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Fatigue hits early in the job hunting process and sometimes it hits hard, real hard. And with all the tools at your disposal, you could ask why you struggle to get noticed, let alone secure an interview?

Channel fatigue

Regardless where you are in the process, the easiest thing to do is blame the many job boards at your disposal and as there are so many of them, the blame game can go on for a while. If you’re currently employed and happy in your job but keen to consider new options, then the speed at which you act will not doubt be very different to that of someone who is desperate to leave their present role or someone unemployed. In any case, the channels you choose and the way in which you use them will be different especially as you refine your search. A different type of fatigue to be experienced here.

The number of job seekers or career professionals searching for their next move clearly outnumber the channels available – so competition is fierce. You could start with high profile job boards, talk to a few dozen recruiters, view career opportunities on company websites and even touch base with your own network of friends & work contacts.

There are many others but how you use these resources will determine how successful you will be.

Choosing channels

Take the time to consider which of these channels will work best for you and what type of approach you need to take to improve your chances. For example, almost everybody uses recruitment agencies and recruiters have a database full of clients who have vacancies – or do they? So what could go wrong? Well how about being a little more selective about the recruiters you work with and while you’re at it, establish a genuine relationship with a recruiter based on their expertise or point of difference. Ask for a possible referral from your circle of colleagues or friends based on their own experience. After all, they wouldn’t recommend a recruiter they didn’t know or had faith in.

Use your time wisely and think about the steps you take to secure that new job or make that career change.

Choosing which job board to use will also depend on a number of factors including the type of job you’re after, whether you’re seeking permanent or contract work and whether your career choice requires a specialized approach.

Regardless of what stage of the job-hunting process you’re in or how you got there, you will be feeling a whole range of emotions including confusion, desperation, stress and frustration. For some of you being unemployed is a short-term condition while others experience far longer periods of unemployment. However, the nerves are always there and making efficient use of your time will be a determining factor of how successful you are.

It might take a little longer or you might break your own PB but do some research, be selective and avoid channel fatigue….at all costs.