The 5 Best Ways to Get Hired in January and February
If you’re seeing more job openings right now, you’re not alone. Our LinkedIn feed is full of brand-new listings for jobs that were nowhere to be found a few weeks ago. On Threads, there are lots of posts sprinkling good luck job dust for people with interviews on their schedules. Such is the magic of January, when budgets are open, and hiring managers are (finally) interested in staffing up.
Now, that said, it’s still a tough job market — something you already know if you’ve been out there looking for work recently. In fact, it’s the strangest market that either of us can remember. We’re at a rare intersection of economic issues and technological advancement. Businesses are still spooked by tariffs, and AI is still taking a bite out of many industries, especially for entry-level workers.
Those caveats are all the more reason to lock down a job now, if at all possible. Here’s what you need to do to boost your chances of getting hired right now:
Find a Human Connection
Use job sites as a part of your job searching plan, not the whole of your strategy. You’re more likely to get interviews and offers if you have a connection at the company.
Here’s where LinkedIn comes in handy. Go to the company page, click the “People” tab, and see if you know anyone at the organization. Then, reach out to them directly and ask if they’d be willing to recommend you for the role.
Identify Your Skills Gaps and Fill Them
We’re not totally sold on the idea that AI is the primary (or at least, sole) reason behind the recent waves of layoffs. However, it is causing a massive shift in many companies in which some positions disappear, and others emerge. Many of these new roles are AI-adjacent, even if they’re not engineering jobs. Some use the skillset you already have, but in a different way.
To figure out what, if anything, you need to learn to get one of these roles, look at the Careers pages of employers you’d like to work for. (Company LinkedIn pages work here, too.) Then compare the desired qualifications listed for open roles to your resume.
Tip: Don’t pay for training unless you need a specific certification, e.g., project management professional (PMP). You can find free job skills training at the Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop.
Use AI the Right Way
AI can help you write and customize resumes, cover letters, and job-searching emails — if you use it right. That means:
Reworking language so that it sounds like you and not a machine.
Checking facts, especially on your resume. (Chatbots hallucinate; don’t let them lie on your behalf.)
Build Templates Wherever You Can
Jump on job listings as soon as possible by keeping resume and cover letter templates for each job type and industry. That way, you only need to tweak the details before you submit your materials.
Tip: Have a friend proofread your documents to make sure you don’t leave any embarrassing typos. There’s nothing worse than applying to a job with a cover letter that clearly uses a competitor’s name.
Consider Freelance or Contract Work
Even if you’re committed to finding a full-time employee job, be open to part-time, freelance, and contract work. Flexibility can help you get your foot in the door. Plus, you’ll avoid having gaps in your resume while making contacts that might recommend you for other roles.
Get a Sprinkle of Good Luck Dust
You never know what can help with a job search, so if you have applications in the hopper, interviews scheduled, or jobs you’re waiting to hear about, here’s a little magic good luck job search dust to help you get where you want to be:
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Earlier Posts From The Job Hopper
I Accidentally Got a Full-Time Job Using Our Own Advice. Here’s What Happened.
I used all our job-searching advice to get a new job, even though I wasn’t looking for a full-time job when I landed it. Here’s how it worked.
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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.
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Everyone needs a day off from work now and then. You might need to interview for another job, take care of yourself or someone in your family, or just have a few hours to yourself to deal with the details of life. But for most U.S. employees, calling out of work requires a little planning. Here’s what you need to know to do it without alienating your boss.
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.