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It is not a stretch to say that times are challenging right now. On top of layoffs in the tech sector, inflation continues to creep up, a possible looming recession is on the rise and the world is still dealing with global conflicts. In some sectors, the Great Resignation may be a thing of the past, with people who got jobs just months ago staying put, those who are afraid to change employers deciding to wait things out with a move and job seekers stuck between wanting to make a change and getting results slower due to hiring freezes and continued uncertainty.
If you have recently been laid off, are questioning the security of your current job or have been wanting to make a change for awhile now, you will likely encounter a tough job market (or have already experienced it for yourself). To approach the search as a job seeker, you need to be ready. See some tips below for job searching in challenging times.
First: Stop and Think
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It can be tempting to start sending out your resume to every job you come across, but resist that urge. This is not the time to throw a bunch of applications at the wall, hoping some will still. Instead, think deeply about the type of job and career you want. Do you want to make enough money to cover rising expenses? Make a shift to more purposeful work? Something else? Find out your key motivation to keep you prepared to push forward through rejections and other obstacles of the modern job search.
Tread Carefully
Take stock of your current company. How is it doing overall and financially? Are layoffs happening? If you are happy where you are, and things seem to be going okay, consider sticking things out. You do not want to end up being the last one brought onboard before hiring freezes and the first one let go during a layout period elsewhere. To get a sense of how things are going, talk with people in your network who recently decided to move elsewhere, go in a different career direction or take a career break. Tune into industry news and gather information on both the industry in which you are currently in and where you hope to go. Use what you can get to make an informed decision one way or the other.
Devote Significant Time and Effort
Some job seekers have the chance to decide between multiple offers, but, more and more, candidates are lucky to even get interviews. Therefore, make sure you are committing the time and effort needed to see this job search though—taking breaks as needed, of course, but being ready for things to be slow. As you start applying, look into what is (and is not) working and make changes accordingly. If you are in between jobs, look at job searching as a full-time job, not what you devote time to if you have a rare free moment here and there. Job searching means taking the time to intentionally craft materials, prepare for interviewing, having patience and being persistent in not giving up.
Have the Right Mindset
It can be easy to get caught up in feeling frustrated and deflated when things do not go your way or your resume submission yields crickets. But there is power in having the right mindset on the job search. No matter what people may say, or what happens that does not swing in your favor, believe you can and you will get a job that aligns with what you want. To help, lean on your friends, family and other supportive members of your network if needed. Take breaks from applying and at least one full day off from the search a week. Get outside and get moving. Know and trust that your time will come.
Ideas for How to Maximize Your Search
- Tailor your resume: This is a crucial but underutilized tip—tailor your resume to every job for which you apply. Find ways to show how your background and skills align with the position. Yes, it takes some extra time, but this is not the time to get lazy, especially if you really want the jobs to which you apply.
- Proofread: Make sure everything on your written materials is spelled correctly and uses proper grammar. Use spell checkers, Grammarly and read over things multiple times to spot potential errors. If this is not a personal strength for you, ask a grammar whiz to help you out—with the offer to help them, too!
- Get a second opinion: If you can afford it, get a second opinion. Ask trusted members of your network to review your materials, plus interview techniques. Or, consider paying for a career coach. If you decide to do the latter
- Network: While old network events might sound cringe-worthy, modern networking is anything but. Make a list of people that you know to reach out to—perhaps they know of job leads, or have worked in your target industry. Invite them to have a quick chat and offer to help them in return. Keep up this practice, too. It can never hurt to lean on your network, especially when a lot of jobs these days are filled through this practice.
- Update your LinkedIn and job search profiles: Make sure you are updating your LinkedIn and job search profiles to reflect where you have been and where you hope to go. If profiles change for each job, make sure you are updating them before you submit each application. You do not want to get old materials mixed up with new ones!
- Do not be afraid to ask for help: When in doubt, ask for help! We have all been there and most people are willing to lend a hand.
We hope you can keep these tips in mind to make your job search a little bit simpler—even in tough times. Good luck!
If people in your network are on the job search, spread the word. Did you find this useful? Feel free to bookmark or post to your timeline for reference later!
