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If you’ve been applying for jobs lately, you might recognize the feeling: sending out application after application, hearing nothing back and wondering if you’re doing something wrong. Add winter fatigue and a competitive job market, and the process can feel overwhelming.

“The rejection is demoralizing, sometimes it feels very personal. But you just have to keep going”.

For Elena Scantlebury, a co-op student at the Centre for Career Personal Development (CCPD), the job search can be tough, but there were unexpected upsides to the challenge.

Here, she reflects on what helped her push through rejection and what she’s learned along the way. She’s joined by Liliana Gonzalez, career specialist at CCPD, who shares why self-compassion and self-care matter just as much as résumés and cover letters.

Your mindset matters when making the cut 

Like many students on the hunt, Elena spent hours scrolling through job postings and comparing herself to the lists of required skills. More often than not, she felt demoralized if she didn’t feel like she measured up to 100% of the job requirements. 

However, Elena learned that meeting every listed requirement is rarely realistic, and that waiting for the “perfect” fit can hold you back from applying. 

Co-op student pro tip #1: If you match 70–80 per cent of the requirements, just apply. 

If you think about it, that job requirements can be considered more like a wish list of the various skills or competencies employers would like. 

“It hurts more not to apply than to apply,” says Elena. Taking that approach helped Elena land her first co-op position (with the Centre for Career and Personal Development) and reminded her that employers often look for potential, not perfection.  

Rejection is redirection—but it’s better than being ghosted 

Have you ever heard of the phrase: It’s better to be hated than to be ignored? This same logic applies when it comes to the job search – believe it or not. 

“I had been ghosted from about twenty of the last jobs I applied for,” recalls Elena. “But some of them I had gotten rejections from. I was [actually] very happy when I got rejections.”

Wait, what? It might sound counterintuitive, but rejection offered something ghosting didn’t: closure.

Co-op student pro-tip #2:  Take rejections as a net positive.

Without a doubt, the job search is a mentally exhausting process; you’re continuously putting yourself out there, and not hearing back can be discouraging. Hearing “no” allows you to move forward instead of waiting in limbo. There’s no guarantee that you’ll hear it, but if/when you do, it allows you to move on to the next stage of the job search process.

In fact, lately, it’s more common to be ghosted for months at a time and then in six months, getting a response. So, rejections are a good thing, if you think about it.

Staying focused when “employment is essential”

Persistence in the job search isn’t just about staying motivated; it’s often about necessity. Elena points to the reality many students face: getting employment (or employment experience) isn’t exactly optional anymore. 

With more students and recent grads at the sharp end of the labour market, the wait becomes more painstaking. “Sometimes it helps to remember that [employers] have other people they’ve been looking at that might have gotten there first,” says Elena. “This is out of your control, but you can take care of what is within your control.”

Building your brand, online and IRL

The state of the labour market, applicant numbers and timing are all outside your control. But your preparation isn’t. 

That includes how many roles you apply for, how you tailor your résumé and cover letter, and a lot more. Researching the role/employer, getting career advising, attending workshops… all that preparation can really help you get the best shot. And whether you take those actions are completely up to you.

Co-op student pro-tip #3: Carefully control your brand

According to Liliana, your brand goes far beyond what your resume looks like. “Your brand includes how you show up in interviews, your professionalism, your reputation and your online presence,”

She recommends starting with a simple step: Google your name. Having a digital presence can help or hurt your credibility. 

If you’re unsure how to build or refine your brand, CCPD career specialists can help. You can book an appointment through Elevate to get started.

Being aware of your online brand is essential, “I always suggest: googling your name and seeing what comes up”. 

If you’re not sure how to build your brand, you can always book an appointment with a Career Specialist at CCPD, click here to book one now!

Take baby steps towards the big goal

When rejection feels personal, it helps to zoom out to see the big picture. Remind yourself: what’s the goal? Why do I want this?

Instead of aiming to apply for everything at once, break your goal into smaller steps. Instead of doing your entire job search in one day, create a list with the steps to achieve this goal. That might look like:

• drafting one tailored rĂ©sumĂ© per day
• booking a career appointment this week
• attending a skills workshop

It might seem like small steps, but it’s still making progress towards your goals. As Elena puts it: “Once you’re throwing darts at the wall with focus, one is going to hit the bullseye eventually”.

The importance of self-care

The job hunt is a journey; you’ll need to take some breaks to keep up your momentum. The cost of proactivity is adequate rest, self-care and positive reinforcement. 

According to Liliana, “students very often feel like they only need to focus on applying for jobs. But to be energized, you need to create time for self-care and celebrating the small wins”.

Elena also highlights the importance of community and reaching out to your friends once you’ve applied. Asking them to keep you accountable, or simply being there, can be more than enough to have a positive job search process.

Yes—the search can be a time-consuming, energy-depleting and demoralizing process at times. But there’s something to be learned every step of the way. Every phase helps you build confidence, resilience and clarity about your strengths.

You’re not alone, and you’re not behind—everyone’s journey is their own. Good luck on the job search!