by Zeina Karrit
Published Aug 5, 2025
You’re Not Alone: The Realities and Resilience of Job Hunting in 2025
Looking for a new job in 2025?
Some mornings, you wake up with fire in your belly, ready to land that role. Other days, you just feel like brushing your teeth is a win. That’s the emotional reality of job hunting in 2025 in the GCC.
I have lived on both sides, both confident and employed, and also stuck endlessly scrolling LinkedIn and contemplating life. If you’re somewhere in between, this article is for you. The truth is that showing up every day is definitely a win, no matter how confident you may feel.
The emotional rollercoaster of job hunting
One day, you feel like you are hopeful, you have some leads, you have some motivation, energy, and maybe even an exciting interview lined up this week. And the next day? *silence*, endless applications made, some rejections, and the ubiquitous ghosting cycle. You feel invisible, and that you are not progressing. You start to question everything: your CV, your experience, your career decisions, even your self worth.
Managing the job ghosting cycle
I remember a role I wanted, where the interview went great, the energy was high, the role fit my expertise, and matched their needs. I didn’t hear back from the company after the interview, so I followed up after 2 weeks, and then, nothing. No response, no closure, no email, just the haunting feeling of being forgotten.
But here’s what I learned during this challenging experience; this ghosting cycle and even rejection isn’t a reflection of my value, my work, or my experience. It’s just the system. The system itself is difficult to maneuver. As a recruiter, I can understand that filling a job is no easy task either.
You are most definitely not alone
What I have come to well understand is that most experienced professionals have been in the situation of being ghosted. Persistence wasn’t glamorous when I was eager to move jobs, when I was frustrated with my role, when I was not mingling in the company’s culture, it felt messy! It revolved around caffeine-fueled mornings, networking all day, all night, unanswered messages, and double-ticked notifications that left me hanging. It is all part of the process.
My 3 connection rule
When I was in the job hunting mindset, I made a rule that I needed to have three new connections a day who are linked to my next aspired role. The rule was in completing the task even when I felt invisible. I still showed up, I still connected, and over time, momentum was built. I cannot forget the walks with my dogs that cleared my head, the big whiteboard in my bedroom to remind me of my “wins” of the week. Progress wasn’t direct, but it was happening. I learned that persistence turns effort into opportunity.
A few things that also helped me and kept me going, was to celebrate the “micro-win”, a reply, a future meeting, or a kind rejection. It all adds up. Ultimately, staying ‘visible’ – either online or in person – means that you keep on telling your story, revamp it, sharpen it, until it sticks. Remember, life is all about sharing what you are learning; it’s visibility with impact.
You are not behind, you are not broken
You must remember that you are not broken, you are not behind, and you are not alone. You need to remember that routine will get you going. You need to make the time for your job search and connection plan and book it in advance in your calendar, and keep on doing it every day. You also need to learn that it is very important to lean on trusted voices, your friends, your family, and your network.
We all want guarantees in this world, but growth rarely announces itself. It shows up out of the blue, when you are least expecting it. We all must remember that every butterfly was once a caterpillar.
When things felt uncertain, I had to learn to embrace the not-knowing. Because sometimes, your next role isn’t something you apply for, it’s something you grow into.
Even when it feels like nothing’s moving, change is coming. Your job now is to keep moving toward it. If you don’t like where you are, move, plan, speak to people, and ask for advice.
Above all, keep showing up, keep rising, keep doing it. Because while it might feel like you’re stuck, you’re actually shifting.
The job hunt doesn’t define you; how you rise during it does.
