I'm a career coach, and the job market right now is a dumpster fire. Applying for jobs should be the last step in your job hunt process.

Business Insider

2 days ago

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Emily Worden, a 44-year-old career coach based in Boston. It's been edited for length and clarity.
A decade ago, most of my clients requested résumé writing support, and I'd take them through a pretty simple, plug-and-play process for a very straightforward market. Now, the market is a dumpster fire.
In recent years, AI has replaced jobs, companies are offshoring or going leaner, and mass layoffs in the public sector are sending thousands into the private sector. There are simply more people competing for even fewer jobs.
Many people who would've gotten scooped up in a second a few years ago are getting completely passed up. Here's my advice to people navigating the 2025 job market.
Applying for jobs should be the last step in the job hunt process
The people I see struggling are the "jack of all trades" people who aren't clear on what they want and try to fit themselves and their résumé into any job. It's important to get crystal clear on your target companies and job titles, and tell a consistent story across your résumé and LinkedIn.
Before building your résumé, gather a few interesting job descriptions that match your desired job title, pull out the keywords and phrases used to describe the ideal candidate, and speak directly to those points. You can even plop those keywords directly into your LinkedIn headline, skills list, and within the bullet points on your résumé.
For example, if "cross-functional collaboration" is an important skill a company is seeking, write a bullet point that clearly states how you've utilized cross-functional collaboration in a past role.
Network before you apply to a job to improve your chances
I'd rather job seekers send out 100 networking messages than 100 job applications.
While applicant pools have gotten larger, recruiter teams have gotten smaller, meaning many recruiters are absolutely overwhelmed. The people I see getting through the application phase are those with a referral, those working with a recruiter, or those who apply within the first few hours of the job being posted.
Networking is particularly important for people who are pivoting careers or are newer to the workforce.
Tips on how to build connections that can lead to landing a job
If you're doing a cold reach out, find people with whom you have something in common — whether they live in your area, went to the same college, or volunteer for the same organization. You can use filters on LinkedIn to locate people by location, school, organizations, etc.
Rather than reaching out with a vague request for a 15-minute chat, which is easy to ignore or pass on, ask a specific question like "I see you got your PMP certification. I'm thinking of that. Would you recommend it?" From there, you can work on building a connection and, depending on the person, ask for a referral.
I see a lot of people just reaching out to colleagues or folks in their industry. Don't forget the people in your life who are natural-born connectors or know a lot of people. This could be real estate agents, hairdressers, fundraisers, and community leaders. This is where I see the good stuff happening.
LinkedIn needs to become your new best friend
LinkedIn rewards two primary activities: sharing knowledge and engaging. Posting original content can be great for solidifying your personal brand, but don't forget about commenting.
Commenting is a low-stakes way to become more active on the platform, get your name out there, and get the algorithm warmed up.
I recommend making a spreadsheet of VIPs in your personal field, checking out their activity, and commenting where they comment. Or, if someone replies to your comment, connect with them and send a message saying "thanks for that thoughtful comment. I'm looking to expand my network."
Taking time off from job searching can be helpful
I see so many people sad, defeated, and fearful that they'll never work again. I want people to know that it's not them, it's this competitive market.
I know the job search can be soul-crushing, so I'm a huge advocate for taking time off. Whether that's the weekend or just an afternoon to do something that makes you feel good, I think it's important to find time for yourself.
The market is always swinging on a pendulum, so I'm hopeful that it will recover soon.