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Over the past few months, there's been some concerning news related to the job market.
The number of people who have been temporarily laid off has been stagnant (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Intel laid off 15,000 people.
Cisco laid off 6,000 employees (The Economic Times).
And for every job seeker, there's less than one job opening available (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
We've seen a similar trend not too long ago, and it resulted in the big tech layoffs.
So, if you're in the job market right now, it's not going to be an easy ride, but there are a few job search strategies that you can try to help you land your next job.
Leverage your network
If you don't have a connection, your application is just another piece of paper, and in this job market, there can be thousands of applications. Get out ahead by leveraging your network. Reach out to friends, family, old co-workers, and old places of employment letting them know that you're looking for work. These are the people who will vouch for you and put in a good word. Their kind words may even land you an interview.
Get a recruiter
In the United States, job seekers can get recruiters free of charge. A recruiter can quickly help expand your network and introduce you to companies who are also hiring. If a recruiter has contacted you in the past, consider reaching back out to them. If you've never worked with a recruiter, go to a search engine and search for "[Your industry] recruiter in [your location]." Recruiters are often location-based, so you'll find some work in your area.
Connect with a career coach
A career coach can help you find clarity. Whether you're not sure what to do next, feel alone and ill-equipped, or want to improve your career progression, a career coach can help.
Are you not sure if you need a coach? Schedule a free coaching session with me!
Consider fractional and freelance work
Do you have a skill that can be monetized? Are you struggling to find a stable job? Freelance and fractional work can be a great fit. As a freelancer, you can get clients using LinkedIn services page or freelance platforms like Upwork to find clients. If you're an executive in the job market, you might want to consider fractional work. You can be a fractional chief officer for smaller companies that don't have the financial capacity or business need to maintain a full-time chief officer. While this contract work may sound daunting to recent corporate employees, it does provide a great work-life balance.
Alter what you're looking for
Have you been looking for a unicorn? Remote work, plus six figures, plus great work-life balance, plus unlimited PTO, plus international business travel, plus cheap benefits, plus an amazing manager, plus purposeful work... In this difficult job market, unicorns may be too hard to find. It may be time to re-evaluate your expectations and figure out what really matters to you and what your deal breakers are.
Wait it out
If you're currently in a job, consider waiting until the job market improves, especially if this job isn't taxing on your mental, emotional, and physical health.
It's important to stay agile and adjust to the job market. Wherever you are in your job search, it may be time to try out some of these strategies, especially considering the difficult market.
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