Jobseekers Need to Learn to ‘Move On’

Image Credit, Victor UzihBen

Everyone knows ghosting and rejection are inherent parts of job searching. Yet, job seekers waste vast amounts of energy and time lamenting what they can’t control. There’s a prevalent sense of entitlement that employers owe job seekers, which goes against the universal truth that nobody is owed anything, be it a job, to make a living or even happiness.

Job searching, regardless of the economic climate, has always required resilience. The key to resilience is having realistic expectations, such as understanding that employers you don’t work for don’t owe you anything. Having a ‘F*ck it!’ mindset that empowers you to move on quickly, so you find sooner rather than later that employer who ‘gets you’ and is willing to hire you is how you foster resilience.  

• Ghosted: You didn’t get the job. Move on. 
• You didn’t hear from an employer after submitting your resume: There were candidates with more relevant experience and were a better cultural fit. Move on 
• When a networking reach out attempt fails: A stranger isn’t willing to drop everything to help you. Move on. 
• Not taking down a job posting: Some people never take down their Christmas decorations. If a job can be left open for a significant amount of time, assume it isn’t critical. Do you want a non-critical or non-essential job? Move on. 

Wishing how hiring should be won’t get you a job.

Getting frustrated and angry at how an employer designed their hiring process won’t get you a job.

Getting upset over being ghosted—it wasn’t the employer who ghosted you; it was an employee whose behaviour doesn’t speak for an entire company who ghosted you—won’t get you a job.

Life is too short to spend time and energy dwelling on “what could have been” and “whys.” This is especially true regarding things out of your control, such as how an employer designs their hiring process or runs their business. The most common false belief I repeatedly see people hold, and which causes much of their frustrations and anger, is that they can change other people’s behaviour—as if it’s their place to do so.

While it’s natural to feel disheartened, it’s crucial to understand that wallowing in the many disappointments you’ll experience throughout your job search and believing you can control other people’s behaviour hinders your progress.

When you invest your heart and soul into an application only to be met with silence or rejection, it’s easy to spiral into self-doubt. Consider why you’re giving a hiring manager—a stranger—influence over your self-esteem. Hence why I recommend embracing a ‘F*ck it!’ mindset as a defence against rejection eroding your confidence.

I’ve been rejected many times more than I’ve been accepted. I’ve learned the hard way, a running theme throughout my life, that if I permit it to do so, repeated rejection triggers a cycle of negative thinking that paralyzes me, regardless of whether I’m searching for work, submitting my writing, or reaching out to someone hoping to form a relationship. Dwelling on past disappointments sabotages future opportunities.

There are many reasons why quickly moving on, as opposed to wallowing, playing the “I’m a victim!” card, getting angry, or venting on LinkedIn and other social media platforms—which is never a good look—benefits your job search.

1. There’s no shortage of opportunities.

In several previous columns, I’ve mentioned that opportunities are all around you, with one caveat: they’re attached to people. In 2024, employers are turning to their employees for referrals since job postings result in avalanches of applications, predominantly from job seekers who spray and pray. This underscores the importance of networking rather than applying to online job listings.

Clinging to rejections, being ghosted, or whatever is frustrating you is wasting mental energy you could be using to speak to people who may be able to refer you to job openings where they work. Starting right now, shift your focus away from past disappointments—forget about them, what’s done is done, you can’t change the past—and focus on future possibilities aligned with your skills and aspirations and start making it a point to meet people, because you never know what opportunities they may be attached to.

• Much of the hiring process is out of your control.

In the same way that you can’t control the behaviour of others, you can’t control how an employer hires. Many factors influence hiring decisions, notably internal politics and team dynamics. Instead of internalizing these setbacks, remind yourself of your skills, experiences, and past achievements.

• Not quickly moving on is counterproductive.

Dwelling on why you were ghosted or didn’t get the job—instances in which you’ll never know the actual reason—drains your energy, energy better spent on proactive measures to enhance your candidacy for future roles.

The key to a successful job search is to keep moving forward and stay focused on what you can control, such as optimizing your LinkedIn profile—arguably the most critical tool in a job seeker’s arsenal—resume and expanding your network to take advantage of all the opportunities around you.

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Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send your questions to Nick at artoffindingwork@gmail.com.