The Job Market Sucks. We’re Here To Help.
We started this newsletter back in the relative halcyon days of May 2024 with a mission to help people find new jobs and build their careers. We had no idea what was coming next.
This is the worst job market that either of us can remember. Even more than that, it’s a weird market. This is not your typical recession or industry correction.
Right now, job seekers are dealing with:
Tariff-induced hiring freezes
Laid-off government workers flooding the job market
AI replacing white-collar workers
AI taking over both the hiring process (on the employer end) and the application process (on the candidate end)
Monopsony, which is Jen’s new favorite word, meaning that big companies are buying up smaller companies with the result that they have less competition for labor
Private equity continuing to buy up everything and sell it off for parts
A note here: There also seems to be a “revenge of the employer” vibe going on. Companies that had to pay top dollar for labor during the pandemic are doing everything in their power to leverage the current situation and get back to their preferred status quo.
Example: there is absolutely no reason why an interview process should involve five interviews, two work samples, and a trial workday unless the position you’re interviewing for is CEO of The Company That Will Eventually Cure Cancer. Employers who do this are either very nervous about commitment (understandable, given how wild everything is) or they’re making people jump through hoops because they kind of enjoy it. And, as always, both things can be true.
Maybe it’s helpful to know that if you’re struggling right now, it really and truly isn’t you. We’re living in unprecedented times, as the well-worn expression goes, and it would be more unusual if you weren’t having trouble with it.
We don’t have a definitive one-size-fits-all answer to the problem of coping with this job market. But we are here to help. Let us know how you’re doing — or share your specific job-searching questions — in the chat. We’ll help however we can.
And in the meantime, these resources might provide some additional support:
Free Google Tools for Job Seekers: Explore career options, take a course, earn a certificate, write your resume and cover letters, track your applications, find the latest job listings, and practice interviewing with Google's tools.
Free Tools To Streamline Your Job Search: We've rounded up some of our favorites, including a checklist of what you need to get started, resume and cover letter writing and editing tools, the best ways to find relevant job postings, apps to manage and track your job search, and interview practice tools to help you get hired.
Looking for a Job? Go Back to Basics: Take heart and tune out the noise. Going back to basics will help you get your job search back on track.
Resources for Unemployed Federal Workers: If you're one of the thousands of federal workers or contractors who’ve 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 help you figure out what to do next.
Where To Get Financial Help When You’re Unemployed: It’s scary to have little or no income, but you may be eligible for financial assistance to help you through this difficult time.
Note: Both Alison and Jen are June babies. To celebrate our birthdays and thank you all for your support, we’re dropping the price of The Job Hopper to just $2 a month (or $10 per year!) through June. Subscribe now at this link, and keep that price all year.
News & Noteworthy
Fired After 50: AARP has helpful advice for older federal workers who have lost their jobs, including advice on applying for unemployment, securing health insurance, and starting a job search.
Taking Sick Leave Benefits Away: The U.S. does a dismal job of providing sick leave benefits to workers. Now, even in some of the few states where voters have approved benefits, lawmakers are trying to take them away. Legislators in Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska are trying to cut voter-approved benefits because of the cost.
Certification Finder: A professional certification can boost your resume and help you get hired. CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder is an easy-to-use tool that helps identify certifications in any field. You can get started by entering a keyword to search for the certification name or the name of a certifying organization you may have heard about. You can also enter a keyword for an occupation or industry.
Our Favorite Tools & Tips
SmartAsset Federal Paycheck Calculator: When you get a job offer, it’s helpful to know the bottom line. Use SmartAsset’s free paycheck calculator to get an estimate of what your take-home pay will be.
CareerOneStop Unemployment Benefits Finder: Select your state to learn about eligibility, benefits, and answers to questions you might have about unemployment in your location.
Using Handshake After Graduation: If you're a college grad whose career services office used Handshake, you may be able to continue to access job listings, make alumni and employer connections, and access career resources for alums. Here's more on using Handshake after you graduate. Check with career services if you need access, and also ask about any other resources they may have to help you grow your career or find a job.
Our Partners
Jobsearchdb: When you're looking for a job in a specific industry or career field, using job sites that focus on the types of jobs you're interested in can be a time-saver. The Job Search Database includes links to 1,000+ niche career sites, organized by category. It’s one of the best resources for finding job listings. Jobsearchdb is free.
Remote Rocketship: Remote Rocketship scans the internet for remote job listings, and you’ll find over 100,000 remote roles, many of which aren’t listed on LinkedIn or job boards. The basic version is free. The premium version is $6 per week, with monthly and yearly discounts. To access all the job listings, use promo code JOBHOPPER for a 20% discount.
JobLogr: JobLogr is an AI-powered, mobile-friendly platform you can use to find jobs faster and easier. Sign up for a free trial, and if you're interested in subscribing, there's a special 20% off discounted monthly subscription rate (the regular rate is $20/month) for Job Hopper subscribers (promo code Hop20). The application tracker, AppTrackr, is free forever.
Note: We may receive a small commission if you sign up using these links.