458 words, 2 minute read time
Open LinkedIn for five minutes and you’ll meet an avalanche of « I’m excited to announce… » posts. Promotions appear on Mondays, « new chapter » posts peak midweek and by Friday someone is « honored and humbled » for a role they clearly worked hard for. Close it, and you’re back to your own reality: applications sent, inbox silent.
This constant stream of « wins » creates a distorted reality where everyone else seems to be moving while you’re standing still. The algorithm doesn’t reward the persistence of a job seeker but rather the finish line. Hence, the silence of your own inbox feels twice as loud when compared to the digital applause on your feed. Here are two attitudes that can help you navigate your job-seeking journey with less frustration and more perspective.
Stop comparing your job search journey to “new role” announcements
« Am I doing something wrong? » you ask yourself. « Is it my CV? My field? My timing? My entire personality? » You start comparing yourself to others who seem to be succeeding in life while you are stuck in unemployment. It’s not that they are wrong to celebrate, it’s that the platform shows the outcome, not the messy middle. And the middle is where most of us are, retrying, refreshing.
Set boundaries with the app. Limit your scrolling time and treat the app as a tool. When you catch yourself comparing, remind yourself: this is their conclusion, not their full story. Your process is valid even if it’s not visible.
Keep going: What you put into every unanswered application still counts
The truth is job hunting is a full-time job that doesn’t pay and rarely replies. You tailor applications, translate your skills into keywords, and perform minor miracles with verbs (for example: « collaborated » sounds nicer than « did my part »). After all this hard work, what do you get in return? Nothing. Not even a polite « no. » Just silence.
To counter that feeling, make your work visible to yourself. Keep track of what you’ve done: how many applications you’ve sent, what you’ve improved, who you’ve reached out to. It may not come with likes or comments, but it gives you something just as important: a sense of movement.
Everyone is announcing… and you’re still applying. That doesn’t mean you’re behind, it means you’re in the part no one posts about but everyone endures. The middle is uncertain and sometimes frustrating, but it’s also where things are actually built. One day, you might write that announcement too and you’ll know exactly how much effort it took to get there.
What’s your take on your job search journey: discouraging, or still motivating? I’d love to hear your answers.
Very well said, Proud of you!
I’m glad it spoke to you, thank you!
Thank you, Lea, for sharing this, and I love it! ♥♥
Personally, I call today « LinkedIn » as new generation’s Facebook. Everyone is celebrating success and exploring new opportunities, but in reality, no one is really hiring. That’s what I have discovered recently!! So, your blog marks our struggle and sad reality!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I completely relate to what you’re saying; that contrast between what we see and what many people actually go through is exactly what inspired this post.