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I recently facilitated a workshop to support employment counsellors working with clients who are frustrated and discouraged by a lengthy job search. I asked the group, “Imagine we are building a survival kit for clients to help them navigate this tough job market. What is one tool, mindset ‘hack’ or piece of advice you would offer?”
One participant shared, “This is not your forever place.” She knew me well, as this is something I say often – to clients who feel stuck, drained, or overwhelmed by their search. (There is even a chapter with this title in my book, Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose!) I truly mean it every time I say it. In an uncertain job market, what clients need most isn’t another resume template or job board to consult. They need hope, strategy, and someone who believes in them when their own belief in the system (and themselves) is running low.
As career development professionals, we wear many hats. We are part resume writers, part interview coaches and part job search strategists. We’re also resilience coaches who encourage and support. When the job market is tough and the rejections pile up, even the most optimistic clients can hit a wall.
We hear from clients about how tough it is to find work right now, and we need to look no further than the news to back this up. According to this Reuters article, Canada’s unemployment rate in May jumped to its highest level in almost nine years, excluding the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.6 million jobless people in the country. Our clients need our encouragement and motivation more than ever right now.
So, how do we help our clients stay motivated – and how do we care for ourselves in the process?
Recognize and name emotions
Job loss or a prolonged job search brings up more than just logistical and financial stress – it triggers grief, self-doubt, shame and anxiety. When clients tell me they’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck or undervalued, I remind them that their feelings are natural – and valid. This isn’t toxic positivity; rather, clients need support normalizing hard emotions, so they stop thinking something is “wrong” with them. Clients may benefit from taking a break from their job search to do something joyful that feeds their soul. Remind them to reach out to supportive friends, family or accept help when it’s offered.
Reframe limiting beliefs
A roadblock to progress for many clients is the internal dialogue running in the background. Clients get in their own way with thoughts like: “No one wants to help me,” “I’m not good at networking” or “Why would anyone senior want to talk to me?” You can gently interrupt those beliefs and help clients understand that people do want to help – they just need to be asked. You can help them reframe their limiting beliefs to acknowledge executives are human, too, and informational interviews aren’t about being “perfect,” but about building connection.
Conduct a job search “check–in”
When a client says, “I’m doing all the things, but nothing’s working,” help them audit their strategy. Things like – do their resume and LinkedIn profile tell a clear, aligned career story? Are they tailoring their applications? Is their job search strategy loaded with job boards and online applications, or are they integrating networking into their day? Are they providing specific STAR/CAR stories in their interviews, and are they following up? How active are they in building relationships? Help them make tweaks to their job search strategy to maximize their opportunities.
Making progress visible
Clients often can’t see how far they’ve come, especially when the job hasn’t landed – yet (motivation hack: adding that 3-letter word at the end of the statement injects hope and encouragement!). Help them count their wins and highlight the progress they’ve made. Reaching out to five new connections this week is courageous, identifying a new career direction offers newfound clarity and showing up to meetings (even when tired or discouraged) shows resilience. Celebrating small wins isn’t fluff – it’s fuel for a client having a tough time. It builds confidence, reinforces effort and keeps clients engaged.
Prioritize self–care
Self-care isn’t a bonus or optional – it’s essential in a job search. I encourage clients to bring a healthy dose of patience, and to do one thing each day that feeds their soul. Maybe it’s a walk. A hobby. A chat with a friend. Anything that reminds them they are more than a jobseeker. Cue the comment from my recent workshop: this is not their forever place. They will find new work – they will not be in a job search forever. In the meantime, being kind to themselves is part of the process.
Your self-care is important, too.
As career development professionals, we absorb a lot. We hear hard stories. We hold space for disappointment, and we cheerlead even when our energy dips. Whether it’s debriefing a tough client conversation with a trusted colleague, celebrating a client win, or carving out time for rituals and activities that energize us, we need practices that help us stay connected to our “why.” The practices can help us show up more fully for the people who need us.
We are in the business of career transition and transformation. In a tough market, we are often the ones holding the flashlight when the path gets dark. Keep reminding your clients to focus on alignment and relationships over volume, and their job search is not meant to be a 24/7 hustle. There’s room for joy, for creativity, for stillness. Their day will come. This is uncomfortable, and they will be okay. They will find new work again.
