How to Job Search When the World Is on Fire
If you’re on social media, you’ve seen lots of posts like this recently: “I wasn’t really expecting to work through the apocalypse.” And while sitting in meetings or serving customers during Unprecedented Times is hard enough, we’d argue that it’s even harder to be looking for work right now.
Look, job searching is stressful even when life is relatively normal. Throw in a rapid news cycle, economic stress, and uncertainty about what lies ahead, and well, it’s a lot.
We’re here to help. Here’s how to keep your job search on track.
Remember That January Is a Good Month for Job Searching
Anecdotally, we’re seeing a significant increase in job openings compared to a few weeks ago. That’s pretty typical: the start of a new year means a new budget cycle at many companies, which means more opportunities for you.
Now, we’re not going to sugarcoat it — this is still a rough job market. But you’re likely to find more listings right now than you would have in December.
Give Yourself Mental Space
When the news is newsing, it’s easy to get caught up in scrolling and obsessing and forget about any other priorities (like job searching or relaxing or being a person).
Set limits and enforce them. Decide how much time you’re going to spend catching up on the news, and then move on for now. Put your phone in another room. Close that browser window. Turn off the news podcast and put on white noise. Anything you have to do to give yourself a breather.
Connect With Other People When Possible
The antidote to doomscrolling is community, and the best way to get hired is still through someone you know. Look for connections at hiring companies. Plan coffee dates with former colleagues. Get together with your friends who are also looking for work and commiserate, share leads, and proofread each other’s resumes.
Make Templates for Each Job Type
Generally speaking, the sooner you can apply to a job after it’s posted, the better off you’ll be. Keeping templates for each job can help. For example, if you’re a writer/editor, you might have a resume and cover letter template for writing jobs, editing jobs, and content strategy jobs. Then, when you identify an opportunity, you can fill in the specifics and be ready to apply quickly.
Say Thank-You
Even in more precedented times, a little thanks goes a long way. Send thank-you emails for job interviews, express your gratitude to friends who recommend you for jobs, and look for opportunities to catch people trying to help. You’ll feel better and make a good impression, too.
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Earlier Posts From The Job Hopper
Jobs Report: Payrolls Added Only 49,000 Jobs per Month on Average in 2025
Economists aren’t panicking yet. Many describe this as a slowdown or a static job market, rather than a freefall. However, we’ve been looking at jobs data for a long time, and we’ll be honest with you: we’ve never seen anything like this.
Free Tools for Job Seekers and Career Changers
You don’t necessarily need to pay for help when you’re looking for a job. Some of the best job search tools are 100% free. You can get no-cost help finding job listings, writing your resume and cover letters, interviewing for jobs, and more. There are even free career quizzes and online classes — just in case you’ve decided to pivot to an entirely new line of work. Find tools here.
How To Find Companies That Are Still Hiring
If your job search is stalled, take a break from looking for specific job openings. Instead, target companies that are staffing up. Here’s how.
SPECIAL EDITION: Resources for Unemployed Federal Workers
If you’re one of the thousands of federal workers who’ve recently lost their jobs — or if you’re concerned that you’re about to join them — you need and deserve support. We’ve assembled some helpful resources to get you through the next couple of weeks and months as you figure out what to do next.
Where To Get Financial Help When You’re Unemployed
What can you do if you’ve run out of unemployment benefits, are about to lose them, or if your benefits aren’t enough to pay the bills? It’s scary to have little or no income, but you may be eligible for financial assistance to help you through this difficult time. Here’s where to go for help.
Thanks for the Remote Rocketship link 🙏