How To Land A Job In An Employer’s Market

Stressful young woman waiting for job interview
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are currently 7.6 million job openings in the market. However, most job seekers – especially those with university degrees – are facing an increasingly competitive market as sought after roles often have hundreds if not thousands of applicants for a single position.
Competitive labor market conditions are of course nothing new. Job seekers have faced similar challenges during the 2008 financial crisis and during the dot com bust of 2000.
Still, approaching a job search strategy in a competitive labor market is fundamentally different from the market we experienced only a short time ago when the “great resignation” had employers scrambling for talent, often paying above market salaries.
As you’re thinking about how to optimize your chances of securing a role faster than the average 6 months it’s taking most job seekers today, here’s what you should keep in mind.
Avoid Making a Drastic Career Change
It’s okay to target a new industry or even a job with new responsibilities, but making a career pivot in an employer’s market is a lot harder when the market is flooded with experienced people competing for the same roles.
If you are looking for a change in your responsibilities make sure that you at least have some of the skills required for every opportunity that you’re considering. To test if you have the minimum requirements ask yourself - “can I be productive in this role on day one”?