What The Recent Hiring Surge Means And Ways Job Hunters Can Make Progress

After economists spent months predicting a slowdown in the American labor market, the Labor Department recently announced an unexpected hiring surge in January. Employment rose by 517,000, while unemployment dipped to historically low rates.

This recent hiring surge complicates the Federal Reserve’s efforts to slow inflation. One concern is that the labor demand may outgrow the supply of available talent. Another problem is that wage rates remain high, which increases the likelihood of higher inflation to compensate.

Ironically, January and February are the best months for job seekers. For many organizations, the first two months of the year mark the start of the fiscal year. When hiring budgets are prepared, corporations are more likely to engage quickly. Other factors like returning from December’s end-of-year performance bonuses and vacations make the beginning of the year a lucrative time for hiring managers and job seekers alike.

What the Hiring Surge Means for Job Seekers

Given the recent hiring surge and companies preparing to slow down hiring, what can job seekers expect this year? If you’re on the job hunt or considering whether to start, here’s what to expect and how to keep making progress:

Hiring Managers Might Be More Hesitant

Because of the recent hiring surge, companies will be more eager to keep their costs down. Industries are still dealing with a white-collar recession and mass layoffs, so the competition for remaining jobs will be fierce. As of late last year, unemployed workers were reported to have been on the hunt for as long as six months.

Negotiating your salary might not be as promising as before January’s hiring surge. Leaders are busy onboarding recent hires and navigating wage demands among current employees. And companies are more likely to be selective when sifting through application pools.

Complicated Processes Slowing Down the Job Search

Job hunting, of course, was always challenging. The process requires countless back-and-forth conversations, even before candidates land an interview. Job descriptions are dense with requirements, with little transparency around salary. In addition, applicant tracking systems complicate the job search process when applicants must beat out, go bypass, automated systems just for consideration.

Reluctant hiring managers may also make the process more complicated. For example, workers on the hunt for a new job might have to deal with last-minute cancellations, lowball offers, or having to participate in extra rounds of interviews. In addition, some workers report discussions and negotiations taking over 3-6 months before getting an offer.

Delays are frustrating because many workers are trying to look for jobs while still working for their current employers.

How Job Seekers Can Make Still Make Progress

Though job seeking this year may seem more daunting than usual, there is a silver lining for career hopefuls. Hiring may slow after the January surge, signaling a slowdown for job hunters. However, taking more time to find the best employment will allow you to reconfigure your approach and determine your career goals, allowing you to take a more authentic approach to your search, allowing for greater fulfillment in the end.

Create a Schedule for Job Hunting

Creating a schedule is a no-brainer. But job-seeking can feel like another full-time job. How much time do you spend just waiting to hear back from recruiters? How much time do you spend looking through job boards or LinkedIn?

In addition, fear and disappointment are significant contributors to procrastination. It’s natural to want to avoid uncomfortable tasks, but avoidance can eat up more time than you think in the job search process.

Break down the job hunt step-by-step, and allot certain hours toward each. If you’re building out a daily schedule, you might spend the same hour each day on networking. Then, set goals for yourself around how many people to connect with weekly.

Block off time to prepare job materials and devote time to research companies and prepare for interviews.

The important thing is committing to a schedule, so your job search is organized and easier to navigate. The other bonus is feeling like you’ve made progress, regardless of the outcome.

If you’re not sure where to start, look into investing into a resume writer or career coach to help take some tasks off your plate, keep you accountable, and help set you up for success in your search.

Take More Time Before Applying to Job Listings

It’s tempting to find job listings and fire off resumes and applications; mass-applying might increase your chances of hearing back from a recruiter. But it doesn’t necessarily help your chances of finding the right fit or being prepared to demonstrate your best qualities as a candidate to hiring managers.

A hiring slowdown is a perfect time for job seekers to take their time before binge-applying to job listings. Take this time to:

• Look for alternate ways other than common job boards to find companies that are in growth mode and are hiring for roles you want. What other professional outlets post job listings, like SHRM or social media platforms that are off the beaten path? What does your interest in certain job postings reveal about yourself as a candidate for those companies? Doing an audit at the beginning of your search will help set you on one clear path forward.
• Once you’ve determined a path forward, set to work on updating your materials, your resume and LinkedIn profile. Collect and highlight keywords, results, and achievements that highlight you as a perfect fit in relation to the path you want to go down.
• Conduct your own “background checks” on the organizations. Who holds leadership positions? What’s their LinkedIn profile say about their experiences? Does this organization have a high turnover, and if so, why? What are their values? What are the goods and services of this organization? What are some standard practices? What can you learn about their daily operations before visiting the office?
• Start connecting with people at the organization and learning first hand about their experiences. A job posting and reviews on CareerBuilder can only tell you so much. When you start connecting and having conversations with people who work at your dream companies, you can learn first hand about their culture and potential opportunities. Utilize LinkedIn to expand your network and build genuine connections.

You want the job just as much as the hundreds of other candidates vying for the position. But at the end of the day, you want to work for a company you can see fulfilling your career goals, and you want to stand out from the stack of other resumes. And you definitely don’t want to be back on the job hunt a year or two from now. Take the time to be intentional about your job search this time around.

Optimize Your Job Search Materials

Take this time also to revamp your professional brand and networking strategies. In the digital age, employers visit your profiles and see if you stand out as an industry leader. Suppose a slowdown in hiring occurs after the recent surge. In that case, you will have time to build or rebuild your LinkedIn presence to make a lasting impression.