Stuck in the Job Search? Career Experts Share What Works in Today’s Market

Since getting laid off from a tech advertising and marketing position final November, Stephanie Wandell has utilized to a whole bunch of jobs. She’s heard again from solely a handful of recruiters, with none gives.

“I used to be a bit bit naive going into it, pondering I might do what I at all times do and depend upon making use of to as many locations as I can,” mentioned Wandell. “It turned fairly clear that this time is totally different.”

Ask anybody who’s unemployed and so they’ll let you know at this time’s job market is more difficult than it was. Previously a number of months, my LinkedIn social feed has been a testomony to that. Laid-off professionals share posts about their agonizing battles to search out employment, with job searches stretching greater than a 12 months. 

Amid indicators of an financial slowdown, firms are pulling again on hiring, leaving job seekers within the lurch. Dealing with fierce competitors for a shrinking pool of open positions, candidates are attempting to grasp new methods to get previous AI screeners into the palms of a human recruiter. Some wait months for a response, solely to be ghosted by HR departments. 

Even when official unemployment figures seem comparatively low, tens of millions of People are wading via this emotional and monetary curler coaster. The well being of the job market is measured by individuals’s skill to get a job, mentioned Daniel Zhao, lead economist on the profession and job search website Glassdoor. 

Listening to these experiences, I had a number of questions. Is the job hunt depressing for everybody? Why are so many certified and proficient staff getting the silent remedy? How are people utilizing AI of their search? What’s HR really on the lookout for? 

I spoke with a number of profession specialists to assemble probably the most simple recommendation for serving to job seekers on their journey. I additionally compiled an inventory of free employment assets and upskilling platforms beneath.

1. Do not be generic

Sending out a whole bunch of functions with the identical resume may really feel like the proper strategy however it’s not the most effective use of your time. 

“We discover many job seekers available in the market haphazardly making use of to any and/or all jobs as an alternative of concentrating on related ones,” mentioned Chad Sowash of the Chad and Cheese Podcast, which covers recruitment know-how, expertise administration and workforce economics. 

As a substitute of spending a number of hours making use of to a number of jobs, use that point to tailor every resume towards the position you really need. Firms have gotten more and more selective of their hiring practices so job seekers additionally should be choosier about the place they apply. 

“Not all positions and hiring firms can be a match so do not attempt to be all issues to all individuals,” Sowash mentioned. 

To slender down your search, take into consideration what you are on the lookout for by way of work surroundings and duties, mentioned Sam DeMase, profession knowledgeable at ZipRecruiter. “Do not simply throw spaghetti on the wall and see what sticks.” 

Establish the worth that makes you an distinctive candidate. “In case your resume may be very generic and does not converse to your particular superpowers, you are not going to get as many hits as you’d with a hyper-tailored resume,” DeMase mentioned.

2. Optimize for the resume robotic

Whenever you apply to a job on-line, your resume possible will not go straight to a recruiter or hiring supervisor. Practically all Fortune 500 firms use an applicant monitoring system, or ATS, to course of functions and dismiss candidates mechanically. 

As my CNET colleague identified in a 2023 story on resume robots, the ATS software program scans functions for a selected share of matching key phrases, sometimes 70% to 80%. If there’s not a excessive match with the posting, your utility in all probability will not make it to the subsequent stage, no matter your {qualifications}.

To create an ATS-friendly resume, learn the job description completely and observe specific key phrases, phrases or expertise. If the necessities precisely align along with your {qualifications}, add them to your resume utilizing the identical language. That mentioned, do not go overboard. Whereas key phrases are essential, stuffing your resume with too many can learn as unnatural. 

Jobscan, Skillsyncer and a number of different on-line platforms present free resume scanning instruments geared towards optimizing your utility for ATS. 

Zhao mentioned resume key phrase optimization is not about “beating” the pc. It is about ensuring recruiters and hiring managers see your expertise and expertise. 

After getting the proper steadiness of key phrases, simplify your formatting to make it clear and concise, which helps the ATS and recruiters evaluation your resume. Keep away from utilizing fancy headers and footers, graphics or tables, which regularly get garbled by the pc software program. 

3. Act quick on job openings

Arrange a number of job alerts and be able to act instantly on the openings you want probably the most. DeMase recommends being one of many first individuals to use to the job posting in order that your resume does not get pushed to a later spherical. 

“Sadly, these jobs are getting posted and have greater than 100 candidates inside 48 hours or sooner,” mentioned DeMase. When you have a number of variations of your resume prepared, you’ll be able to adapt shortly. 

Simply because a posting continues to be up after a number of weeks doesn’t suggest the corporate continues to be reviewing functions or on the lookout for new candidates.

4. Use AI with a private contact

In 2024, greater than 50% of job seekers used AI to draft resumes and canopy letters. Whereas generative AI instruments like ChatGPT can velocity up the writing course of, they have an inclination to provide generic, impersonal content material.

“One of many points I see with job seekers who overly depend on AI is that their utility finally ends up wanting like all people else’s who’s utilizing AI as properly,” mentioned Zhao.

To keep away from the identical formulaic responses, present detailed prompts that emphasize the elements of your utility that align with the job description and make your background and expertise distinctive. For instance, you’ll be able to ask the chatbot to evaluation your cowl letter and counsel methods to make it extra compelling based mostly in your skills and pursuits.

“It is essential for individuals to consider how their resume distinguishes them, how their talent set, even when it is nontraditional, may give them a unique perspective than different individuals within the candidate pool,” Zhao mentioned. 

5. Get your outreach going

Even in at this time’s digital age, networking stays extremely highly effective for touchdown a job, particularly contemplating that many roles aren’t marketed on-line however stuffed via referrals. 

Should you’re new to networking, begin reaching out to the individuals round you: household and mates, alumni and former co-workers. Ask them in the event that they know anybody in a profession discipline that pursuits you or works at an organization you are inquisitive about. 

“People can go quiet after a layoff, as a result of there is a deep sense of disgrace, notably in our society, the place a lot of our identification is related to our work and our productiveness,” mentioned Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of JVS Bay Space, a workforce improvement nonprofit. “It is essential to struggle via that, faucet into your community and let individuals know you are wanting.” 

As a substitute of simply requesting a job or connection, actively have interaction in conversations, ask considerate questions, share your personal insights and search for methods to supply worth, mentioned DeMase. Sending out a handful of personalised emails will get you farther than dozens of generic copy-and-paste notes.

6. Stage up your skillset 

Showcasing aggressive expertise like information evaluation, digital collaboration and AI device experience is essential in at this time’s job market. As a substitute of prioritizing conventional credentials like schooling, 76% of employers put larger worth on precise work expertise and demonstrated skills, even when you’re self-taught.

“You may make your self stand out by indicating the totally different belongings you’ve discovered by yourself and the way that might apply to that employer,” mentioned Countryman-Quiroz.

Free on-line programs, corresponding to LinkedIn Studying or IBM SkillsBuild, may help you study worthwhile expertise and even acquire official certification. Native faculties and group facilities often present low-cost programs on something from digital advertising and marketing to insurance coverage licensing. 

Should you’ve been unemployed for a very long time, you should utilize programs and coaching to fill within the gaps in your resume, which exhibits that you just’re proactive and self-directed.

7. Put together for ghosting

For a lot of, the hardest a part of job looking isn’t listening to again. Although being ghosted by an employer or recruiter can really feel extremely private, it is not a mirrored image of your expertise or {qualifications}. Analysis from LinkedIn discovered that nearly 40% of candidates say they’re making use of to extra jobs than ever and listening to again much less. 

There are numerous the reason why HR does not comply with up: funds cuts, hiring freezes, inside shifts or too many candidates. You may by no means know the actual motive. 

You possibly can ship a well mannered follow-up electronic mail to the hiring supervisor to exhibit your continued curiosity, which can immediate them to reply. However attempt to not blame your self or spend an excessive amount of time dissecting why you did not hear again. 

After being ghosted following a number of interviews, Wandell began The Job Ghosting Undertaking, an inventory of nameless tales from job seekers who’ve been ignored by firms. Inside every week of posting the survey, Wandell acquired greater than 500 submissions, with responses starting from current grads to high-level executives.

“The aim is actually simply to doc these patterns, validate the job seekers and push for accountability within the hiring course of,” mentioned Wandell. 

8. Follow for interviews

Interview prep goes past understanding your resume and the position. You will want to point out why you need this particular job with this particular employer. 

Begin with analysis. Have a look at the corporate’s current information, press releases, social media and critiques. Perceive their newest initiatives, challenges and competitors.

Use the STAR methodology. Break down every requirement within the job description and join it to a selected instance out of your expertise. Follow structuring your solutions utilizing the STAR methodology (scenario, process, motion, consequence) to exhibit your impression in a transparent and concise manner.

Follow, follow, follow. Say your interview solutions out loud, not simply in your head. If doable, do a follow interview with somebody you belief and get sincere suggestions. That may assist determine awkward phrasing and make you extra assured throughout the actual factor. 

Put together questions for the interviewer. Asking considerate questions of the hiring group exhibits your engagement and understanding of the position/firm. 

9. Steadiness your job search

It is common to really feel discouraged, burdened and embarrassed when confronted with rejection. “The job search is a slog and it’s important to just be sure you’re doing it in a sustainable method,” mentioned Zhao. “You possibly can’t simply apply to 100 jobs on daily basis since you’ll burn your self out.” 

Set clear boundaries to your job-hunting hours, schedule common breaks and arrange casual conferences to community. Concentrate on having a assist system in place, particularly with different individuals on the lookout for work. Being in a gaggle with individuals in the identical scenario can actually “diminish the disgrace that so many really feel round not being employed,” mentioned Countryman-Quiroz. 

After becoming a member of a job-seeker assist group throughout a earlier layoff, Wandell began her personal group this previous 12 months. It began with 5 individuals and it is now grown to 50 to 100 contributors. “It is a house for individuals to vent but additionally to ask questions, community and brainstorm,” mentioned Wandell.

Learn extra: Layoffs Are Taking place. How you can Put together if You Assume You Would possibly Lose Your Job

Free job search platforms and upskilling assets 

We compiled an inventory of assets to assist sharpen your expertise and streamline your search.

Basic job boards

Trade-specific/area of interest job boards

• InHerSight: Group offering profession recommendation and job matching particularly for ladies. 
• Jobs in Logistics: Job search website for employment in logistics, provide chain, transportation, stock administration and extra. 
• The Mother Undertaking: Useful resource group geared towards working moms in search of out family-friendly firms. 
• Recruit Army: A military-to-civilian recruiting firm connecting navy veterans, transitioning navy service members and their spouses with employment alternatives.
• Distant Jobs: Website curated by distant work specialist Rowena Hennigan, offering assets for distant work openings.
• SchoolSpring: Nationwide job board for lecturers and others in schooling. 
• Superpath: Job board for content material strategists, writers and freelance bloggers. 
• Working Nomads: Job search website for international distant work tailor-made particularly towards digital working nomads.
• VC Job Boards: Curated listing of job boards that includes enterprise capital positions. 

Office improvement nonprofits

• STRIVE: Affords tuition-free expertise coaching, job readiness assist and private teaching for these in search of to enhance their profession prospects. 
• NPower: Gives part-time tech expertise coaching, together with IT, cloud computing and cybersecurity, with alternatives for paid internships. 
• Goodwill: Affords job coaching and employment providers, profession improvement and monetary literacy applications, in addition to job placement help. 
• 12 months Up United: Focuses on serving to low-income younger adults achieve IT and enterprise expertise via paid internships and job placement. 

Upskilling 

• Coursera: Affords programs, certificates, and levels from high universities and firms, masking topics like pc science, enterprise and information science. 
• Udemy: An unlimited on-line market for programs, with choices starting from well being and health to IT and software program, and extra. 
• LinkedIn Studying: Gives programs on enterprise, inventive, and know-how expertise, taught by trade consultants. 
• Skillshare: A community-based platform for inventive and curious individuals, with lessons in illustration, design, images and extra. 
• edX: Affords university-level programs from numerous establishments, together with MIT and Harvard, masking a  vary of matters. 
• IBM SkillsBuild: Gives free entry to studying supplies and certifications in areas like cloud computing and AI. 
• HubSpot Academy: Affords free programs and assets on advertising and marketing, gross sales and customer support. 
• Google Skillshop: Gives free digital expertise coaching via on-line studying platforms. 
• Microsoft Be taught: Affords free on-line coaching and certifications on Microsoft merchandise.
• freeCodeCamp: A platform for studying net improvement via on-line programs. 
• MIT OpenCourseWare: Gives entry to free MIT course supplies.