Struggling to Land A Job? Try These 6 Proven Ways

"I have been out of work for six months. I get interviews, but no offers." "I am drained and starting to doubt myself. The applications and rejections just keep coming." If that sounds like you, you are far from alone right now. The ANZ market is hard, but a stuck search usually has a specific cause, and a specific fix. Here is how I troubleshoot it.

Not getting enough interviews

The problem is almost always upstream of the interview: your resume and LinkedIn are not surfacing you. Refresh both so they reflect your latest wins, and tailor the resume to each role using the language of the posting. The deeper how-to is in my resume and LinkedIn guides. If you have never worked with one, a coach can also shortcut a lot of this, here is what that looks like.

Getting interviews but not advancing

Record yourself answering common questions and watch it back. The most common failure I see is answers that run too long and drift off the point, and tightening that alone lifts performance a lot. A quick prep trick: search "company name + role + interview questions." And ask for feedback, even though most companies will not volunteer it. A line that works:

"If there is one thing I could have done better in that interview, what would it be? I am keen to improve, and I would value the feedback. Happy to jump on a five-minute call if that is easier than writing."

More on interview performance here.

You have not activated your network

A referral carries far more weight than a cold application, and it is one of the fastest ways into an interview. Reach out to ex-colleagues and friends at your target companies. A surprising number of candidates already know someone inside and never ask. A specific tactic: on Blind or Glassdoor, search "company + referral," because employees there are actively looking to refer people for the bonus. Comment with a short summary of your skills, what you want, and a link to your resume. Make it effortless for them to say yes. Then keep the relationships warm, and give back where you can.

You are starting to feel desperate

This one is real, because desperation leaks into interviews and quietly costs you. Anchor yourself back in your achievements and what you actually bring. Confidence over need, and let the work speak.

You are not tailoring enough

Relevance is what earns interviews, full stop. Put the effort into customising each application so your strengths line up visibly with what the role needs. A generic application reads as generic.

The honest part

Some of this is outside your control, and pretending otherwise does not help. Focus on the levers you do hold, and take a real break when you need one, because a recharge often does more for your next interview than another fifty applications. This is the same troubleshooting I run with clients, and it lands them more interviews and offers even in this market.