So, you finally perfected your resume, submitted your CV, and aced the interview?
Now it’s time to wait – stuck refreshing your e-mail inbox. But it doesn’t have to be like that, you could do something productive instead – like going to the gym or reading a good book.
What to Do While You Wait?
The time it takes to hear back after an application or interview can truly test your patience. However, there are plenty of productive and enjoyable ways to make the most of this downtime while boosting personal and professional growth.
Read a few good books
Reading is an excellent way to stay engaged while you wait. Whether it’s a novel, self-help book, or career-related text, diving into a book can help you relax, learn, and momentarily forget the stress of waiting.
Consider exploring new genres or authors for fresh ideas and interests. Now e-books and audiobooks are a great add-on to hard copy, so explore Amazon, Goodreads, and similar platforms to expand the kind of media you use for reading.
Explore creative hobbies – perhaps you’ll learn something lucrative
Take the opportunity to pick up or revisit hobbies that spark creativity such as painting, playing a musical instrument, or even singing. That can keep you animated and bring a new sense of accomplishment. There are hundreds of resourceful YouTube channels where you can see people guide you through the practical steps of different leisure activities. Also, check out TikTok and Instagram channels for similar content, where you’ll be an active participant, rather than just a viewer.
Play online games
While you’re between jobs, the time you have at your disposal can be used to make up for the things you had to neglect, such as video games. With fast and reliable platforms such as Steam or Epic Games, you don’t really have to buy any games in hard print or waste money on consoles. Assuming that you already have a laptop or a desktop computer, you just decide what you want to play, pay for it online, and you’re good to go.
Speaking of payments, online gambling games, such as the ones available on instantcasino pages, have risen in the last few years. If you seek privacy and attractive bonuses, these casinos cut down all the useless, time-consuming procedures and let the players try their skills and luck with modern-themed slots, poker variations, and other recognizable games.
Apart from playing for fun – OK, poker is not only fun but an official mind sport – you could also play online chess, Sudoku, mastermind, and other similar games that may help you keep your brain in shape.
Build new skills
Use this time to learn something new that aligns with your career goals or personal interests. Online platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning offer courses and tutorials that can help you acquire valuable skills and stand out to potential employers.
If you can go through any practical courses that would make your potential hiring more effective, go down that road. Anyway, make sure to focus on one or two branches where you’ll improve your skills, rather than scattering your attention and wasting your assets on too many unrelated activities.
Plan your next steps
While waiting for feedback, or preparing for the possibility of rejection, focus on your next move. Update your resume, research other companies, and draft tailored cover letters. Proactive planning keeps your job search momentum going.
Why Does It Take So Long to Hear Back?
The hiring process is not so simple since companies have to balance various factors. They receive overwhelming numbers of applications for any one position, especially for those in high demand, with the majority arriving right on the deadline.
But, besides this, applications can often have to go through many layers of scrutiny.
Mostly, senior leaders with jammed schedules get a final say in decisions. Their big aim is to find the best man or woman for their teams – often longer than candidates might sometimes wish.
Another important factor is the size of HR teams. Even in large companies, recruitment teams are usually small and stretched across many responsibilities.
Apart from sorting through applications, they field hundreds of questions from applicants and handle countless logistical details around hiring. And of course, there’s the fact that most hiring processes today involve multiple steps such as online tests, video interviews, and written assignments.
Learning from the Setbacks
Every experience is a stepping stone, even if you don’t succeed at first. If you’ve made it to the interview stage, asking for feedback can provide invaluable insights.
It’s not always easy to hear where things went wrong, but constructive criticism is an opportunity to improve. Adjust your approach, stay mentally strong, and you’ll have much better chances of success in future applications.
Resilience and Moving On
Persistence is always the difference between those who make it to their goals and those who give up a little too early. Each application, each interview, and even every moment of frustration serves to teach you one more thing about the process – and about yourself.
Success will not happen overnight, but with patience, adaptability, and a clear focus, you will get there. Every little effort you make is getting you closer to the career you’re striving so hard for.
Keep going, you’re closer than you think.