For the unemployed, the statement, ‘Why don’t you just get a job?’ can be quite insensitive. Globally, the economy has not been at its best and there are more unemployed people now than perhaps at any other time in history.

It’s tough for everyone

This is true for both the educated and the uneducated. People who dropped out of high school are having difficulty get good jobs, even if they are part time jobs, much like those who graduated from college. It can be very frustrating and some people seem just to want to give up.

We shall overcome

While the challenges are very real, there are ways in which you can navigate around these challenges and hopefully, get the job of your dreams (or just any job). Here goes:

1. Get a new email address

This is more about organization because all your job search related emails will be in one place. That way, you will be up to date about every job opportunity that comes up. You know what they say about opportunity and preparedness.

2. Make use of job search websites

There are a lot of websites that give information about the latest job vacancies and you can check on these as often as you can. You can even link these sites to that new email address so that you will receive an email every time a new opportunity opens up in your area of interest.

3. Different templates for different jobs

Different jobs may require different templates and content to be relevant. Make sure you have these at hand. Make sure the contact information is the same and up to date but modify everything else to suit each specific job. You can find out about these templates on http://validatejob.com/.

4. Perfecting your resume

Sometimes the reason that potential employers are not getting back to you is due to how your resume looks. You could do some research and develop great resumes (remember you may need more than one), or you could hire someone to develop some for you. Just make sure your resume is not generic.

5. Think skills, not industry

When you are thinking about where to apply, don’t confine yourself to the industry where you have worked before or are trained for. Consider your skill set and find out which ones can be transferrable to other industries. Widening your search area will increase your chances of getting a job.

6. Take the internship

It may not pay as much but it is a step in the right direction. Once you get an opportunity to work in any organization, you are much more likely to grow your career there than someone else from the outside. Plus, companies are more likely to hire interns than completely new applicants.

7. Work for yourself

Remember the discussion about skills? Well, you can look at those skills and see how they can work for you. If no one is hiring you, hire yourself. It might be tough to get started but if everything works out, you may be the one checking out resumes to see who the best fit is for your company.

The key is stay optimistic and keep an eye out for opportunities. It will work out eventually. All the best!