I’m so tired of looking for a job. It’s been almost a year and now I’m starting to wonder if I’m doing something wrong. What are some of the strategies people are using to look for jobs?

I've been searching for more than one year. Changed strategy multiple times, taylored CV for each job, each spec, with and without cover letters, applied early, through multiple channels etc. Had other people review my CV. Proactively reached out to recruiters. Tried everything. I hardley passed the CV selection and rarely 1-2 stages of the hiring process. No interview from Sept, although I was applying to all relevant roles. So I decided to take a break, I was completely tired and demotivated. Then I started fresh, and spent less time on tailoring my CV, just kept 3-4 versions for the different types of roles I'm applying and stopped attaching cover letter (unless rarely specified as mandatory). Another thing I changed is that I apply more selectively to jobs and in max 24 hours since they are posted. This works for me and since April I managed to have
- 3 stages interview for a company that in the end selected another candidate
- 2 interview invitations that I declined
- 4 stages interview for a company and I'm hoping to receive an offer
- early stages interviews with 2 other companies

I know this is not perfect and might not work for everyone, but maybe it helps.

I really thought I was the only one and that my life was litterally failing apart . I even
Started to be depressed and ashamed of myself. I am mentally down that I don’t even have the strength to apply for jobs anymore. Reading all of your experiences give me so much hope. Just the fact that I am not alone.
Sending you all positive energy
One way or another we are going to make it

2 yrs and counting, the worst job market ever! Its not personal so stop feeling bad about yourself. As for strategies make sure your resume is ATS friendly and use AI to enhance it

If I may make a suggestion, broaden your search to include various levels and small businesses. I find the job market to be poor as well (recessions make a high candidate pool and a slow selecting employer), but getting seen is the hardest part (thanks ATS). I have been lucky thus far to secure employment when opting to step into roles that underutilize my skillset or are smaller in size. Unfortunately, my career progression looks a bit stagnant, but I'm not complaining. As a hiring strategy, our teams have been actively seeking overqualified persons to gain a higher ROI on the talent. Its very unfortunate

First, I hope everyone who is looking for a job finds one soon, a job that is the right fit for you. I was laid off last year in May. I took 4 months off to “reset” and decide my next move. I believe that time off to refocus is the reason I didn’t stay unemployed longer than I wanted to. In mid September, when I decided I was ready to work again, I accepted a temp assignment in my field. At the end of the assignment, I was offered a permanent role, there was no gap, I transitioned from temp to perm. I won’t say I have the magic sauce for landing a job, I don’t even understand how AI picks the resumes and I don’t think I interview that well. What I do have, (in addition to hard work and strong work ethic) has been working for me since 2013. It’s a feeling I get when I’m not stressed, that I can have whatever I want and I get it. Advice, take the stress and sense of urgency out of looking for a job, step away from applying for a couple of weeks, give yourself time to breathe and think about what you really want to do and the reasons why. This might not be for everyone, it works for me. Wishing you all well.

Going on 2 years here. I’ve rewritten my resume so many times and nothing. I’ve submitted thousands of applications and have had 2 interviews. It’s defeating but hang in there

I customized my resume to include keywords from the job description of the posting. It was extra work but I saw more results.

Its been a month for me... i will not last more then 2 more months then i cant pay my rent.
I aplyed to over 300 jobs... got 5 intvews....

I’ve had success using a staffing agency.

Coming from the hiring side of things... Make sure your social media is not something that will turn employers off. I personally look up every potential hire on social media platforms prior to hiring. It is a turnoff to see strong political posts or an image that may not fit our work environment. I have several friends in HR who tell me they always review social media accounts prior to hiring as well. Just trying to be helpful!

Just keep at it. I spent 2 1/2 years looking 2008-2011. And of 2018 looking. It’s a terrible job market. Keep positive, keep applying. You’re doing nothing wrong. It only takes one “yes”.

In my 40 years of working in tech, I've never seen a market so bad. My theory is that it's all about profits. In the 80s things changed. "A Corporation's duty is to make the shareholders money". This became the mantra and reinforced GREED. The unbalanced emphasis on profits above the worker began and has run amok. The support for the worker decreased. Pressure to destroy unions increased. Pensions became rare. Employer loyalty was eliminated. Business taxes went from over 60-70% in the 60's and 70's to present day 36%. Big Tech has found that laying people actually increased their share price. Doing more with less is PROFITABLE. The market rewards them. Twitter lays off, then Amazon, then Google, Microsoft, Tik Tok, Snap, Discord, and so on and this drives share prices up and the behavior is rewarded. GREED. PROFIT. The class of people highly invested in the stock market love it. CEO salaries and company profits go off the charts. This dumps tens of thousands of tech into the unemployed market. The existing workers become scared and are eager to do more out of fear of being laid off. Now there are fewer openings for everyone. Now add a pandemic.

The government gave money to help people during Covid. Many received it and didn't need it. My friend applied for a Covid business loan to keep his Korean restaurant open. He was too late. The emergency loans were gobbled up by big businesses and a lot of businesses that didn't need them. The rich got richer. The poor got poorer. Supply chains became disrupted and prices go up. Companies NOT impacted by the pandemic imitate this and raise their profits too. PROFIT. GREED. After things calmed down companies were unwilling to lower their prices and reduce their profits. 
The pandemic spawned remote workers. Now you're competing with hundreds across time zones for a single opening instead of scores from your local area. Oh and then introduce AI. Companies instantly work to leverage it to reduce labor costs. Less need for workers. GREED. PROFIT. 
Each presidential administration loves to brag about low unemployment. If you are in the service sector you can find a job waiting tables, fast food, or working retail near minimum wage. LOTS of those jobs are open. It's not a living wage. So those jobs remain open and are not as coveted. The people who profited from all of this end-stage capitalism are consuming at a higher rate and buoying up the economic numbers.

I’m sure many are doing this already, but if you’re not I would consider applying for jobs that are not in your usual domain. That could mean working in the local shop/ factory in a low paid low skilled job or on the other hand reach for the sky and apply for a director role.

Having a small income over no income is well worth it.

Take time for your mental health. Tell yourself, repeatedly, that you bring value to any organization.

I applied for over 20 jobs this past week and not one contacted me and yet everywhere is hiring.

It is a very competitive market. Go through some of the search firms and make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date.

A good friend of mine recommended using ChatGPT to algin your resume and cover letters with the job descriptions of the jobs that you are applying to. Saves hours, days of time!

While you're waiting for that perfect job to come along, why not start an online business? With all free tools, using Canva and Amazon's kdp program, you can write about your area of expertise and market your book or brochure. It also gives you something else to put on your resume.

I'm 53 and got ladoff it's been 6 mouth lots of apps some interviews but I'm ether to old or over Qualified but keep hope alive something out for you

I'll be honest with you Chief.....i just applid to any and every job out there....i still havent gotten the job i want or even that im qualified for but it is something