Beat the Brutal Job Market: 9 Ways to Stay Sane

From ghosting to burnout, experts share how you can land a job in a brutal market.

Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET

As a cooling global economy forces companies to freeze hiring this year, redundant professionals like tech marketer Stephanie Wandell are facing unprecedented recruitment hurdles, with hundreds of applications yielding nothing but silence.

Wandell, who applied to hundreds of roles after losing her position last November, found her traditional job-hunting methods ineffective. “I was a little bit naive going into it, thinking I could do what I always do and depend on applying to as many places as I can,” Wandell shared during the summer. “It became pretty clear that this time is different.”

The current employment landscape feels uniquely challenging. Job seekers across platforms like LinkedIn are frequently sharing stories of exhausting job searches that stretch past the twelve-month mark.

While official headlines often describe the labour market as “solid“, these broad statistics rarely reflect the reality on the ground. Millions of qualified professionals are currently navigating difficult financial and emotional circumstances.

According to Daniel Zhao, lead economist at Glassdoor, the true health of the job market is defined by an individual’s actual ability to secure employment. With businesses pulling back on hiring, candidates face intense competition for fewer vacancies, leaving them struggling to get past automated AI screeners to reach human recruiters.

“Once workers lose jobs, they’re having a tougher time finding new ones,” points out Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation.

To understand why highly qualified candidates are facing prolonged silence and to determine how job seekers can navigate this landscape, we consulted several career specialists. Below is their practical advice, alongside a curated list of free employment and upskilling platforms.

Be selective, not generic
Optimise your CV for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Act quickly on new vacancies
Treat AI as an assistant, not a ghostwriter
Tap into the hidden job market through networking
Acquire standout skills to boost your appeal
Prepare for the reality of employer ghosting
Master your interview preparation
Prioritise your mental wellbeing
Free job search platforms and upskilling resources

1. Be selective, not generic

Distributing hundreds of identical CVs may feel productive, but it is rarely an effective use of your time.

“We find many job seekers in the market haphazardly applying to any and/or all jobs instead of targeting relevant ones,” says Chad Sowash, co-host of the Chad and Cheese Podcast, which analyses recruitment technology and workforce trends.

Instead of submitting bulk applications, focus your efforts on tailoring your CV for the specific roles you genuinely want. As employers become increasingly selective, candidates must adopt a similar level of precision.

“Not all positions and hiring companies will be a fit so don’t try to be all things to all people,” Sowash adds.

Sam DeMase, career expert at ZipRecruiter, advises candidates to identify exactly what they want in terms of workplace culture and daily responsibilities. “Don’t just throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks.”

Focus on the unique value you bring to an employer. “If your resume is very generic and doesn’t speak to your specific superpowers, you’re not going to get as many hits as you would with a hyper-tailored resume,” DeMase explains.

2. Optimise your CV for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

When applying for roles online, your CV is unlikely to be read by a human first. The vast majority of large employers utilise Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort and filter applications automatically.

These systems scan documents for specific keywords and phrases, typically looking for a 70% to 80% match with the job description. If your CV does not meet this threshold, it may be automatically filtered out, regardless of your actual suitability.

To ensure your CV is ATS-friendly, review the job specification carefully to identify key terms and skills. If you possess these qualifications, integrate them naturally into your CV using the same phrasing. However, avoid keyword-stuffing, as the final document must still read naturally to human recruiters.

Platforms like Jobscan and Skillsyncer offer free tools to help test how well your CV aligns with specific job descriptions.

Zhao notes that keyword optimisation is not about “tricking” the system, but rather ensuring that your relevant experience is easily identifiable to the hiring team.

Keep your formatting clean and simple. Avoid complex headers, footers, charts, and tables, which can confuse ATS software and disrupt the scanning process.

3. Act quickly on new vacancies

Set up targeted job alerts so you can submit your application as soon as a suitable role is published. DeMase recommends applying early to prevent your application from being lost in later rounds.

“Unfortunately, these jobs are getting posted and have more than 100 applicants within 48 hours or sooner,” DeMase warns. Having pre-prepared variations of your CV allows you to adapt and apply quickly.

Be aware that a job listing remaining online for several weeks does not guarantee the company is still actively reviewing new applicants.

4. Treat AI as an assistant, not a ghostwriter

Data shows that more than half of job seekers have utilised AI tools to help draft their applications. While generative AI platforms like ChatGPT can accelerate the drafting process, they often produce generic, formulaic content.

“One of the issues I see with job seekers who overly rely on AI is that their application ends up looking like everybody else’s who is using AI as well,” Zhao observes.

To avoid this, use detailed, specific prompts that highlight your unique achievements and professional background. You can ask an AI tool to critique your draft and suggest improvements based on the specific requirements of the role.

“It’s important for people to think about how their resume distinguishes them, how their skill set, even if it’s nontraditional, might give them a different perspective than other people in the candidate pool,” Zhao says.

5. Tap into the hidden job market through networking

Direct professional networking remains one of the most effective ways to secure employment, particularly as many opportunities are never advertised publicly and are instead filled through internal referrals.

If you are unsure where to start, reach out to your existing network, including former colleagues, university alumni, friends, and family. Let them know you are looking and ask if they have connections in your target industries.

“Folks can go quiet after a layoff, because there’s a deep sense of shame, particularly in our society, where so much of our identity is associated with our work and our productivity,” says Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of workforce development non-profit JVS Bay Area. “It’s important to fight through that, tap into your network and let people know you’re looking.”

When reaching out, focus on building genuine professional relationships rather than simply asking for a job. DeMase suggests asking insightful questions, sharing industry perspectives, and offering value where possible. A few personalised, thoughtful messages will always yield better results than mass-produced template emails.

6. Acquire standout skills to boost your appeal

Developing in-demand capabilities, such as data analysis, digital collaboration tools, and AI literacy, can significantly enhance your profile. Today, 76% of employers place greater emphasis on practical, demonstrated skills and experience over traditional educational credentials.

“You can make yourself stand out by indicating the different things you’ve learned on your own and how that could apply to that employer,” Countryman-Quiroz suggests.

Free educational platforms, such as LinkedIn Learning and IBM SkillsBuild, offer accessible pathways to learn new skills and earn industry-recognised certifications. Local colleges also frequently run affordable professional development courses.

If you have experienced a period of unemployment, completing structured training programmes is an excellent way to demonstrate proactivity and fill potential CV gaps.

7. Prepare for the reality of employer ghosting

One of the most frustrating aspects of the modern job search is receiving no feedback after submitting applications or attending interviews. While this can feel personal, it is generally a reflection of internal corporate factors rather than your professional worth.

Research from LinkedIn indicates that nearly 40% of candidates are submitting more applications than in previous years but receiving fewer responses. Recruitment processes are frequently disrupted by sudden budget changes, hiring freezes, or overwhelming application volumes.

A polite follow-up email to the hiring manager is always appropriate and can sometimes prompt a response. However, try not to spend excessive time dwelling on unanswered applications.

Following her own experiences with recruitment silence, Wandell established The Job Ghosting Project, an initiative collecting anonymous accounts from frustrated job seekers. Within a week of launch, the survey received over 500 entries from professionals at all career levels.

“The goal is really just to document these patterns, validate the job seekers and push for accountability in the hiring process,” Wandell explains.

8. Master your interview preparation

Successful interview preparation requires deep research into both the role and the target organisation. You must be ready to explain exactly why you want to work for that specific business.

Conduct thorough research: Study the company’s recent announcements, press releases, social media activity, and industry standing. Understand their core market challenges and current projects.

Utilise the STAR technique: Review the job specification and prepare specific examples from your career that demonstrate those required skills. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and concisely.

Practice aloud: Rehearse your responses verbally rather than just reading them silently. If possible, conduct a mock interview with a trusted colleague or friend to build confidence and refine your delivery.

Prepare thoughtful questions: Having insightful questions ready for the interviewers demonstrates genuine engagement and a proactive mindset.

9. Prioritise your mental wellbeing

Dealing with rejection and silence is naturally challenging. “The job search is a slog and you have to make sure that you’re doing it in a sustainable manner,” Zhao advises. “You can’t just apply to 100 jobs every day because you’ll burn yourself out.”

Establish structured working hours for your job search, take regular breaks, and maintain a strong support network. Connecting with others in similar situations can help reduce the isolation often associated with unemployment.

After joining a support group during a previous career transition, Wandell established her own network, which has since grown to benefit dozens of active participants. “It’s a space for people to vent but also to ask questions, network and brainstorm,” she says.

Free job search platforms and upskilling resources

Below is a curated selection of resources designed to support your job search and professional development efforts.

General job boards

Industry-specific and niche job boards

InHerSight: Career insights and job matching focused on supporting women in the workplace.
Jobs in Logistics: Vacancies within supply chain, logistics, transport, and warehousing.
The Mom Project: A dedicated digital community connecting working mothers with family-friendly employers.
Recruit Military: Recruitment services connecting military veterans and transition service personnel with civilian career opportunities.
Remote Jobs: Curated remote opportunities managed by remote work specialist Rowena Hennigan.
SchoolSpring: A specialised portal for teaching and educational support roles.
Superpath: Dedicated job board for content strategists, copywriters, and digital editors.
Working Nomads: Remote opportunities curated specifically for digital nomads globally.
VC Job Boards: A compiled directory of career opportunities within venture capital firms.

Workforce development non-profits

STRIVE: Offers free skills training, career preparation, and ongoing coaching to support employment success.
NPower: Provides technical training in IT, cloud computing, and cybersecurity alongside potential paid internship opportunities.
Goodwill: Offers skills training, professional development programmes, and direct job placement support.
Year Up United: Focuses on helping young adults build professional IT and business skills through structured training and internships.

Upskilling and training platforms

Coursera: Academic courses, professional certificates, and online degrees from global universities and technology organisations.
Udemy: A broad online marketplace offering professional courses across business, software development, and design.
LinkedIn Learning: Expert-led video courses covering creative, business, and technology subjects.
Skillshare: Creative learning community covering illustration, design, photography, and digital media.
edX: University-level learning resources and structured courses from leading academic institutions.
IBM SkillsBuild: Free access to structured learning pathways and digital badges in areas like cloud computing and AI.
HubSpot Academy: Professional training and certifications in digital marketing, sales, and inbound methodology.
Google Skillshop: Digital training resources focused on Google’s professional tools and platforms.
Microsoft Learn: Interactive learning paths and certification preparation for Microsoft technologies.
freeCodeCamp: Open-source donor-supported curriculum for learning web design and software development.
MIT OpenCourseWare: Free, publicly accessible digital publication of academic course materials from MIT.