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What to Do When Nothing Is Working, with Melissa Wong

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You know a job search takes time. But when the rejections pile up, and the silence stretches on, it’s hard not to wonder if something is wrong with you. It isn’t, says Find Your Dream Job guest Melissa Wong. Feeling stuck is one of the most common and painful parts of a job search, and the way through is to focus on what you can control. 

One of Melissa’s favorite remedies is to make something. A creative project gives you a reason to reach out to collaborators, a fresh talking point at networking events, and maybe even a new portfolio piece. More than anything, it reminds you that you have something to offer. Her other piece of advice is don’t go it alone. Trade some of those cold applications for in-person conversations. Ask people for feedback on your search, and be willing to let them help. Staying connected keeps you resilient, and resilience is what will carry you to your next job.

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Find Your Dream Job, Episode 562:

What to Do When Nothing Is Working, with Melissa Wong

Airdate: July 29, 2026

Mac Prichard:

This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.

I’m your host, Mac Prichard. I’m also the founder of Mac’s List. It’s a job board in the Pacific Northwest that helps you find a fulfilling career.

Every Wednesday, I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want.

You know that it takes time to get the right job.

But you’ve had no responses at all to your recent applications.

And it’s been a long time since you had an interview.

In fact, you’re starting to worry that your job search is going nowhere.

Melissa Wong is here to talk about what to do when nothing is working.

She’s the founder of the Coherence Studio. Her company helps creatives design dynamic and resilient careers.

Melissa is also the author of the new book, The Fluid Career.

She joins us from Portland, Oregon.

Well, let’s jump right into it, Melissa. What does it look like to an applicant when you feel like nothing is working in your job search?

Melissa Wong:

Well, I go right to the feelings of it, right? It’s so tough. I have grown my empathy for those in the job search process the more I do this work because it’s such a unique experience. You’re constantly putting yourself out there, telling your story, sending applications out into the void, asking other people for their time, and just, you know, it’s so vulnerable.

And so I’m glad you asked that question because I really did want to start out with just like whoever is listening to this, if you feel like you’re resonating with that idea of nothing’s working, I just want to start with you are not alone, and it does not mean that there’s something wrong with you.

But I hope that some of the actions and mindsets that I can share today might give you some new ideas for something to experiment with.

Mac Prichard:

Okay, well, I’m glad you started by making the point that this happens. It’s not uncommon. Why does it happen, Melissa? What do you see in the clients that you work with and coach?

Melissa Wong:

Well, that’s part of the confusion and frustration with people, because there’s not a lot of feedback. So it could be because the market is just, you know, it’s a hirer’s market, and you’re going for a role where there’s a lot of competition, right? LinkedIn will show you right now, right? Over a hundred applicants clicked on this. And I know those numbers can be disheartening, but they do show the level of competition there is.

So I think, you know, while we’re recording this in April 2026, I’m just hearing a lot of anecdotal murmurings that people are finding that this is a hard job market right now, especially creatives who I work with.

But on occasion, it’s because your materials are not as strong as they could be, right? And that’s why I think it helps to have a second set of eyes, whether that’s a coach, a friend, or even putting it in ChatGPT, if you’re open to AI feedback, to say, “Hey, you know, is my resume

competitive? Do you have any suggestions or edits?”

And then I think it also depends on whether people are getting stuck at the stage where they’re not getting interviews at all, or sometimes people feel stuck because they’re getting into the interviews, but they’re not getting the offer.

And I think then any of the same things apply, but I would just add the added factor of your storytelling and your presence in an interview, and how can you get more reps and more practice and more feedback to make sure that your interviewing skills are as strong as they can be?

Mac Prichard:

Okay, and we’re going to talk more about that in a moment, but as you say, there are some things you can’t control, like the state of the job market, and right now, as you mentioned, it’s an employer’s market in most parts of the country. But there are things you can control.

Before we talk about the things that you can take action on, Melissa, how do you see most job seekers respond when they feel like nothing is working in their job search? What typically happens?

Melissa Wong:

I think a lot of people shut down and need to take a break. Like, they opt into a break because they’re disheartened, right? So they might go through spurts of, okay, I sent out five applications, but during a week, if you get a few rejections back or you don’t hear back, sometimes people need a moment to lick their wounds and be a little upset before they gather the resilience to do it again.

So I think what we see is fluctuations in people’s efforts in the job search process. And I think that’s normal. Again, we’re humans. So as much as people want to try to create a rhythm and a structure to say, OK, I’m going to apply one application every day, I think a little bit of self-compassion and realizing we’re not robots. And it does hurt when you get your 10th rejection of the month.

Mac Prichard:

How do you tell the difference if you’re a candidate between just a normal slowdown and really being stuck with a search that might not be going anywhere?

Melissa Wong:

That’s a good question. And my mind goes to, like, you can look for some job reports and see, you know, how many applicants are applying for roles that you’re interested in, and kind of look at it from a quantitative side of things. But I think most people are going to be probably opting into more of a qualitative assessment, which is talking to people they know, hey, are you seeing new people getting hired for your company?

Sometimes, if you see other people, the fact that other people are being hired can be a sign that, okay, it is possible. But I think it’s honestly kind of hard to know.

Mac Prichard:

And when employers receive applications from job seekers who might feel that they’re stuck, do they see anything different in those resumes and cover letters, or perhaps in interviews if people are asked to come in and talk to a hiring manager?

Melissa Wong:

I’m not privy to the hiring side of things, so I can’t speak from a place of, you know, real insight there. But my hunch is that what someone who’s been stuck in having more trouble might be susceptible to is a little bit of less confidence when they come into the room. And I think we humans can pick up on confidence. And that’s why I always tell my clients, practice, practice, practice, because it really does.

You know, not perfect, but it makes you better. And people can really feel if there’s a layer of insecurity that’s coming, you know, that you’re bringing into the interview. So I think if you’ve been out of the interviewing game or process for a while, you’re going to need extra reps.

Mac Prichard:

Well, let’s talk about those steps that you can take. You understand what the market is doing. It might be an employer’s market. But people are still getting hired, and you need to focus on what you can control.

One of the steps I know that you encourage people you coach to take if they’re feeling like their search is going nowhere is to create something. What do you have in mind here, Melissa?

Melissa Wong:

Yeah, think applying for… When you are a job seeker, you are constantly putting yourself out there, and it’s a lot of, know, pick me, like, I need attention, you know, asking for other people to sort of greenlight you in. And that can be really disempowering over time.

And I think energetically, what can help you just as a human to nourish your spirit during this process, but also even strategically to give you a boost in morale, in connection, and even maybe a new portfolio piece, is to make something. And so again, I work with creatives, so I can’t help but think a little bit about that domain, right?

Where someone might say, I’m going to put together an anthology. I’m going to collect stories around a certain topic, and I’m going to ask people from my community to submit a story, and I’ll sort of be the editor for that, right? I know someone who did that. ‘

Someone could say, I’m going to create an album. And I want someone to be the brand designer for my cover. And I need to think about who’s going to help me book my shows. So it could be whatever you want it to be. Ideally, in my ideal world, you’d be doing a collaborative project where you really do work with other people toward a shared goal. And I think that can be so deepening, quickly deepening for your relationship with other people. And it just shifts you from feeling like I am out here on an island to suddenly I have a team, I have a purpose.

And then those moments where you’re at a networking event or just out at the family reunion, and people are like, what are you up to? What have you been doing? You know, there’s nothing wrong with saying I’ve been job searching, but I think it gives you this extra talking point that, if you’re genuinely excited about it, people are going to feel that energy.

So you can say, I’ve been working on this awesome anthology. It’s with these 10 different authors. It’s going to be, you know, sold on Kickstarter next month. And at the same time, I’ve been looking for a job in community management. So, still tell people about your job search because that creates an opportunity for them to help you out later.

But I think having a creative project, and it could even be a personal side project. If you feel not allergic but averse to getting a collection of people together, you can do it on your own. And I might just add a recommendation to try to design relationship connections throughout an individual side project.

So that might look like sharing your process in public, right? Make blog posts or post on Substack about what you’re doing and share it with your community, so you don’t have to be creating it with them, but use it as a tool for connection.

Mac Prichard:

If you’re not sure what to create, how do you recommend choosing a project that actually helps you get your next job? What have you seen work?

Melissa Wong:

Well, I do think there’s like a spectrum of on one side of the spectrum, there’s OK, I’m very strategically thinking about what’s my industry, what are the roles I’m going for, and I’m really thinking about a portfolio piece as opposed to I just kind of want to think about what I’m excited to do.

And I leave it to you to decide kind of where you want to be on that spectrum. If you feel like extra undernourished or challenged in your job search, I might recommend just choosing a thing that’s going to give you some vitality and life, and not worrying about the portfolio piece. But if you’re feeling kind of like, I have an idea, and it works for my portfolio, then great.

I think that is industry- and role-specific. So if you’re a UX designer, you’re going to be aware, OK, someone’s going to want to see how I started with a problem statement and moved through the design of, I don’t know, whatever it might be, an app, a service. But you will know for your industry what, hopefully, the recruiters are kind of looking for.

Mac Prichard:

Terrific. We’re going to take a break, and I want to look forward to continuing the conversation. When we come back, Melissa Wong will continue to share her advice on what to do when nothing is working.

We’re back in the Mac’s List Studio. I’m talking with Melissa Wong. She’s the founder of The Coherence Studio. Her company helps creatives design dynamic and resilient careers.

Melissa is also the author of the new book, The Fluid Career, and she joins us from Portland, Oregon.

Well, Melissa, before the break, we were talking about what to do when nothing is working in your job search. And we talked about the things that are outside of our control, like the job market and how, when we’re recording this, it’s skewed towards employers.

But there are things we can control. And you talked about the importance of preparation. And one of your tips as well was to create something, and the benefits that come both personally and professionally from doing that.

Another way you encourage job seekers to get unstuck is to stay connected. What do you mean by that, Melissa? And how does it help you when you’re looking for work?

Melissa Wong:

Yeah, I think what that looks like is reaching out to your people. And that could be maybe the first inner circle of your close loved ones, just for that care of, OK, I have people in my life who value me.

But I think, more so, what I mean is actually just being open to warming your network and growing your network and putting relationship building at the forefront of your actions, actually, especially if you’re someone who’s been cold applying more of the time, like, say 70% of your time cold applying 30% outreach, I would switch it.

Think about talking to people who are your peers, people who are doing something that you’re interested in doing, bosses or mentors, and you’re probably going to be reaching out for a range of different reasons.

Some people might be going back to the idea of learning and doing more informational interviews and getting direct feedback to say, ‘Hey, I’ve been job searching for five months. This is the role I’ve been going for. This is what I’ve tried. This is what I’m seeing. Based on your experience, what would you recommend I do? If you were in my shoes, what would you advise?”

And then I think there’s, of course, still networking where you’re trying to specifically get someone to help you out, like maybe flag your application. So I think getting connected helps you feel like you’re not in a feedback vacuum.

You’re suddenly talking to real people, and that’s really confidence-boosting. So you’re getting the benefit of the insights, and you’re getting the benefit of the relationship.

Mac Prichard:

What advice do you have for someone who might think, I don’t have a network? And of course, we all have networks, but I’m sure you hear that from the people you coach. I certainly hear it from listeners of the podcast and readers of our website. What advice do you have for someone who might think, I don’t have a network?

Melissa Wong:

Yeah, it’s very common. So I would just say all you need is one person, right? Even if it’s a close friend. And what it takes is the vulnerability of asking, hey, could you connect me to someone that you know? Right? That is the network effect. If you ask one person, they introduce you to another person. That person introduced you to two people.

Suddenly, your numbers grow. And cold outreach is the other tactic that you have. It doesn’t matter how many people you know in your profession, or say you’re trying to pivot careers. LinkedIn gives you access to, you know, so many people who are doing different things.

And again, what it takes is the vulnerability of drafting a cold outreach message and saying, Hi, I’m Melissa. I do this. I saw that you do that. That looks really cool. Do you have 20 minutes to chat with me? And you’re probably going to get a good amount of no responses or sorry, I can’t right now, but you’re probably also going to get a few bites.

So you can grow your network, even if you feel like you just don’t even know anybody. It’s possible.

Mac Prichard:

So say more about the benefits of this kind of connection, Melissa, whether it’s to people you already know or people you’re reaching out to cold. How is this going to help you get unstuck when you feel like nothing is working?

Melissa Wong:

That’s a great question. One, you can, I think, especially what I’m seeing with clients who are trying to pivot careers, they don’t know what they don’t know. And it’s hard for them to expand their ideas about what roles are out there, what companies are out there. And so one benefit of talking to other people is that you learn about new organizations, new roles, and new industries. So there’s truly just like kind of learning from someone who has a whole different subset of experiences.

Then I think there’s the actual turning someone into sort of an advocate. And that’s when you’re bold enough to find the moment in the call to say, hey, I know we’ve just been talking a lot about your company. It looks so awesome. I did see an open role. Would you be open to flagging my application if I were to apply for it?

So then I think there are the very tactical situations where you can actually have someone help you out, flag your application, which can be huge in a competitive market.

Mac Prichard:

So have a purpose for those conversations, and they’ll vary from person to person. Other steps that you recommend for moving forward when you feel like nothing is working are: one is to give yourself a break. What kind of break do you recommend people take, and why is it important to do that?

Melissa Wong:

Well, there’s taking a break to just reboot and like kind of recharge your batteries. And I do think if you’ve been kind of sprinting and marathon training for a while without the results you want, then it’s good to rest so you don’t burn yourself out.

But I think even more so what I mean is reconsider your strategy because you might, especially if you’ve, especially if you have gotten feedback on your interview application assets and you feel pretty good about them. And if you keep applying for the same role and are not getting a bite, it might be time to reassess your strategy.

Do I need to open up the kinds of roles that I’m going for and even the types of jobs I’m looking for? So someone who has been focused on looking for a traditional nine-to-five job and really striking out for a while.

I’ve seen clients say, okay, you know what? I just need to get something. I am having such a hard time with the lack of structure, with the lack of income. I’m thinking of one client I know who had a great career as an experienced designer. She was having trouble finding work, and she ended up getting a job in a local store in a customer-facing role. She loved it. She got to meet all these businesses in her neighborhood.

She was still part-time, so she still had enough time to job search. But she had enough structure, connection, and income that really gave her an energetic boost. And so I think people who have been trying to get a full-time job, you know, a high-paid, well-paid job for a while, you might consider a bridge job, which is not my forever job. I mean, no job is, but I am willing to take something that might not be my ideal, seeing it as the stepping stone to the next thing.

Mac Prichard:

Well, it’s been a great conversation. Melissa, now tell us what’s next for you.

Melissa Wong:

Yeah, as you mentioned, I’m progressively releasing The Fluid Career. So by the time this airs, it should be out. And it’s my practical guide for how to create resilient work in this age of AI. So you can go to coherence.studio backslash fluid, and you can find the book.

You can also kind of buy a chapter slash guide at a time that focuses on different topics like relationships, time, and money. How do you think about maintaining your career during a time when everything is shifting?

Mac Prichard:

Well, congratulations on the forthcoming publication of your book. That’s a big accomplishment. And I know that in addition to the website for your book, our audience can learn more about you and your work by visiting your website, coherence.studio. We’ll be sure to include that in the show notes as well.

Now, Melissa, given all the great advice you shared with us today, what’s the one thing you want our audience to remember about what to do when nothing is working in your job search?

Melissa Wong:

It’s to stay connected. Job searching can be so isolating and disempowering. And whether it’s a collaborative project, whether it’s more outreach, whether it’s just calling up your friend on the phone that you haven’t talked to in a while, stay in connection.

Invite and let people support you during this time because that’s what’s going to help you stay resilient. And by being resilient, that’s going to land you the next job.

Mac Prichard:

Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job.

You can support our show and help others find it by leaving a review and rating on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a question or a suggestion? Email me at mac@macslist.org, or connect with me on LinkedIn.

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This show is produced by Mac’s List.

Susan Thornton-Hough schedules our guests and writes our newsletter. Lisa Kislingbury Anderson manages our social media and creates our transcripts.

Our sound engineer and editor is Megan Hattie Stahl. Our music is by Freddy Trujillo.

This is Mac Prichard. See you next week.

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