Guidance! | Job Hunting in the (2025+) Market

I ran across this post the other day and wanted to discuss it some...

In my last job hunt, I absolutely used AI, especially with prompts like this to be sure I was applying to the right roles. It saved me a lot of mental bandwidth, and Bonnie is right. In this market, employers have their pick of candidates, which means they're looking for someone who has done exactly that role.

That's why in this market, I highly recommend...

Apply for jobs where you meet most of the bullets. Normally, I tell mentees to apply when they meet 60% of the qualifications, especially because fem-presenting individuals tend to only apply when they're 100% qualified. But in this market, you may need to be closer to 90% for there to be traction on your hunt.

Apply for qualified jobs within the 24 hours they're posted. Right now, the market is super saturated with people looking for work. Companies are putting up postings and taking them down quickly as they get overwhelmed. You can certainly apply for jobs that are older than 24 hours, but you must find a way to counteract the overwhelm they'll be feeling to get to your application. You'll need to put extra effort into networking the older the job posting is.

Email the hiring manager and/or recruiter. Putting yourself in their workflow helps a lot. In my recent job, I emailed the wrong person and they forwarded it to the recruiter. He told me that there were over 700 applicants for the role, which means emailing was a good strategy to get his attention. (Psst, if you aren't sure how to find the person to email or what to say, I outline that in From Inbox to Offer.)

Find ways to include new skills in your current job. For some of us, pivoting into a new role is going to take a while. So make the most of your meantime by finding ways to stretch and apply desired skills in your current role. Maybe you've taken on a copywriter role while searching for an ID job. Maybe you design some training for your fellow copywriters or create/share a job aid to help people remember the client company's guidelines. Do whatever you can to keep your skills sharp for when your big break comes.

We’re in a weird season, and while this job market may not ease up tomorrow, it will shift—these things always do. In the meantime, you’re not powerless. Use every tool you can—AI, timing, networking, and skill-building—to stay competitive without draining yourself. Keep your skills warm, keep showing up, and trust that when the fever finally breaks, you’ll be ready.

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