When the Job Doesn’t Call Back: How to Stay Grounded in Uncertainty

Transitioning out of the military isn’t just a career move. It’s a full-blown identity shift — and it can be an emotional rollercoaster. Especially when you’re doing all the “right things” and still hearing... nothing.

In a recent conversation on the Vector Accelerator podcast, Scott Schimmel and Joe Lara—both seasoned voices in the veteran space—got real about the hardest part of transition: the silence.

“I had a lot of applications out... and not a lot of callbacks.”

Joe Lara, a Navy veteran and longtime mentor with The Honor Foundation, reflected on his own transition years ago.

“Even after going through probably the gold standard of transition programs… I had a lot of applications out and not a lot of callbacks.”

Sound familiar?

You polish your LinkedIn. You network. You apply. And apply. And then… nothing.

“Then you start seeing your buddies landing jobs. And the comparison kicks in: ‘What am I doing wrong?’” Lara said.

That comparison trap — seeing others move ahead while you’re stuck in neutral — can trigger a cascade of self-doubt.

Expectation Management: The Hidden Skill No One Talks About

“It’s really all about expectation management,” Lara emphasized.

You expect momentum. You expect a “thank you for your service” to convert into a callback. But the job market doesn’t work on gratitude or linear progress. It works on timing, fit, and a lot of variables you don’t control.

What you can control is how you respond to the waiting.

The Yellow Zone: Where Doubt Creeps In

Scott Schimmel described it as moving from “green to yellow to red.” Green is hopeful. Yellow is anxious. Red is panic.

“I was feeling the heat. The paycheck had stopped. And I had a little bit of runway… but it was getting uncomfortable,” Lara recalled.

That discomfort, left unchecked, leads to desperation — and desperation, as Lara puts it, “has a sound.”

“I’ve had calls from veterans and I can hear it in their voice. That panic. ‘I’ll take anything.’ That’s the worst thing you can do.”

Spray-and-Pray Doesn’t Work

Lara warned against a common trap: mass applying to anything and everything.

“When someone’s just throwing out resumes, hoping something sticks… it’s obvious. And honestly, it turns people off.”

Instead, he encourages returning to the fundamentals: intentional conversations, curiosity, and service.

Shift from Transaction to Connection

“Networking isn’t just self-serving. It’s a way to stay human when everything else feels uncertain,” said Lara.

He urges veterans to stay in service — volunteer, show up in community spaces, and talk to people.

Why?

Because service reminds you that you still matter. That you still have value. And that builds the resilience to withstand rejection.

Scott Schimmel connected this to a psychological concept:

“There’s something called the science of mattering. When you don’t feel like you’re adding value, it crushes your hope. But when you’re out in the world, serving others, it reminds you of your worth.”

What To Do When Nothing’s Hitting

1. Pause the job boards.

   Google is where all your hope goes to die.

2. Have face-to-face conversations.

   “Even coffee with someone in a different industry can open doors you didn’t expect.”

3. Volunteer.

   “Service connects you to people. And people are the path to your next opportunity.”

4. Avoid desperation energy.

   People can smell it. It doesn’t help you.

5. Build a routine that includes hope.

   Journal. Reflect. Move your body. Connect with others.

“The job isn’t the endgame.”

Even if you land something, Lara reminds us — transition doesn’t stop at the offer letter.

“You get the job… then what? If you’ve been coasting in panic mode, you’ll coast at work. And eventually, it’ll fall apart.”

The real game is staying in motion: nurturing relationships, reflecting on your values, and showing up with purpose — every day, not just when you need something.

Final Word: You’re Not Alone in the Silence

If you’re in that yellow zone, take this as your checkpoint. Don’t go dark. Don’t isolate. And don’t wait until panic sets in.

“When nothing’s hitting on the job front… go serve. Be around people. Stay connected,” Lara said.

The job may not call back today. But that doesn’t mean your value has disappeared.

It means your story’s still unfolding — and you still have a role to play.

Want structure and support?

Start with the free Vector Short Course — a 3-module experience to build your clarity compass.
Or take the Transition Readiness Quiz to find your next step.

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