When the job market stalls, it feels a bit like sitting at a bus stop waiting for a bus that may or may not even exist. You keep refreshing job boards like they’re Instagram feeds, tweaking your CV for the tenth time, and convincing yourself that maybe—just maybe—today is the day someone replies. Spoiler: they usually don’t. At least not immediately. And when you’re already juggling life, bills, responsibilities, and the pressure of building a career in a country away from home, the silence can get a bit too loud. So naturally, in the middle of all of this, I tried something a little different — reaching out to Robert Half, the recruitment agency. And honestly… it shifted my perspective more than I expected.

Finding Some Light When Everything Felt Stuck

Ever since I graduated, the job market has been moving slower than a snail after a heavy lunch. Every role had 500 applicants, every rejection felt copy-pasted, and every “We’ll get back to you soon” was basically code for “Probably not, mate.” It’s frustrating, especially when you know you’re capable, skilled, and genuinely trying your best. Somewhere along the way, a friend recommended trying recruitment agencies. To be honest, I always assumed agencies were just middlemen who sent your CV into a black hole on your behalf. But Robert Half wasn’t like that. From the moment I reached out, they actually *spoke* to me. A real person. Not a bot. Not an automated email. An actual human who wanted to know what I was looking for, what I had done, what I wanted to move toward, and what kind of work aligned with my strengths. And for someone who had gotten used to “We regret to inform you,” that alone felt like progress.

Talking to them made me realise something important — when the market freezes, you don’t have to freeze with it. Sometimes you just need someone who understands what companies are currently hiring for, which skills are in demand, and where you might fit, even if the obvious doors look closed.

Maybe It’s Not About Luck — Maybe It’s About Visibility

One thing the consultant at Robert Half told me actually stuck with me:

  “It’s not always the most qualified candidate who gets the job. It’s the one who gets seen at the right time.”

And honestly, that’s painfully true. You can be brilliant, hardworking, motivated, skilled — but if your application lands at the bottom of a stack of 300 others, nobody will ever know that. Recruitment agencies, at least the good ones, make sure you’re *seen* by the right people. They highlight your strengths, match you to roles you didn’t even know existed, and sometimes even pitch you before a job is publicly listed. In a stalled market, that’s exactly what you need — visibility.

Having Someone in Your Corner Helps More Than You Think

For months I had been doing it all alone — rewriting my cover letters, tailoring my CV, sending applications every day, refreshing my inbox like it owed me money. And while that’s part of the journey, it’s also unbelievably draining. But when Robert Half stepped in, I suddenly didn’t feel like I was navigating everything alone. They checked in, shared updates, talked through roles I might be a fit for, and even helped me understand where the industry is heading. And honestly, knowing someone else is rooting for you — even professionally — feels surprisingly motivating.

🌱 A Small Reminder That Progress Still Counts

The job market might not magically fix itself overnight. Opportunities may still take time. Rejections may still come in. But reaching out to Robert Half reminded me that progress doesn’t only look like getting hired — sometimes it’s just finding the next step forward when you’re stuck.

It also made me appreciate how far I’ve come in this journey — from someone navigating a whole different country, fighting for his space in a competitive industry, and still showing up every day.

Even if the market is slow, you don’t stop moving. You just find new ways to move.

And honestly, that’s enough for now — one step, one opportunity, one conversation at a time.