Here’s What People Learned During Their Job Search

• Stay flexible about the type of job you want to remain open to different opportunities.
• Use your network to discuss your interest in a new position or your future career goals.
• Consider working for yourself if you hit a roadblock in your job hunt.
• Research the company before you accept any position, and listen to your gut.

If you're looking for a job, you're not alone. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a low unemployment rate, the amount of job seekers seems to be on the rise. The WTW 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey shows about 44% of employees are either active job hunters or plan to soon leave their job.

While the number of open jobs has risen over the past year, the job hunt is still difficult. It can take about five months to find a job, and it's an even greater challenge to find one you want to accept. Continue reading to discover job search tips that you can apply to your job hunt.

Use Your Personal Network for Leads

Networking is as important as ever while job hunting. James Green, owner of Cardboard Cutouts, says you never know what will come out of a casual conversation.

"I made the jump from employee to business owner as a result from a casual conversation with a friend while on vacation, proving that you can never underestimate the power of networking," Green said. "I had expressed my desire to have something that gave me a little more freedom to spend time with my family. I gave no afterthoughts to my conversation with my friend until a few months later he called about an opportunity to purchase a business."

A 2016 LinkedIn survey revealed that roughly 85% of jobs are filled by networking. It's never too early or too late to grow your network. If you aren't sure where to start, connect with current or former colleagues, friends, or family and participate in networking events. It takes time, but building your network can lead to new opportunities and career advancements.

You Don't Have to Accept Every Job Offer

A 2020 Glassdoor analysis showed about one in six job offers are rejected by job seekers. While rejecting a job may go against your instincts, not every job is a good fit. Andrew Layman, Director of Net Lawman, thought he had to accept every job offer early on his career.

"If you accept a job that is solid, but where you will not progress or your already low salary will not increase, you reduce your chances of finding a job that fulfills you and a place where you will grow and learn," he said.

There are several things to consider before accepting a job offer. Layman suggests to always trust your intuition. "If your first impression tells you to run away, do so. Do not tolerate being belittled and humiliated."

Be Patient About Advancement Opportunities

A job search doesn't necessarily mean looking outside of your company. Sometimes you may want a change in position or title without leaving a workplace you know and love.

A 2021 survey by Catalyst showed roughly 39% of job seekers planning to make a career change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic desired an increase in salary or a promotion. Waiting is often the most difficult but ideal way to get the results you want.

Kyle MacDonald, director of operations at Force by Mojio, says moving up the career ladder is sometimes about timing and qualified employees may have to wait for a position to open up in order to secure a promotion. That waiting shouldn't be passive, however.

"For me, I made sure to plant seeds and express my interest in eventually filling the role to the company executives. I wanted to be the first person they went to or considered when the spot opened up one day," he said.

Consider Working for Yourself

Dawn Carr, owner of Mahogany Insights — a market research firm dedicated to representing Black and African-American voices and helping companies create more inclusive brands — started her company after realizing there were very few market research firms that focued primarily on helping companies build better bridges with Black consumers.

Intuit Quickbooks' New Business Insights report predicted that 2022 would be another record year for the launch of new businesses. After surveying 8,000 U.S. employees, three out of five respondents want to start a business, and one in five of those people want to do so in 2022.

Carr recommends three steps for those who want to start a business:

1. Be clear on your why: "One question you can ask is, 'if I didn't make money in this business for three years, would this business still be meaningful to me? If so, why?'"
2. Find your tribe, squad, and team: "Your tribe are your close people that allow you to live your life and keep you grounded. You also need a squad — these are people who can relate to your entrepreneurship journey. Finally, you need a team. These are the people/services that help you get stuff done — employees, accountants, lawyers, housekeeping, Instacart, etc."
3. Let go of the guilt: "The thing that has worked for me is to focus on the outcome and not the process. For example, rather than beating myself up about not cooking dinner every night (process), I focus on ensuring that the bulk of my daughter's meals are healthy (outcome)."

Do Your Research Before Interviewing

While it's tempting to accept every interview that comes your way, Jonathan Zacks, CEO & co-founder of GoReminders, realized not every offer was worth his time. After college, he discovered "the roles I was being offered were not at all as expected. Or, alternatively, the company that offered the roles turned out to be a company that for one reason or another I didn't want to work for."

He recommends doing your research. "Preparing for an interview can take a considerable amount of time; it's probably best to spend time making sure that you really do want the job before wasting your time and effort on an unsuitable position."

Frequently Asked Questions About a Job Search