Job Market Navigation Tips

BREAKING: The job market is cooling with hiring down 5.8% in March, according to LinkedIn's latest data. Worth noting: 62% of CEOs are now predicting a recession within six months, up from 48% just last month. Smart job seekers aren't panicking; they're strategizing. So, what does this mean for you if you're currently job searching or considering a move: 1️⃣ Target growing industries: Healthcare added 53,600 jobs last month, with social assistance adding 24,200 and retail trade gaining 23,700. Meanwhile, Utilities (+0.4%) and Holding Companies (+5.9%) were the only industries showing month-over-month hiring increases. 2️⃣ Develop future-proof skills: LinkedIn's report highlights several in demand skills plus I've added several employers value in uncertain times: • AI literacy and technology adaptation • Conflict mitigation and communication • Adaptability and agility • Data analysis capabilities • Cost management expertise • Supply chain knowledge (especially as tariffs impact operations) • Automation-related skills (as manufacturers focus on "more automation rollouts") Companies implementing AI are seeing 10% revenue increases—they need talent who can leverage these tools while demonstrating agility, which Aerotek's April report calls "the X factor that will give companies an edge." 3️⃣ Consider geography: The Sunbelt continues to outperform with Miami-Fort Lauderdale showing a 4.8% hiring boost and Phoenix maintaining strong numbers. Meanwhile, St. Louis (+4.2%) and Denver (+1.9%) are bright spots in other regions. If you've been searching for a while: Revisit how you present your skills: Highlight how you can help companies navigate uncertainty and control costs—top priorities as businesses prepare for potential downturn. Expand your industry targets: If you've been focusing on manufacturing (-10.3% YoY) or government (-17.3% YoY), consider how your transferable skills apply to healthcare, retail, or utilities. Consider contract roles: With economic uncertainty, many employers are shifting to flexible hiring strategies—these can be excellent foot-in-the-door opportunities. In every economic shift, there are still thousands of jobs being filled daily. Position yourself where growth is happening and showcase the skills employers need most right now. What strategies are working in your job search? Share them with me below. #LIPostingDayApril #Careers #LinkedInTopVoices

Y'all, the hidden job market does in fact exist. It's just not quite what you think it is. The false claim: "80% of jobs are never posted, they're filled on the hidden job market." The reality of what hiring on the "hidden job market" looks like (all REAL examples where either I was hired, or I did the hiring): - someone applied for a job and was a runner up in January; when the same opening came up in March, the team went back and extended an offer instead of reposting the same job. - someone was declined for a position after several stages because their technical skills weren't quite strong enough, but the team felt that were the role at a lower level, they would be perfect; the team decided to hire the person into an upcoming lower level role rather than posting this role. - personally, I've been hired twice on the "hidden job market"; in both cases, I was a silver medalist for a position, and in one case, they were able to extend an alternate offer for a role they were planning to hire in a few months on the spot while declining me for the position. In the other, they reached out a few months later with another role and fast tracked me through the interview process though the role was also posted. Here's the common thread in all these examples: jobs were posted, people applied for those posted jobs, and interview processes happened. If you want to be tapped for jobs on the "hidden job market": 1. Apply for jobs you're qualified for, leveraging networks where you can. 2. Show up strong at every stage so you're someone they're excited to hire and keep in mind. 3. Stay engaged afterwards. If you're declined, be gracious, thank them for their time, ask for feedback, make sure that you show yourself as someone who is still interested, understanding, etc. This will strengthen the relationship and increase your chances of them remembering you well and circling back. 4. Check back in occasionally - this helps keep you top of mind. I promise this works, I hired someone back in March who did just this, and I just emailed someone on Friday in part because they checked in periodically so I knew they were likely still interested and they were the first person I thought of! Finally, remember that the 80% number is crap. It's a number that was tossed out in the 1970's in the book "What Color is your Parachute" at a time when most jobs WERE filled by word of mouth since the internet and job boards weren't really a thing (though even then, there was no citation/evidence of the number). A lot has changed in 50 years, and outside of executive roles, you can expect that relevant jobs will be posted, and the hires will more than likely be people who submitted a cold application. That said, networking is still a big help. While most jobs (60-80% at most companies) are filled by cold applications, referrals and personal connections certainly increase chances of landing interviews. But the job you land with that networking is one that will be posted.

"How do I find a job in the hidden job market?" Nearly 80% of job openings are never publicly posted – they’re filled through networks, referrals, and connections. But how can you tap into these hidden opportunities if you don’t have the “right” connections or inside info? 🔹 Start with building genuine relationships. Networking doesn’t have to feel forced! Reach out to people you admire in your field – connect over shared interests, ask thoughtful questions, and find ways to learn from them without asking for a job right away. Authentic relationships often lead to unexpected doors opening. 🔹 Engage on social media (especially LinkedIn). This isn’t just about posting, but about showing up consistently. Comment on industry news, share insights, and be proactive in conversations. It’s one of the easiest ways to put yourself on people’s radar without even having met them. 🔹 Ask for informational interviews. Reach out to someone whose career path you admire and ask for a few minutes of their time. Express genuine curiosity about their work and the company, and often they’ll naturally bring up potential roles or recommend you for upcoming positions. 🔹 Let people know you're looking – but be specific. If you’re open to anything, you’ll likely get… nothing. Clarify your strengths, the type of work you’re passionate about, and the kind of organization you’re targeting. People can only help when they know where you’re trying to go. Finding hidden roles is a mix of patience, persistence, and a little courage. But by building connections and showcasing your value, you’ll tap into opportunities you might have never known existed. #jobsearch #hiddenjobs #networking #jobopening #jobs

The job market is slow. Offers are getting deferred. Sometimes even revoked. Major companies are not hiring as well as they did previously. How can one be better suited to face such employment challenges? 1. Upskilling: Continuous learning is the key. Acquiring new skills and staying updated with industry trends can make you a more attractive candidate. A subtle example for instance, in management consulting, mastering data analytics tools like Tableau or gaining proficiency in change management methodologies could set you apart. Stay ahead of industry trends to demonstrate adaptability and a willingness to grow. 2. Networking: Forge and maintain meaningful professional relationships, try to get 1-1 conversations with decision makers. Attend events, webinars, and online forums to connect with industry peers and potential employers. Your network can provide valuable insights, referrals, and opportunities that might not be advertised. I cannot emphasise on how networking helps & I have got x number of offers from amazing firms & folks, who just liked my content on LinkedIn! 3. Synergies: Collaborate and showcase versatility. Highlight how your skills can seamlessly complement various roles or departments within an organization. Emphasize your ability to contribute across functions, making you an asset in different scenarios. One thing I often do before talking to someone regarding a role is: Figuring out where can I add the best value in their organization by doing a deep dive beforehand. 4. Communication: Effective communication sets you apart. Tailor your resume, cover letters, and interviews to showcase your skills and accomplishments clearly. Articulate your value proposition and how you can address specific company needs, displaying your potential impact. These may seem like trivial tasks, but a neat mail and well-conveyed thoughts can make all the difference required between that offer and no offer. Remember, resilience and a proactive attitude are key. Stay persistent, remain open to different avenues, and continue adapting your approach based on market dynamics. Your proactive efforts will increase your chances of success even in challenging times. For everyone affected by the slow job market, stay strong my friends. For everyone, aspiring to sit for placements soon or in a couple of years, be well prepared, there’s a long road ahead! After all, we are in this together :) #Jobs #India

You're not imagining it - the job market is harder right now. Redundancies are happening quietly. Interviews are slower. Roles are getting hundreds of applications. And people are wondering, “Why can’t I get a job when I’ve always been in demand?” Here’s the truth: 🔹 You’re not broken. 🔹 You didn’t “lose your edge.” 🔹 It’s just tough out there. But here’s what you can do right now: ✅ Shift from “applying” to “connecting” - Most people are still relying on Seek or LinkedIn Easy Apply. But the best opportunities? They’re often found through real conversations, not job boards. ✅ Rework your positioning - It’s not just what you’ve done. It’s how you frame it. Lead with outcomes. Solve problems. Align with where the market is heading. ✅ Make peace with the pivot - Maybe the next step isn’t a title jump. Maybe it’s a values-aligned role, a new industry, or a chance to finally do meaningful work. ✅ Build your backstage network - Get visible on LinkedIn. Reach out to ex-colleagues. Ask good questions. People want to help, they just need to know you're looking. ✅ Invest in your mindset as much as your Resume - Resilience, self-belief, and clarity will get you through the moments when nothing seems to be moving. If you’re navigating uncertainty right now...you’re not alone. If you want support...I’m here. And if you’ve made it to the other side...share what worked. #JobSearch2025 #CareerTransition #HiddenJobMarket #CareerCoach #YouveGotThis #ProjectRoar

A client of mine was struggling with job applications. “I’ve applied to 50+ jobs,” they said. “But nothing is working.” I asked, “How many hiring managers have you spoken to?” The answer? 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨. Here’s the reality: 𝟕𝟎% 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. They’re filled through referrals, networking, and internal promotions. 🔥 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭: ✔️ 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲- Engage with decision-makers, not just recruiters. ✔️ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬- Even a casual “I’d love to learn more about your company” message can lead to an opportunity. ✔️ 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬- Webinars, networking meetups, and even online communities can open doors. ✔️ 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠- If you never talk about your job search, no one knows to refer you! The best jobs are often the ones you don’t see on job boards. Have you ever landed a job through networking? Let’s discuss!

✨Recently laid off? Check out this inspiring story from my client. Job seekers navigating career transitions should consider two key strategies: Recommendations and Networking (I know, there is much more to the story; read on!). 🔻 First, update your LinkedIn profile, including exchanging recommendations with colleagues, managers, and external partners like vendors or customers. This effort yields significant benefits: • Recruiters value social proof from recommendations showcasing your leadership and communication skills. • It offers a prime networking opportunity—if approached strategically. H͟e͟r͟e͟’s͟ ͟a͟ ͟c͟a͟s͟e͟ ͟i͟n͟ ͟p͟o͟i͟n͟t͟:͟ I just finished a call with a client who had been preparing for a career change for about a year. Unexpectedly, she was laid off as part of a broader company downsizing. Fortunately, she was well-prepared and remained calm. She resumed an earlier task of requesting Zoom meetings and testimonials from her network. To her contacts’ surprise, they learned of her recent layoff. Now, she’s exploring several opportunities. Remarkably, one conversation revealed 𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 (unwritten and unposted) job roles tailored to her expertise at an exciting company overseas. C͟o͟n͟s͟i͟d͟e͟r͟ ͟t͟h͟i͟s͟:͟ 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁—𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱—𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲. My client's proactive discussions have already positioned her for five potential jobs, some of which are still being defined. Next steps? We’re preparing to utilize my “write and pitch your own job description” technique when these companies express interest in crafting a role that leverages her skills to meet their needs. Isn’t that amazing? ✨ For more ideas about what to do to prepare for a layoff, here is a link to the Forbes Coaches Council article: 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝟭𝟮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: https://lnkd.in/gpGf8jXs #jobs #careers #management

“𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧.” — 𝐖. 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 The June 2025 jobs data is in, and the numbers tell a story worth listening to. Here’s how sector-level trends across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and BC can help you navigate your next career move—whether you’re a new grad or a seasoned pro. 🔎 𝟓 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐉𝐨𝐛 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 & 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ontario and Quebec led retail growth, with thousands of new jobs in stores, sales, and customer service. Great for entry-level talent looking to gain momentum. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤: Major infrastructure projects drove a surge in Ontario (+2.5%) and a strong year-over-year gain in Alberta, opening doors for trades, engineering, and project management. 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 & 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ontario and Quebec saw robust growth in tech, business, and scientific roles. If you have digital, analytical, or consulting skills, now’s your time. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭: Ontario saw manufacturing job losses, while Alberta and Quebec experienced gains. If you’re in this field, consider regional pivots or upskilling to stay ahead. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: Healthcare and social assistance sectors remain resilient in most provinces, offering security and career growth, especially for experienced professionals. 🏆 𝟑 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 & 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: Job growth varies widely by province. Explore opportunities beyond your immediate city—mobility can give you an edge. 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: For new grads, retail, trades, and tech roles are abundant stepping stones. Build core skills here, then pivot as the market evolves. 𝐔𝐩𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 & 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐲: For experienced pros, stay relevant by adding certifications or digital skills, and be ready to transition into sectors with momentum (e.g., project management, healthcare tech, resource industries). 🔮𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝: 𝐀𝐈 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝: Over the next 6 months, expect even more hiring in roles that blend tech with traditional sectors—think AI in construction, automation in healthcare, and digital skills in retail/logistics. Those who combine sector knowledge with digital fluency will be the most sought after. Let data be your compass, not just your rearview mirror. The job market is always moving—stay curious, stay agile, and you’ll find your fit. #JobsInCanada #CareerTrends #FutureOfWork #JobSearch #CanadianJobs