Tech-nically Rejected

😩 Being Rejected Bytes

Let's face it, being rejected is a terrible feeling, but the stats show we've ALL been there, eagerly applying for jobs, only to be met with a soul-crushing rejection. A joblist.com survey of more than 1,000 job seekers found some of the following insights:

• On average, job seekers started losing confidence in themselves after five rejections.

• More than 1 in 10 job seekers believed that their resume was never reviewed by a real person.

• 1 in 3 job seekers stopped looking for a new job after receiving too many rejections.

• 35.1% of women felt that they'd asked for too much money, compared to only 27.3% of men.

Ouch, ouch, my ego! But stress not, my fellow tech aficionados, because resilience is your secret weapon in this competitive landscape!

The tech industry is highly competitive, with many qualified candidates vying for limited job openings. Additionally, the recruitment process for tech jobs is rigorous, involving multiple rounds of interviews, technical assessments, and sometimes (more often than not) fighting nepotism. As a result, it's common for job seekers in the tech industry to face multiple rejections before ultimately receiving a job offer that aligns with their skills and career goals.

It's important to note that facing job rejections is a normal part of the job search process, and it's not necessarily indicative of a candidate's qualifications or abilities. Maintaining resilience, perseverance, and a positive mindset is essential in navigating the job search journey, and learning from each rejection will help improve future job applications and interviews.

The survey also found that 3 out of 4 respondents who persevered through the job hunt ended up finding their “dream job” after an average of 3 months of searching/interviewing (though many had to compromise on salary).

So, brush off that rejection like a bug in your code, and remember, you're in good company. Keep your spirit intact, laugh it off with a "404: Job Not Found" joke, and keep on prospecting those applications with unrelenting determination. Remember what we discussed last week: networking leads to referrals! You've got the charm, the hustle, and the drive to close the deal on your next logo. Pitch on, my friends; every rejection is a step closer to your next "Hello, World!" moment!

With the right "tech-niques" in your arsenal, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the job search battlefield and land that coveted role!

🎧 Listen While You Read

🤖 Remove the Sting of Rejection with Automation

One of the reasons rejection may sting is you felt that a lot of effort went into the process of applying. On average, a recruiter scans a resume for six seconds before deciding if the applicant is a good fit for the role. Knowing this, why do we pour our heart and soul into every application and cover letter?

Let’s explore some platforms that will help you automate a lot of this grunt work:

TealHQ.com - We’ve talked about Teal in the past as they have a ton of tools to help make your job search less painful. However, one feature that stands out is their Autofill Job Applications.

Using their Chrome extension, you can upload your resume or LinkedIn profile into their resume builder and they will automatically detect job applications on nearly 50 job boards. Save the jobs you want and the system will autofill the application questions with personalized answers based on your experience! BOOM. You could theoretically apply to dozens of jobs within minutes.

Simplify.jobs - Another similar platform to check out is Simplify. With their platform, you’ll also find personalized career recommendations and have the ability to autofill your applications.

They don’t appear to have the full suite of feature that Teal does (such as the AI Resume Builder), but it can get the job done.

🛟 Tech-lanthropy: Using your skills to help those in need!

When you're busy helping someone in need, whether it's through volunteering or providing support, it can be a powerful distraction from your own problems. It allows you to shift your focus away from your own challenges and instead channel your energy and efforts toward positively impacting someone else's life.

By selflessly giving back, you often find a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment, and it can provide a fresh perspective on your own situation. Helping others can be a meaningful way to gain perspective, find joy in making a difference, and gain a sense of gratitude for what you have.

If you’re looking to get out of a rut, below are some organizations that you can get started with:

• TechSoup: A global non-profit organization that provides technology products, services, and resources to other non-profit organizations to help them improve their operations and increase their impact.

• Engineers Without Borders: A non-profit organization that sends engineering volunteers to communities in need around the world to develop sustainable solutions for water, energy, infrastructure, and other engineering-related challenges.

• Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team: A non-profit organization that uses open-source mapping to support disaster response, humanitarian aid, and community development initiatives. They offer volunteering opportunities for tech-savvy individuals to contribute to mapping projects.

• FullStack Academy's CodeSmith: A non-profit organization that provides free coding boot camps and mentorship for individuals from underrepresented communities to launch their careers in technology. They offer volunteering opportunities for experienced software engineers and mentors to support their students.

📈 Initial Jobless Claims Back Up This Week

Last week's initial jobless claims* saw an increase of 11,000 from the previous week. This is the highest level since January 15, 2022, and quite a departure from the forecasted 200,000 that was expected for that week.

Ultimately, these numbers are trending in a direction that is not what we want to see.

*Initial Jobless Claims measure the number of individuals who have recently filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. A higher number of initial claims indicates that more people are losing their jobs and may be struggling to find work. ‘SA’ is Seasonally Adjusted***.

**Insured Unemployed refers to people who have lost their jobs and are receiving financial assistance through unemployment insurance. This helps us understand how many people need help finding new jobs and how healthy the job market is.

***Seasonally Adjusted data accounts for seasonal fluctuations in joblessness that can occur due to a variety of factors, such as holidays, weather patterns, and school schedules. By seasonally adjusting the initial jobless claims data, analysts can compare the data from one period to another with greater accuracy.

🔦 Job Spotlight