I met Binal Jani in 2014, while we were both contracting as Global Communication and Engagement Leads with the Brand, Marketing and Communications team at EY.

Our paths have criss-crossed many times over the years as we’ve moved in the same internal communication circles, attending the same webinars and training opportunities to stay current and invest in our service offering.

A chat during a recent personal brand webinar, hosted by Fady Ramzy, led to a further conversation about our shared experiences and the horrors of the interim market over the past 18 months or so.

Be prepared for spookily familiar experiences in this guest blog, as Binal shares her story, together with hints and tips on how to avoid the terrors and make the (sometimes) scary job market work for, rather than against, you.

**Binal’s boxset of job hunting horrors…**

I’ve been consulting for over ten years, so I’m used to having some gaps between contracts. But last time was different.
Writing a guest blog for the launch edition of Rhythm and cues, with a Halloween-theme on the horrors of the job market was easy - as I knew I had plenty of spooky stories to share!
And while my recent job hunting experience was a bit tricky, it also provided some treats too. So consider my experience as a mix of horror stories - sprinkled with tips and hope.

👻 Horror #1: The ghosts
Let’s start with the most classic horror that I know most people are experiencing - ghosting.

Anyone (whether contractor or perm) who’s been job hunting over the past couple of years will know it well - the recruiter who never replies, the hiring manager who vanishes and even people in your network who suddenly go quiet. That feeling can be incredibly discouraging.

I was thankful for the fabulous recruiters and interviewers who reminded me that there are still humans behind the process - people like Ryan Matthams of Pontoon (who got me my current contract), Matt Gibbs and the team at Comma Partners, Laura Bradley (Eton Bridge Partners), Gaynor Holt and Faye Harwood (Intuitive Solutions), Natasha Westerman at Manpower and a few more besides. They came back to me promptly and treated me with respect - those interactions genuinely made a difference.

Tip👉: What helped me was accepting that ghosting is happening a lot (reinforced by many in my LinkedIn feed!) and it wasn’t personal. I actually created a folder called “Applied and done” - every time I applied for a role and got the ‘thank you for applying’ email, I’d file it there and consider my work done. I knew that if the role was right for me, I’d hear back. If not, I’d move on. (That didn’t mean I didn’t follow up if there was a contact name available or do a little more if the role was perfect, but this felt like I got some distance.) And I think this mindset kept me sane.

🤖 Horror #2: Scams, bots & the “Open to work” dilemma
As I updated my LinkedIn profile, I had the internal debate “should I put the “Open to Work” banner on my profile? Will it make me look desperate, or does it say I’m ready for the next challenge and make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to find me? I decided on the latter - but once you make yourself visible, the scams start rolling in. I had people with one connection commenting on old posts that they had a perfect role for me, phone calls asking me to join a WhatsApp group and more.

Tip 👉: Be cautious and verify every recruiter and agency. It’s a strange world when “proceeding with caution” becomes part of your job search routine, but that’s where we are and it emphasizes the importance of investing in your network, whether you’re actively searching for a new role or not.

🧠 Horror #3: The spooky voices
I’m talking about the spooky voices in your own head.

Those whispers of self-doubt that creep in when rejections start coming in, or when a role sounds just slightly out of reach, or the interviewer decides another candidate is more suitable. “Am I really good enough?” “Should I even apply?”

As someone who coaches others through change, it’s funny how hard it can be to manage your own inner change curve. I found myself literally challenging those voices, reminding myself of the value I bring. I reminded myself that I don’t have to tick every bullet point before I can apply and also considered what I could do to check any unticked bullets point the next time a similar role came around!

Tip 👉: Use AI to boost your confidence by uploading your CV and a job description for affirmation about why you’d be a great person for the job. Try this if your confidence dips, for example, if you’re feeling anxious before going into an interview for a role you really want (even though rationally you know you wouldn’t have been selected unless you had the relevant experience).

💀 Horror #4: The mental, physical and financial pressure
Unless you’re really lucky, there are bound to be quiet periods between contracts - it’s part of the rhythm of freelance life. But this time, it felt heavier. The job market was slower, the news gloomier, especially when I looked at my LinkedIn feed, and the competition tougher (thanks to the amazing comms and change professionals on the market).

Not knowing how long the gap between contracts is going to be means you have to be even more careful with your finances – watching your ‘war chest’ (i.e. savings) decrease each month is definitely worrying.

It’s really easy to let that pressure build. I know some people will say to treat job searching like a 9-to-5 job (a very badly paid one at that!). And honestly, numerous job applications can be mind-numbingly boring - tailoring your CV and cover letter for each role, hitting apply, getting the ‘thank you for applying’ email (if you’re lucky) and (most likely) not hearing anything… it’s mostly very repetitive and draining.

AI tools helped a little, but I always edited and personalised materials, and I focused on doing a few applications really well, though there were some ‘spray and pray’ applications, and who the temptation to hit the ‘Easy Apply’ button?!

I sometimes found myself doom-scrolling LinkedIn at silly 0’clock so eventually made a rule: if I knew I was trying to relax, I’d put my phone in another room to stop myself reaching for it. This ‘digital detox’ is something I’ve continued to do as it means I can be more intentional with my time.

I made a conscious choice not to search for a job all day, every day, and reframe it as: “I won’t get this time to myself again for a while”, and make sure I used it well. So I started exercising (fab classes at my gym), went swimming (and of course the steam room and sauna too!), read books by the pool, enjoyed sunny park days with my family (and sometimes my book – get the feeling I’ve missed reading?!). I also spent time with family and friends that I wouldn’t have otherwise have had.

While I didn’t sell half my house on Vinted or declutter every room like I intended, I did give myself space to rest, recharge - and just ‘be’ - as much as I could with two energetic boys!

Prosci Change Management Practitioner Plan and ADKAR handbook — Invest in yourself
I also invested in my professional development, by attending webinars and taking courses I generally don’t have the time or headspace for while I’m in a contract. This included completion of my Prosci certification *(read my thoughts* *here* *on whether it’s worth it for change comms professionals)*. I also took an AI course with the Institute of Internal Communication.

LinkedIn became, and still is, my regular go-to. I expanded my network by c. 200+ connections with voices I want to hear from again, and engaged in so many interesting conversations and even wrote a few original posts of my own (something I still struggle with, despite writing so confidently for others!).

I’ve found people so generous with their time - Luke Cunliffe, Kathryn Andrews, Marion Rubin, and Fady Ramsy to name just a few, and re-connected with old colleagues and new contacts via in-person meetings, virtual coffees, support sessions and the IoIC awards dinner / judging panel too.

I don’t think I gave myself too much time to be bored or dwell on things that weren’t in my control, which probably helped too!

Tip 👉: Take a few weeks or months out to recap on the knowledge you learned over the last X years and take advantage of the great opportunity for a bit of professional development by skilling up.

🎢 Horror #5: The emotional rollercoaster
If there’s one word that sums up the job search, it’s rollercoaster.

You apply.

You wait.

You get an interview - the excitement builds.

You start researching, planning, maybe even sketching out a comms and change strategy for the project (actually I pretty much always do this!).

You meet the interviewer and can really see yourself in the role. After the interview comes the self-doubt: ‘Did I answer that question well? Was that the right tone?’ Sometimes I’d go for a swim after an interview to shake it off. Other times I’d grab some ice cream and crisps, and binge on Netflix until the school run (oops!).

And then… the magic happens. You get the call – or even calls. And this is the biggest sprinkle of hope – and the best part of the rollercoaster! After all those months of uncertainty and rejection, those spooky voices start to go away.

Tip 👉: Let yourself lean into what you need. If you need a break, take it. Feeling motivated? Go for it and stay in the zone for as long as you can. Don’t beat yourself up about what’s not in your control.

Binal Jani taking time out before her next change comms contract — Take some time out to do what you enjoy
The tricky job market gave me space to reflect, refresh and re-focus.
I was grateful for the time between contracts to have the opportunity to invest in myself, my family and my network - to have time to think about my long-term goals, both personally and professionally.

🎃 Final thoughts
Yes, the current job market can seem a bit terrifying.

There is ghosting, scams, rejections, moments of self-doubt, and long nights of worry. But there’s also opporunitites for growth and connection.

My advice if you’re experiencing any of these horrors is to:

💪Aim to emerge stronger, sharper and re-energised

🧱Lay a metaphorical brick each day

🆓Take advantage of the fabulous many free resources around you

🍎Take breaks to look after your physical and mental health, and keep going.

This investment in yourself will show up in interviews, in your confidence, you’ll be better for it and ready to hit the ground running when that call comes.

Remember - the ghosts (and the spooky voices) will eventually fade, and hopefully you’ll come out on the other side stronger, and maybe even with a few new skills (and Vinted finds!) to show for it. 🎃