Let’s talk about job hunting.
Because if you’re in it right now, you’ll know… it’s not just a case of “apply and wait”.
It’s apply.
Apply again.
Apply some more.
Refresh your emails.
Check your spam folder just in case.
Convince yourself you definitely typed your email correctly.
Then… nothing.
And then you do it all again the next day.
Across Tiptree, Colchester, and the wider Essex area, more and more people are quietly finding themselves stuck in the same cycle.
Scrolling job sites.
Checking local Facebook groups.
Hoping something new has popped up nearby.
But the reality is… there often just isn’t that much out there.
And when something does appear, it’s gone just as quickly.
There’s this idea that if you just try hard enough, something will land.
But what happens when you are trying?
When you’re sending out dozens of applications a week.
When you’re tailoring CVs, writing cover letters, filling out the same information over and over again into slightly different forms.
And still… silence.
Even the jobs that are advertised as “entry level” don’t always feel that way anymore.
“1–2 years experience required.”
“Previous industry knowledge preferred.”
“Must hit the ground running.”
For something that’s meant to be a starting point.
It can feel like you need experience to get experience… and there isn’t really a clear way in anymore.
And locally, there’s another layer to it.
A lot of available roles tend to be:
- Part-time or short hours
- Shift-based with limited flexibility
- Or require travel outside of the immediate area
Which isn’t always realistic for people with childcare, transport limits, or other responsibilities.
So even when jobs are listed… they’re not always accessible.
Then there’s the volume.
For every role posted in Colchester or nearby towns, there could be hundreds of applicants.
So even if you’re qualified… even if you’re capable… even if you would be brilliant at it…
You might not even get seen.
One local resident told Tiptree Times:
“I’m applying for around 80 to 100 jobs a week at the moment, and I’m not hearing anything back. Not even a rejection most of the time. It’s exhausting, and after a while it really knocks your confidence. You start wondering what you’re doing wrong, even when you know you’re trying your best.”
And that’s the part people don’t always talk about.
It’s not just frustrating.
It’s draining.
Because after a while, it’s not just “no responses”… it starts to feel personal.
You start questioning yourself.
Your experience.
Your abilities.
Whether you’re aiming too high… or somehow not high enough.
And yet, every week… you still open the laptop again.
You still scroll.
You still apply.
You still hope that this one might be the one that finally replies.
That takes resilience.
Even if it doesn’t always feel like it.
If you’re in that position right now, you’re not alone.
Across Essex, there are so many people quietly going through the exact same cycle.
And while it might not feel like progress… showing up and continuing anyway is something.
Even on the weeks where it feels like nothing is happening.
🍓 Strawberry Reporter says:
“Somewhere out there, your CV is sitting in a ‘we’ll get back to you’ pile… next to 347 others.”
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