a good match. Also engage in a range of activities that will help you expand your network and plug into a new job: join a professional association, attend events, take courses and try online networking.

Making the right contacts

Making contacts at the nonprofit organizations you’d like to work for is always a good idea and can help boost your chances of an interview. At the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division, senior coordinator of human resources Dimple Joshi speaks to the importance of volunteering. “A volunteer would definitely be a preferential candidate. We have absolutely hired volunteers — someone who has already aligned with our mission and engaged with our cause, along with having the [requisite] skills.”

At War Child Canada, they also have a volunteer program and always look for people with a demonstrated passion and commitment to their mission, whether through prior contact and volunteer experience with their own, or a similar organization.

Not everyone is able to volunteer, of course, and Joshi adds that she encourages people to reach out to the Cancer Society in other ways. While she doesn’t recommend phoning — “We’d have to have a call centre for those kinds of calls” — she attends job fairs and networking events where people are welcome to approach her.

Her best advice for introducing yourself to the Canadian Cancer Society is to get on LinkedIn and contact someone relevant at Ontario Division. “Make yourself visible, show that you’re interested and passionate.”

This echoes advice Cathy Arnold gives her clients at Times Change: instead of contacting HR departments where people are busy and their job is to screen you out, it’s best to reach out to people who may be working in the particular area where you might be placed, starting with anyone known by friends and family.

Arnold also says that when looking at a range of approaches for your job search, it’s good to remember “It’s not one size fits all.” She says it’s important to do whatever feels comfortable for you. Perhaps the most common turning point in job searches, she says, is when individuals become comfortable using as many strategies as they can…applying for advertised jobs, using an agency if appropriate, volunteering to expand their network, taking night courses to expand skills and reaching out to any contacts that might be helpful.

“Then they gain confidence and stop feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable. It’s when [clients] start being more proactive and feeling good about the job search, not thinking “I’ve got to do this”. She also emphasizes that many such activities don’t have to cost a lot of money. She recommends www.poss.ca as a site for Toronto-based jobseekers, for example, which has free event listings.

Positive psychology in action

Shirin Khamisa, an ICF accredited coach, career counsellor and founder of Careers By Design agrees that reframing from that singular focus on “needing work” and doing things to feel more empowered can be an important key to success. She stresses the importance of taking action to help you stay in a positive frame of mind throughout the process. Khamisa explains that when people start feeling discouraged, they typically stop doing things, and continuous action is essential to both feeling good and finding a job.

“When clients come to see me, one of the first things we focus on is feeling better. For example, if you have the thought, there are no jobs out there, you will feel like there is nothing you can do to change your situation. You will take little or no action. If you recognize that there is always some movement in the market and believe that there are opportunities for you to use your skills and make a positive impact on the world, you will be more likely to take the action steps necessary to find a new position.”

She also adds that it’s very important to know what you are looking for, so your efforts are focused , goal-directed and infused with energy. If the job search is taking time, you can always broaden your search later on.

Given that CharityVillage® is seeing an increased number of job postings and hiring managers are beginning to see lifts on hiring freezes in the nonprofit sector, there is also hard data out there indicating job seekers can feel more optimistic.

No matter what the climate of the labour market, counsellors and HR staff alike say that enlisting support during the job-search process is always helpful.

Arnold stresses that getting some professional assistance can “help you find out you’re not the only one and that you need not feel embarrassed. Others are experiencing the same frustrations and having the same experience, perhaps even feeling a bit blue. You can meet others in group workshops, that’s a huge support…it offers motivation and encouragement and the feeling you’re not doing it on your own.”

And never forget to reach out to ‘who you know’.

Now happily employed as a communications advisor, Karen remembers that once she really reached out to friends and colleagues, she not only activated a network that kept her from feeling so isolated, she connected with people who appreciated and celebrated her for who she was — irrespective of her job or employment status.

Keep your spirits up during a job search or career transition

1. Set approach goals. Don’t think about what you DON’T want. Be specific and focus your job search on a position you DO want. Focusing on what you want gives you energy and pulls you forward into taking action.

2. Relive the peak moments in your life. Remind yourself what strengths you used in these situations. Post them up and review them every chance you get; internalize them. You have to believe in yourself if you are going to convince others that you can provide value.

3. Visualize your ideal outcome. Notice how you feel when you imagine yourself having achieved this goal. Mounting research shows those who use this technique are more likely to achieve their goals.

4. Build energy reserves by doing activities that energize you — yoga class, hitting the gym, perhaps a little quiet time. Take time off from your job search.

5. Journal. Write down your thoughts when you feel discouraged. This helps you to see your patterns of thinking and identify thoughts that are keeping you stuck. Discuss these with a friend, coach or counsellor to help you reframe from a different perspective.

6. Don’t personalize things. There can be many circumstances that are outside of your control. Focus on what you have the power to influence.

— Tips provided by Shirin Khamisa, Careers by Design

Caroline Veldhuis is the former editor for CharityVillage®.