It’s 2025, and if you go on LinkedIn, you’ll see people deciding to just put it out there. Hi, this is me, here’s what I do, this is the type of job I want. There’s one copywriter guy who seems to be giving a daily update on his mental health (which isn’t good) to basically anyone who will listen.
So with so many people experiencing high levels of frustration trying to land copywriter, design, web design, and marketing roles, I thought I’d give you a to-do list to help stay focused when things are looking bleak on the job front.
What to Do in Your Job Search If…
You’re getting steady, daily rejections on jobs you’ve applied to.
Take another look at your resume and scan it for employment gaps, ATS triggers, and keyword mismatches with the jobs you’re applying for
You’re ghosted by a hiring manager who had scheduled you for an interview time.
- Try to get ahold of them via telephone to follow up and ask to reschedule if possible.
- If they don’t answer the phone, look up the phone number of the company and ask to speak to the marketing director.
- If you aren’t able to get ahold of the marketing lead, search their email address and send them a note about having applied for the job.
- Move on.
- Give it time, and if you still see the job posted, apply again at a later date.
You’re turned down once, or more than once, for not having enough creative writing or designing experience, within a particular niche.
- Dig deeper into your work samples to find something closer to a match.
- Create your own sample in Canva.
- Offer to do some work for free to a person who works in your field of interest, as a way to build your experience.
You’re landing interviews, but you aren’t making it past the first interview phase.
- Try to recall what you said during the interview that could have put doubt in the mind of the hiring manager.
- Dig up some more work experience that aligns more closely with the role you’re interested in.
- Consider versioning your resume. If you’re looking for marketing jobs, waitress jobs, retail jobs AND customer service jobs, then you’ll need an alternate resume for each of those roles.
- If you’re after a particular role at a particular company, explore that company’s website to see what they look for in a candidate (some companies will more or less tell you what to say on your interview).
You’re feeling self-conscious about video interviews.
- Get more comfortable with the tech, including editing the videos, and even filming at a flattering angle and in good lighting.
- Brush up your speaking and presentation skills.
- Tweak your appearance on camera – choose a color shirt that stands out on video, neaten your hair, play with makeup looks.
- Try filming a few practice videos to get yourself used to being recorded.
- Write up some cue cards to help you present in a more organized way.
You’re getting a low score on writing, design, and proofreading tests.
- Search the web for sites where you can take practice tests and try to improve your test-taking skills.
- Talk with a job recruiter who may have a training course to help you pass such tests more easily.
- Give yourself more prep time before testing – get enough rest, eat a healthy breakfast or lunch beforehand, have a cup of coffee if you need it.
You’re not coming across jobs that reflect your desired market, experience level or skills and abilities.
- Refine your job search. Do some online research to see what the hot keywords are for people who do what you do. (Example: I didn’t know until last month that I could call what I do a “content manager” – I thought that was for “managers of people,” but it’s not.)
- Try starting profiles on some new job search websites. If you sign up for my list, I’ll email you a document containing job sites that are supposedly legit for freelancers, remote and work from home peeps.
- Start searching the Careers pages of companies you’d like to work for. Create a profile for each so you’ll be notified of when opportunities open up that match your skills.
- Gather names and contact information of hiring managers at companies where you’d like to work. Prepare to pitch them with your services.
Too much times has passed since you were out of work, and it’s starting to freak you out.
- Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Freelance is alive in 2025. If you opt to only focus on full-time jobs, you might start to feel your energy levels drop and your hope drain. If you’re out of work and worrying, you always have the opportunity to market your creative skills as a freelancer.
- Make an appointment with a job recruiter or head hunter. They’ll help match you up with a future employer.
- Fall back on alternate skills. As mentioned, creative jobs have definitely become harder to find in this new economy. Dig up that old customer service role you once held. Even part-time, off-the-books work you did for a family friend’s company could work in your favor.
Desperation is setting in.
If you’re really feeling lost and hopeless about finding a job in the creative field, you might just have to pivot into online business.
- Launch a website where you can market your services.
- Look into creating digital products, like done-for-you content, and sell them.
- Launch a site where you teach people to do what you do (assuming you have a marketable skill).
- Consider a career change. This will involve taking a fresh look at your finances, and maybe investing in classes or certifications to hep you make the transition.
- Take a few local classes. You can learn a new computer program, improve your public speaking skills, look into career advancement, and more.
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