The stillness was overwhelming. It's a rather typical occurrence. You've applied to a slew of jobs and have yet to hear back. It's no surprise that many people consider job hunting to be one of the most difficult tasks a person can undertake.

Falling into the "application black hole" is a typical occurrence that often discourages even the most hopeful job candidates. If you've applied for employment and haven't heard back, here are five strategies to boost your confidence despite the quiet, plus two more ideas to help your CV stand out:

1. Maintain the momentum

It is critical that you continue to look for and apply for employment. Fortunately, there are many of career options available. Set weekly goals for yourself, such as completing a certain number of applications each week, to avoid becoming overly fixated on a single position.

Goals can assist you in reducing anxiety and maintaining a regular routine. If you're jobless, have free time, or are feeling alone, look for ways to become active in your community or sector. Getting out of the house and socialising on a daily basis can help you keep your confidence and talents.

2. Boost your efforts

Find techniques to automate as much of the front end of the job search process as feasible (identifying jobs that interest you). You may accomplish this by setting up job alerts, which are email notifications of new positions that fit your criteria.

We recommend that you try other job titles and phrases until you discover searches that match what you're searching for. By lowering the amount of time you spend looking for work, you will have more time to customise and improve your applications, such as adapting your CV and cover letter to each post.

3. Understand the rules

To lower your chances of sliding into the application black hole even more, thoroughly examine each job description for keywords and incorporate these terms in your CV and cover letters. Most businesses now utilise an applicant tracking system (ATS), which is software that automates the sorting of applications based on specified keywords such as talents, years of experience, training, or schools attended.

When you click "Submit," your application is reviewed based on the keywords in the job description and ranked with other candidates in the company's database. That is why, before applying for a job, you should think about whether you have the credentials specified in the job description. Without the necessary qualifications, you are unlikely to get past automatic systems or human recruiters.

4. Conduct your research

Have you decided on a certain firm to work for? Conduct some research. Read the corporate blog and news announcements on their website. On their "About Us" page, you may learn more about their goal and beliefs. Follow the company's social media platforms to stay up to date on local networking events that they are attending or organising. You may also follow the CEO or other top executives on social media. This is an excellent approach to keep informed about what is going on within the firm and what is important to the organisation.

You can also follow potential employers on their Indeed Company Pages to receive notifications when new positions are listed. Make sure to go over the Q&A section as well. Employees and advocates from the company may engage on and monitor these sites, and you may learn about the experiences of other members of the community.

5. Be kind with yourself

Remember those personal objectives you established for yourself? The reward is the finest part of goal setting. Make time to acknowledge your accomplishments—applying for those jobs, attending that networking event, passing a five-person interview—and nourish your self-confidence by recognising your efforts.

Simple, meaningful ways to treat yourself If you're on a tight budget, there are various low-cost methods to relax: go for a stroll in the park, read a good book, spend time with friends and family, and, most importantly, practise appreciation. It's easy to feel depressed and upset if you're jobless, trapped in a job you despise, or just seeking for something better. Gratitude for what you already have can serve as a solid basis for future development. Each day, write down three things that went well and why. It will become simpler to relax as your thinking switches to focus on what you are grateful for. In fact, studies have shown that simply completing this exercise for one week may boost happiness and reduce depressed symptoms for six months.

6. Use the appropriate keywords

Rather than changing your CV for each new job you apply for, include a "Skills" section that you may change based on the role. This allows recruiters (and ATSs) to swiftly review skills while you utilise the majority of your CV to promote successes.

7. Make use of and expand your network

Seek assistance from your professional and social networks. Check to see whether somebody in your network already works at the company you're interested in. If you haven't heard back about an application and are afraid that it has vanished, your connection may be able to help. Attend local networking events and join online networks as well. These are enjoyable methods to network with other professionals and learn about new career chances.

Looking for your next job may be a difficult process, and if you aren't receiving feedback, you may feel as if you aren't making any forward. However, by combining focused, keyword-rich applications, networking, and research, you may avoid the application black hole and discover not just the next job, but the ideal one.