The economy is in great shape if you only consider the US stock market. However, the number of unemployed and under-employed people is rising dramatically. Layoffs are also rising, which are expensive. That is why many open positions are being filled internally to avoid paying severance packages. Employers are also requiring more time in the office (hybrid work) or on-site work (no remote workers). They are banking on people quitting their jobs (no severance if someone quits) to avoid the commute and other costs associated with going into the office every day. Costs that are not related to labor are also rising dramatically. On top of the post-pandemic inflation (low supply and high demand), US-based companies are also paying much higher prices for materials and supplies to the tariffs. This is causing companies to scale back hiring or reduce contractor headcount to cover for the increased costs. Companies are also choosing to cancel job requisitions right before making offers - and some are calling new hires to tell them that they don’t need to show up for their first day of work because the job was eliminated.

There is more competition for fewer opportunities. You need to be over-qualified and an exceptional fit for every job that you try to get. You need to be one of the first applications that a company receives. You need to be okay with scope-creep (when the job description expands, but the pay does not). And, you need to be an awesome person that people want to work with.

1. Upskill through micro-credentialling. Take lots of short classes and certifications. Show that your knowledge is fresh and up-to-date.
2. Apply what you learn and create tangible collateral that you can show off. Add your “work” products to a central portfolio to make it easy for HR and hiring managers to see.
3. Carve out time for your job search. Develop a process and follow it:
   1. Search for jobs that were posted in the past hour (or less). Only apply to jobs that are completely new.
   2. For each application, edit your resume to include important keywords from the job description so that the parsing software will give you a higher score.
   3. After applying, check to see if you know anyone at the company and ask them to get your resume in front of the hiring manager. (Try to jump past HR.)
4. When a company reaches out to you, prepare, prepare, and prepare:
   1. Research the company and the industry it is in. Make sure you know all about the latest news. You need to show that you really like the company.
   2. Research the role. Who was or is in the job right now? What makes this job awesome? How will you add value?
   3. Practice interviewing for the job with a trusted friend or advisor. What questions do HR people and hiring managers at this company typically ask? (The process and questions are often posted somewhere online.)
   4. Be optimistic and resilient. Be the person that they will want to work with every day. Have a positive attitude.

You also need to stay optimistic and resilient with the job search process. It will probably take longer than you think as things will continue to slow down. No one will hire a person that comes across as desperate or afraid. You need to be a believer - especially in yourself.