Navigating a Competitive Job Market with Fewer Openings

This is always a tough pill to swallow, but the best companies to work for are not going to lower their bar or make things easier for applicants because this is a tough job market. When a company is flooded with applications, there's no logical reason to make the application process easier. When a company has a huge volume of highly qualified candidates, there's no logical reason for recruiters to set up calls with stretch candidates. When a company has great candidates that are willing to commit to their interview process, there's no logical reason for them to simplify that interview process. When a company has candidates who know their product and are excited to work there, there's no logical reason for them to consider someone that shows up to the interview and asks what it is they do. This is why my best advice is always: 1. Quality over quantity. Focus on a small number of positions you are genuinely well qualified for and interested in, and put in the effort to stand out in the process. 2. Do your research. Understand what the company is all about AND ask questions to assess whether it's the right fit. Show them you're genuinely looking for a company you can commit to and grow with. 3. Network and engage with the company. Follow them and comment on their posts. Connect with recruiters and people in the department you're interested in. Let people know you applied and why you're excited about the opportunity. 4. Respond positively to rejections. "Thanks so much for the update, while I'm disappointed by the outcome, I continue to be really excited about COMPANY, and will be on the look out for future opportunities. If you have any tips to stand out next time around, I'll take them!" will go a lot further then, "I submitted a perfect application and you're an idiot. Your loss." (This isn't even hyperbole - I get messages like this every few weeks.) 5. Opt out. If a process seems predatory, don't do it. Give them feedback. If companies can't hire the talent they want, they will have to evolve. Will this work every time? No, of course not. It's a tough market with lots of awesome people out there. But I watch my team put out offers every week to people who have applied with us 2, 3, 4+ times. I see candidates deciding between multiple offers regularly. I see people landing interviews who use these strategies. What I pretty much never see? People landing interviews who wrote "NA" on all the application questions. People who berate our team getting interviews. And finally, if you think my advice is bad or out of touch, don't follow it! What I post is just my opinions based on my experiences. It may not be relevant to your industry or context. And if your approaches are working for you, then don't change anything. But if they aren't, maybe these tips will help!

In your head the voice says, ‘what is wrong with me? Why is this so ridiculously hard?' It's Wednesday, still nothing in your in box. You've sent out hundreds of applications, spent hours tweaking your resume, and followed all the "expert" advice—yet the silence is deafening. No callbacks. No interviews. No signs of progress. You have been at this for months. It feels like you’re shouting into the void, and it’s exhausting. Here’s the hard truth: If your job search isn’t working, sending out even more applications won’t fix it. So what will? That’s where most job seekers get stuck. They think they’re doing everything right—but they’re missing key strategies that could change everything. Here’s What You Need to Do Differently: 1. Apply to fewer jobs—but the right ones. If you’re applying to hundreds of jobs with no response, chances are you’re applying to roles where you don’t meet the core qualifications. Instead, focus on jobs where you’re at least 80% qualified. Quality applications beat mass applying every time. 2. Apply early—timing matters. Recruiters get flooded with applications. If you wait too long, the hiring team may already be deep into interviews before your resume is even seen. Apply within the first 24-48 hours of a posting for the best shot. You can see < than 10 applicants in LinkedIn under filters. 3. Your resume is working against you if it’s too generic. If your resume is just a list of responsibilities, you’re blending in—not standing out. Employers want impact, not just duties. Quantify your achievements. Show results. Tell your own ROI story. And most importantly, tailor your resume for every role. 4. Networking is no longer optional. You can’t just apply and hope. The most successful job seekers are strategically networking—connecting with hiring managers, engaging on LinkedIn, and securing referrals. Most jobs are filled before they’re even posted. If you’re not networking, you’re missing opportunities. 5. You’re doing this alone—and that’s the problem. The job search is isolating. It’s easy to spiral into frustration and self-doubt when you’re navigating it alone. But the most effective job seekers? They lean into a community of like-minded professionals, learning, sharing insights, and keeping each other accountable. Join our Tuesday late afternoon Community: https://lnkd.in/gAAkPxEc If what you’ve been doing isn’t working, it’s time to change your approach. Mass applying won’t get you there. A strategic, focused, and connected job search will. Let's get clarity. I want to help. Find time here: https://lnkd.in/gsgKk8vc 

If your job search is just sending CVs into the void… this is why you are struggling to get interviews. After 25 years in recruitment, I can tell you this with certainty. Job boards are the most crowded, competitive way to apply. If that is your only strategy, you are blending in with hundreds of other applicants. Here is how to stand out: 1. Find the hiring manager: Message them directly on LinkedIn. Introduce yourself and explain why you are a strong fit. 2. Connect with people in that department: Comment on their posts, ask questions, and build a quick rapport before mentioning your application. 3. Use your peer network: Look for mutual connections. If someone you know works there, ask them to put in a good word. 4. Get your CV pushed forward: When a current employee hands your CV directly to a hiring manager, it jumps to the top of the pile. 5. Be proactive: Do not wait for someone to “get back to you.” Politely follow up until you have an answer. I have worked with thousands of candidates in competitive job markets and seen first-hand that the ones who get interviews the fastest are rarely the ones who only apply on job boards. They are the ones who make sure the hiring manager knows exactly who they are before the interview invite/application is sent.

Worried about finding a job? Last week I met an amazing young gentleman Who is looking to find a job in data science. As I talked with him and shared the steps That worked very well for me in the past, I realized that these might help many Folks who are actively job-seeking. So, I wrote this Friday #GetHired2025 post. It might help folks who are: 1. About to graduate in the #Classof2025. 2. Been job searching for a few months. 3. Recently affected by various layoffs. You're probably getting worried and stressed About finding a steady position, and soon, So that you can get on with your life! News stories like these can affect your momentum. Pessimism in careers: https://lnkd.in/gtGdRN7e Hiring holds up: https://lnkd.in/gwGkg2w6 First, let go of all fears and refocus on your purpose. If finding a job and growing your career matters, You will need to approach it with a strategy. Random applications are perfectly fine, But they often create a false sense of Security in having done "something." Follow my "Take FIVE Strategy" Actionable Insights for Every Weekday: 1. Write down 5 job titles that pertain to you. --> Focus on why and how you qualify. --> Job titles can be generic so specificity matters. 2. Find 5 job postings for each job title --> If you can't find 5 openings, the job doesn't exist. --> Look for alternative job titles to seek out. 3. Identify 5 keywords in each job posting. --> You will see many keywords repeating. --> Embed these words in your resume. 4. Reach out to and network with 5 professionals --> Connect with and follow 5 leaders in your field. --> Do this everyday - that's 25 people a week! 5. Create 5 customized Job Applications --> Use #AI tools or LinkedIn tools to add value. --> Try to reach out to recruiter if you can. Quantity or bulk applying are not sufficient In a competitive job market to stand out. You need to demonstrate the quality & The value that you bring along when You apply to any organization. It takes work to find work! Follow Dr. Kruti Lehenbauer & Analytics TX, LLC for #PostitStatistics #DataScience #Economics tips. P.S.: What is your biggest fear about jobs right now?

I just had a coaching call with someone who has been searching for a new role for over a year. Here’s what I told them: Flex your job title to make you more relevant: We’re in an incredibly risk-averse hiring market, and companies aren’t as open to hiring someone who hasn’t done exactly what the role requires. So if you have relevant experience, but the actual title of the job doesn’t match what you’re applying for - change it! There is a limit, of course; if you were a marketing coordinator, calling yourself a CMO will do you no favors when it’s time to check references. Go where your experience is an asset: If you’ve been working awhile, chances are you’ve seen the inside of a few different industries, picking up unique skills along the way. I call this an “Infinity Stone” Career. Make that an asset by finding companies doing work at the intersection of those industries, instead of blindly applying to the biggest names you know of. “No” sometimes means “Not Yet”: If your search has been going on for 6+ months, I would start to reach back out to the recruiters who may have previously denied you a role. Candidates renege on offers, or they may just not be working out. Recruiting agencies are always getting fresh roles they’d love to fill quickly. This is how you begin to form long-term relationships with people who could potentially hire you in the future. There’s no way around it - this job market is brutal. But if you’re still searching hopefully one of these tips resonates. Good luck, and let me know of any tactics you’ve been using in your job search that you’ve found success with!