For six months, I’ve been talking about the challenge of this job market, especially for people just entering the professional workforce.
Let me be clear: It’s tough… but not 2009 tough. Or 2001 tough. Or even 1991 tough.*
Unemployment remains relatively low. Companies are hiring. Just not in droves.
You might need to take something adjacent to what you hoped for. Or widen your geographic reach. It may take longer, with more networking and more outreach. And when an offer comes, you won’t have much leverage.
But there are jobs to be had.
It’s easy to get discouraged—especially with AI sludge gumming up the hiring process (and people like me commenting on the sluggish job market). But don’t buy into the narrative that it’s impossible or that the hiring world is conspiring against you.
Those who adopt a victim mindset rarely win.
Some of the best careers are forged in difficult times, when grit and hustle are at a premium. That can become part of your identity.
You got this.
* Credit to Ron Hetrick for offering perspective on the state of this job market relative to others and sharing his thoughts on the implications. He and I had a conversation about this last week, and it made me wonder if I hadn’t contributed to the problem of people feeling defeated. If you don’t follow Ron, you should.
