Let’s face it—the job search is no walk in the park. It seems like just when you have things figured out and are making progress, yet another stumbling block swoops in and threatens to stand between you and that dream job of yours.

Yes, there are plenty of job search challenges to overcome. But, fortunately, they don’t need to stop you in your tracks. There are a few different things you can do to move past those frustrating roadblocks and make it to the other side of your search—with as little stress as possible.

Whether the competition is too fierce, you’re unwittingly making a serious mistake or two in your job search, or the lack of callbacks and interviews (and abundance of rejection) is getting you down, it’s perfectly normal to feel frustrated and defeated while on the lookout for a new job.

And although an unsuccessful job search can be frustrating, accepting any old job or giving up altogether and consoling yourself with a tub of ice cream isn’t the answer. There’s a way off this slippery slope, and there are a few things you can do to make sure you’re successful in your job hunt.

To help you out, we’ve highlighted common job search challenges and ways you can overcome them.

Not Beating Applicant Tracking Systems
With applicant tracking systems remaining at the forefront of the recruiting process, it’s often hard for your CV to reach the hands of a qualified recruiter. HR managers are increasingly relying on the power of ATSs to find suitable candidates based on keyword matches – undoubtedly one of the worst pieces of technology to solve a human problem.

And although 75% of candidates are rejected from ATSs, you could be among the 25% of successful applicants – if you address a few issues before firing off your application, that is.

Firstly, ensure the same keywords from the job description are incorporated into your CV naturally and, secondly, run your CV through an online ATS to spot any mistakes or missed opportunities before sending it to the hiring manager.

Having No Connections
In today’s job search, a referral provides you with a better chance of getting noticed – and hired – by employers. Not only is an employee referral programme a cheaper alternative to recruiting, but it also makes you a more trustworthy candidate in recruiters’ eyes as there is a common connection to vouch for you.

So, if you’re embarking on your job search alone, you should change strategies and start talking to your acquaintances about it – they may know about an opening at their company and might be able to give you a recommendation.

If you don’t have a wide professional network, meanwhile, consider attending networking events to improve your situation.

Having No Clear Direction
If you have a scattergun approach when it comes to job-hunting, you’re unlikely to be very successful. So, if you find yourself firing off 20 applications a day in the hopes that you’ll get called for at least one of them, you should probably take a step back and rethink your approach.

Pay close attention to the job spec and make sure you have the required skills and experience, and then some. That way you will be focusing on jobs that you are perfectly capable of doing and will have a better chance of securing a new job.

Only Having One Version of Your CV
Another rookie mistake is having only one version of your CV and sending it out to different job positions. This is neither effective nor productive as different jobs require different skills.

So, instead of having a one-size-fits-all CV, create a different version for each position you’re interested in and capable of doing.

That said, you don’t have to rewrite the entire document; you can simply amend your career objective or tweak your work experience section to suit the job. Perhaps you might want to emphasise different skills for different opportunities to ensure it passes the ATS we mentioned above.

Skipping the Cover Letter
A rookie mistake many applicants make when applying for a job is failing to submit a cover letter. Many assume that hiring managers won’t read it and that it’s essentially a waste of time. But while they indeed don’t always read your cover letter, it doesn’t give you the green light to ditch it altogether!

A cover letter gives a glimpse of your personality, your work ethic and your attention to detail in a way that a CV or résumé can’t!

Although job ads don’t always specify that a cover letter is required, you should always write one to accompany your CV anyway. Failure to do so can cost you an interview. That said, don’t just write any old jargon; your cover letter should tell the hiring manager what relevant skills you bring to the table, along with examples of where you’ve used them in past positions.

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