Steps to Take When Job Searching Slows Down

𝗦𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗼 𝗜 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘄? With USAID downsizing and ripple effects hitting implementing partners, contractors, and global development orgs, the job market is brutal right now. So I’ve consolidated my best advice—specific to this moment. 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗝𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻. If you can afford it, pause before panic-applying. This wasn’t just a job—it was a mission. Layoffs hit hard. Take a moment to process, reflect, and reset before diving in. 2️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁. Most searches will take 6-12 months. Some organizations are quietly hiring, but many have paused new roles. Pace yourself. Overwhelming yourself in month one will make month six that much harder. 3️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 (𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 “𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴”). Job searching right now is exhausting. You need more than LinkedIn messages—you need a team in your corner. That might mean a career coach, a job search accountability group, or a Slack/WhatsApp community where you can be honest about the struggle. The Bloom, Career Pivot, Reconsidered - all great. 4️⃣ 𝗕𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆. There are too many job boards, too many postings, and too many applicants. Instead of throwing resumes everywhere, go where the real opportunities are. (Yes, I’m partial to ImpactSource dot ai, because it updates dynamically and auto matches you with roles—but whatever board you use, make sure it’s giving you real signal, not noise.) 5️⃣ 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗴𝘂𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵—𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽. I see too many people applying to 100+ jobs and getting nowhere. Right now, the jobs being filled are often never even posted. Instead of panic-applying, target specific orgs, connect with insiders, and have real conversations. 6️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Everyone is applying through LinkedIn. But not everyone is building credibility there. Try this: Post once a week. Share something about your expertise, your past work, or even your reflections on the job search. Visibility = Opportunity. 7️⃣ 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀 > 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Most people get hired through connections, not job portals. Instead of applying blindly, reach out to people who know your work. Ask for warm introductions. Use first-degree LinkedIn connections wisely. 8️⃣ 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝘀𝗸. Even in a job search, you have something to offer. Share job openings. Offer to review someone’s resume. Connect two people who should meet. Generosity opens doors. 9️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲—𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂. The world needs your talents more than ever. 🔟 What’s been most helpful for you? Drop your advice in the comments. Sharing is CARING.

Why applying to more jobs isn't the answer (and what is). 👇 Many job seekers fall into the trap of "panic applying" - frantically submitting applications to countless positions or rushing into degree programs. While this might feel like progress, it's often an ineffective strategy that can lead you down the wrong path. I learned this lesson early in my career. Initially, I was set on becoming a journalist. And if I had blindly pursued that path, I would have ended up in a role that clashed with my strengths and values - long hours, low pay, and constant deadlines. All things I despise. The key to avoiding this pitfall is to slow down and invest time in self-discovery and strategic relationship-building. Here's a more effective approach: 🍊 Self-Reflection: Deeply understand what you truly want in your next opportunity. What are your strengths, values, and deal-breakers? 🍊 Market Research: Investigate the demand for roles that interest you and what it takes to succeed in them. 🍊 Informational Interviews: Speak with professionals in your target roles or industries. Their insights are invaluable for making informed decisions. 🍊 Relationship Building: Focus on creating connections rather than just submitting applications. While it might seem time-consuming, it's often the shortcut to the top of the resume pile. 🍊 Targeted Opportunities: Pursue only roles that genuinely align with your goals and skills. This approach might feel slower at first, but it is actually much faster than applying online using a "it's a numbers game" strategy. If you want a roadmap for this strategic approach, check out my free Job Shopping Masterclass. The link is in the comments below! Because direction is more important than speed in your job search. It's about doing the RIGHT things, not just more things. Have you ever "panic-applied" for a job before? #HR #jobseekers #LinkedIn

Don’t spend time on things you can’t control. Not in your career, and not in your life When I coach people that are looking for their next opportunity, I always recommend analyzing what they’re doing, and if that’s not generating the results they’re expecting, understand what might be going wrong, find different alternatives, but always spend 99.9% of their time on the things they can control. If you are, for instance, applying for roles and only getting rejections, that might be a sign that there could be a problem with your [resume, interviewing skills, not meeting the minimum requirements, etc.]. But it could also be the market that is saturated. Or the company is on a hiring freeze. Or many other reasons. What can you do? Control what you can control: 1. Read job descriptions carefully. Make sure you meet the minimum qualifications before applying to the job 2. Understand what are the main skills needed across the board 3. Do a personal SWOT analysis and use your strengths/skills to describe opportunities and how they add value to the organization 4. Choose your top 2-3 examples from past experiences (that relates to the job the most) and use them to write your resume bullet points 5. Choose your top 5-10 companies, add them to a document and search for recruiters on LinkedIn (connect with them not to send your resume only, but to network) 6. Consider side gigs and freelance while searching for a job (bills need to be covered) 7. Continue developing your skills and your job search portfolio Ultimately, spending time on things we can’t control is the quickest way to disappointment and feeling like giving up. Let’s spend time and energy on what we can control, and continue working for what we need. We got this. #StephSynergy

If your job search feels scattered or overwhelming, it might not be your effort—it might be your system. A successful job search isn’t just about applying to everything. It’s about being strategic and consistent. Here’s how I help my clients create a plan that keeps them organized and less overwhelmed: ✅ Clarify your direction What kind of roles, industries, or environments are you targeting? ➡️ Define your focus so you’re not trying to be everything to everyone. ✅ Update your materials Make sure your resume, LinkedIn, and elevator pitch reflect where you’re headed—not just where you’ve been. ✅ Track your outreach Use a spreadsheet, Google Sheet, or a tool like TealHQ to stay on top of applications, networking, and follow-ups. ✅ Network strategically Reach out to people working at your target companies. ➡️ Most jobs are filled through connections—not job boards. ✅ Create a weekly schedule Treat your job search like a job. Block time on your calendar like you would for meetings or project work ✅ Set micro-goals Aim for: 🔹 5 new connections/week 🔹 2 tailored applications 🔹 1 interview prep or reflection session ✨A plan brings structure and confidence to a process that can often feel uncertain. 💬 What’s one job search habit that’s helped you stay on track—or one you're trying to build? 📩 And if I can support you in creating your job search plan, feel free to reach out—I’m here to help. #JobSearchStrategy #CareerClarity #CareerCoach #LinkedInTips  

Feeling like your job search is hitting a wall right now? Don’t quit. It’s no secret: Talent Acquisition tends to slow down around this time of year. Interviews are getting canceled. Roles you were excited about are suddenly “on hold.” Recruiters are telling you budgets ran out, and hiring won’t happen until next year. Sound familiar? It’s frustrating—I get it. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean the opportunity is gone forever. Often, those same roles will open back up in the new year. And if you’ve already had a conversation with the recruiter? That’s your edge. Because when the dust settles, and hiring ramps up again, you’re no longer starting from scratch. You’re already on their radar, and you’ve shown initiative. So, what should you do now? 1. Stay proactive. Keep reaching out to recruiters, even if hiring is paused. Build those connections now so you’re top of mind later. 2. Stay visible. Update your LinkedIn, share thoughtful posts, and engage with people in your network. You never know who’s watching. 3. Stay resilient. Don’t let a slow season make you stop trying. January is closer than you think, and this is your chance to set the stage for success. The moral of the story? This isn’t the time to quit, it’s the time to position yourself for a strong comeback. Keep going. You’ve got this. 💪 This might even be a time to analyze your process, your strategy and find out what you're doing well, what you could be doing better at and what you should be doubling down on in the new year...