Tough Market, Smart Moves
When the job market is as tough as it is right now, strategy matters more than volume—according to the experts. Catherine Fisher, LinkedIn Career Expert, advised, “Instead of casting a wide net and applying to every role, you are better off focusing your energy on quality over quantity.” She also pointed out that hiring is down year over year, while competition has intensified.
Her advice is to slow down and use tools to optimize your search. Using people search tools, you can find the right people to connect with, which is incredibly important considering that “38% of hiring managers say they give a candidate extra consideration if they have a referral.” Using job match tools to see whether or not you have the right skills for a job you want to apply to can also be a great tip. Fisher especially loves the job and skill match functions because “it tells you two things: either you need to gain new skills, or you have the skills and need to add them to your profile.”
For anyone navigating the job search post-layoff, Fisher emphasizes preparation above all. “A layoff is not a reflection of your worth or your talent,” she said, encouraging laid-off employees to consider what excites them. From there, update your LinkedIn, clearly articulate your impact at your past jobs, and lean on your community. Forty percent of U.S. workers say that sharing their layoff news helped them land their next gig. And if you want to change up your career entirely, Fisher reminds us that career paths are very rarely linear and, in fact, “two-thirds of employers view candidates with non-linear paths as an untapped talent pool.” Transferable skills are key in this competitive market.
Her final takeaway is reassuring. “There is not one ‘right’ way to job search,” she says. “People still matter. Relationships and human connection open doors—and your next chapter may look different than you envisioned, but that can be very powerful.”
