Keeping Your Spirits Up in a Difficult Job Market
Job search is always difficult for the person in search. In 2025, it remains even more so, as new individuals enter the market, even as others become employed again. Certainly, the recent government budget cuts have had an impact. Organizations redesigning themselves, looking to take advantage of technological advances, (think artificial intelligence), has an impact as certain levels of job and jobs themselves are eliminated or severely impacted in companies. Ageism has always had its impact, but perhaps now even more so than before, as the population ages, and individuals are staying in the workforce longer, more people that may not have applied for roles in the past, are doing so now. Companies also trying to determine how economical factors themselves may impact their viability and future may consider either mergers or acquisitions with and of their competitors.
I have continually worked with those in job search over the last 15 years. And, while markets may change, technologies may change, business models may change, etc., certain items in my mind, remain the same as it relates to the search process. Let me share some of those thoughts with you.
One is to not look to go a job search all alone. Some, when they go into search, will take into it a do it themselves attitude. While some may see this as admirable, in the job search world it is often a serious disadvantage. Instead of having multiple people alerting you to opportunities that may be right for you, you are relying on yourself to find all opportunities. Often you are doing that by looking at the “want ads,” which in 2025 are online on websites open to individuals all over the world. You find a position that is right for you, and you are among hundreds of applicants. A computer is screening to see if you are match for the position, (often looking for you to have all qualifications being sought in the job description). Soon you are not hearing from any of the jobs you are applying to, and depression sets in.
Those that bring others into their search have their spirits boosted in several ways. Perhaps they attend job search support groups, where they not only see they are not the only one in search, but where they make new business connections. Or, they look to reconnect with those that they have worked with before, and find that they are working for organizations that are hiring for their skill set. In connecting with others, they may learn of industries and size companies they had not considered, but which now become part of their target market. And, in bringing others into the equation, there comes the realization that they must tighten the description of the types of roles they are seeking, the skills they bring to those roles, and an understanding of what they have accomplished in past roles.
A second factor is that the job search process is a RESEARCH PROJECT. The job searcher who takes charge of their own search does not look to apply for every role that comes in front of them, but begins to focus on the industries that are attractive for their skillset, gain an understanding of the size of company for which they may want to work, and also will know of the skillsets being sought in the roles they seek, which they possess, and which they may need to enhance. Those that they need to enhance, perhaps can be accomplished by completing a certification program, or a project, (even if of a volunteer basis), where they get to exhibit those skills.
A third factor becomes the realization that the job search interview process is a two-way street. Yes, it is you speaking to hiring companies to be able to share with them examples where you have met such needs as theirs in the past, but also giving them a sense of you as a professional, and how you fit into their culture. On the other hand, you also learn that the interview process is a two-way conversation street. In such a process, you have your expectations about the values of the company for which you will be working, the customers or associates you be serving and supporting, and whether indeed their company culture is right for you.
Finally, even in the best of times, a job search can indeed be a long haul. There are times yes, when individuals get fortunate, and find an opportunity soon after losing their previous employment. Or, to keep “cashflow” operational, they may need to take an interim position, to at least be able to pay the bills, but at the same time look to find the role that is meant for them. And, even the most optimistic individuals will have times when the search can get to be disappointing.
However, not going it alone, looking at the search as a research project where you are looking for those organizations to which you want to give your skills, as opposed to accepting just “what is out there,” having meaningful business conversations, and realize you can be in for a long search, have been true in the best of times, and even in the worst of times. As such, one must realize the search will be the job ahead of them for the time being, and having the best spirits that they can have for it, will be a critical part of the process.
