How to Survive a Competitive Job Market

If you’re searching for a new role but the job market seems to be working against you, know that you’re not alone. According to Forbes, the average job search is taking professionals 22.6 weeks. Of course, landing a job in a competitive market requires strategizing. So, here are some tips for surviving a competitive job market and coming out the other side with an offer on the table.

Start With a Solid Foundation 

In a competitive job market, showing that you’re a quality candidate is key to improving your job search results. Before getting creative to try and speed up your job search, ensure that your foundation as a candidate is solid. 

A great place to start is updating and polishing your resume. Make sure previous roles listed on your resume align with the roles you’re applying for, with responsibilities that include keywords from job descriptions. Your cover letter should also get the same TLC, with each letter uniquely tailored to each role. If your resume and cover letter haven’t been touched since before the advancement of AI, it could be a great idea to experiment with how AI can be used to further improve your application materials.

You may also want to add to your resume by acquiring new skills or certifications, particularly if you are in the media, communications, or technology industries (according to Forbes, candidates in these sectors are facing the most challenges). Some certifications to consider are social media management, digital marketing, and public relations. Attaining these certifications further validates your skills and gives the hiring team more confidence that you’re qualified to perform the roles’ responsibilities. Of course, if you’re a candidate in another sector, there could be specific skills and certifications you’d want to acquire, too.

While certifications are geared towards a candidate's hard skills, honing your soft skills can also improve your chances of obtaining a job offer. Improving your soft skills can be done on the job, at school, or throughout your day-to-day life. For example, you can work on your teamwork and leadership skills on group, school, or work projects, and can work on your listening and problem-solving skills when communicating with friends and family members. These soft skills will greatly benefit you during the interview process. 

Another great way to improve your potential as a candidate is to leverage and improve your networking skills. This can include reaching out to connections, attending networking events, and leveraging your social media to expand your network. Networking can be a fun experience to break up the monotony of sending out applications, so think outside the box to become a networking expert. 

Analyze Your Priorities

In a competitive job market, you might be forced to re-evaluate some of your priorities. For example, since the peak of remote jobs in 2022, the availability of remote roles have significantly decreased. So, if you were set on a fully remote role, you might want to start considering hybrid positions, analyzing your favorite aspects of remote work that could be (nearly) achieved with a hybrid or in-person role. If your favorite thing about a remote job is the elimination of a morning and afternoon commute, think of ways to make your commute more worth your while, or shift your job search to roles in your immediate area to cut down on commuting time. 

Another priority you might want to reconsider is your workday schedule. Although the 9 to 5 is still the most common schedule, there are plenty of other schedule structures worth considering. Entertaining the idea of working on the weekend, early in the mornings, later in the day, or even the overnight shift can open up more options for your job search. This can also allow you to enjoy your hobbies during the day instead of having to wait for the weekend. 

Of course, you shouldn’t sacrifice all the standards you have for a future employer or work environment, but a shift in priorities or perspective can get you to that new role sooner rather than later. 

Have Realistic Expectations

Having realistic expectations is important to avoid feelings of disappointment when something doesn’t happen the way you planned.  With respect to a job search, a good place to start to help you better plan and prepare is understanding that the average search is currently lasting more than five months.

Next, consider how to best prepare for a job search journey that has an unpredictable end date. This can include making adjustments to your monthly budget to postpone any unnecessary purchases until you’ve secured your next position. This may also be a situation where you want to use your emergency savings as means of staying afloat until you begin a new role.  Analyze how much you have in your savings account and determine your maximum spending to ensure you have enough to last until your next role comes around. 

Being prepared to face the reality of a lengthy job search doesn’t always have to be related to your financial situation. Staying motivated with a healthy mindset will keep you going throughout your journey as well. As you begin your job search, establish your healthy support system of friends, family, and even former coworkers. Lean on these individuals throughout your journey by having them read your cover letters, conduct mock interviews, or even just be there to cheer you on before an interview. 

Even though the job market has taken a highly competitive turn, candidates are still making it to the light at the end of the tunnel and securing satisfactory positions that will advance their careers. The job market will continue to ebb and flow, and by using these tips, you can ride this wave right into your next role.