After struggling for 6 months, Redditor shares 2 simple steps that landed him a job

Struggling for months in a challenging job market, a professional shares two key strategies – mirror motivation and personalized follow-ups – that helped him finally secure a new role in the Netherlands.

Written by Shubham Chhabra

Updated: September 20, 2025 20:56 IST

Professional shares 2 proven strategies that helped him land a job after months of searching

A mid-career professional in the Netherlands recently shared on Reddit how they finally secured a job after six grueling months on a challenging job market.

A mid-career professional in the Netherlands recently shared on Reddit how they finally secured a job after six grueling months on a challenging job market. Laid off last October due to company restructuring, the individual had more than 10 years of experience and initially negotiated a four-month garden leave, confident they would find a new role quickly. However, the reality proved far tougher.

Pre-Interview Mirror Motivation Boosts Confidence

The Redditor explained, “This might sound silly, but right before an interview, I would stand in front of a mirror and give myself a pep talk. I’d say things like, ‘Go for it, you can do this. This is the best job, and you are going to get it!’ When your morale is low and you’re feeling burned out, this short exercise helped me walk into the meeting feeling energized, confident, and motivated.” Despite sending hundreds of applications, networking extensively, and even considering a career pivot to Product Management, the job search stretched close to the visa expiry deadline.

Personalized Follow-Ups Made the Difference

Another key tactic, the professional revealed, was post-interview communication. “After every single interview, I wrote a follow-up email. I researched my interviewers beforehand to understand their roles and priorities. In my follow-up, I didn’t just say ‘thank you’; I wrote a unique, individual message for each person, referencing a specific point from our conversation and reiterating how my skills could help with a challenge or project they mentioned.” The two strategies — mirror motivation and personalized follow-ups — ultimately played a crucial role in landing the role.