You’re not imagining it; finding a remote job is so much harder right now. Applying to hundreds of jobs results in barely any responses from prospective employers. So what gives?
When the pandemic hit, many companies had no choice but to pivot to virtual work where possible. With that (and a stronger economy), it seemed like there were remote opportunities everywhere.
Fast forward to today, and instead, we’re seeing a huge push for employees to return to the office (RTO) or adopt hybrid work.
Not only that, but mass layoffs have been spreading like the plague across industries.
If you’re currently a job seeker, you’re not the only one struggling. I myself am currently looking for a new remote role and as a highly qualified candidate, this is the toughest market I’ve seen in years.
In this post, we’ll dive deeper into why the job market is such a mess right now.
1. An uncertain economy
The economy is very cyclical, and unfortunately, right now is a challenging period. You’ve probably felt in your wallet with the rising inflation and interest rates. Everything is much more expensive than it was years ago.
What does the job market have to do with the economy? Well, when the economy is unstable, many companies choose to tighten their budgets and reduce costs to prepare.
This means fewer job opportunities due to hiring freezes and possibly layoffs.
Mass layoffs and RTO mean more competition
You’ve probably seen the headlines in the news. Many companies across industries are downsizing their workforce. The biggest hit has been in the tech industry but others are not immune to it.
Mass layoffs have a profound impact on the job market. It leads to an increase in competition for open positions. This sudden influx of job seekers results in a highly competitive job market for the few places still hiring.
Tip: If you work for a bigger company (100+ employees), you can check your state’s WARN Notice to see if your company is planning any layoffs.
Meanwhile, workers who’ve had the luxury of working remotely for the last few years are now faced with RTO orders. Although these ‘white-collar’ jobs have proved they can be done from home, companies prefer having the in-person collaboration that remote work lacks.
These employees are also seeking new opportunities for fully remote roles to avoid the headache of commuting into an office again. Adding to the stiff competition.
Companies can be overly selective
The increase in job seekers means that employers have the pick of the litter.
Hiring teams can be extremely specific about qualifications right now. This means a lengthy interview process with multiple rounds of interviews and assessments to ensure they are choosing the absolute best-fit candidate.
While this sounds fair from a hiring perspective, it can become completely disrespectful to a job seeker. Some companies are looking for the ‘perfect’ candidate who ticks all their boxes. They could end up stringing you along as a top contender with hopes that someone even better comes along.
This narrow focus on qualifications is much tougher on job seekers who may possess valuable skills but don’t meet all the requirements.
Hiring Freezes
Hiring freezes are exactly what they sound like; all new hiring is halted at companies.
With limited investing and tighter budgets, companies will stop all recruitment efforts even if they have open positions. This puts a strain on their current employees to take on more work but helps the company reduce costs
During hiring freezes, job opportunities become scarce and lead to a highly competitive job market.
Hiring freezes are never announced by companies and are usually only known internally. They can occur at any time, even when the company is interviewing potential hires. Unfortunately, those job seekers will unlikely get the role and never be told it’s due to hiring freezes rather than their ability.
2. Your resume needs adjusting
As a job seeker, one of the most critical things for you is having a resume that stands out from the competition.
If you’ve applied to hundreds of jobs and have not received any invites for phone screens or interviews, it’s probably your resume.
You need to ensure your resume shows your value and how it aligns with the job description. Fill it with the relevant keywords to ensure it’s picked up by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
If you fail to align your resume for each job, it’ll just end up in the black hole of job applications. That’s why it’s crucial to update your resume for every job you apply to.
You’ll also want to use a simple resume format that is easy to read and won’t get filtered out by ATS. If you’re in a design field, then something unique may be acceptable.
Want more help with your resume? Check out this post: How To Optimize Your Resume For Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Want the exact template I used to land a new remote job? Use the link below!
3. You’re overqualified
If you’ve been out of a job for a while and are starting to get desperate, you may be willing to take a title cut.
While this may sound like a good idea to land a new job quickly, it could actually be hurting your prospects.
Being overqualified can be a concern for companies since overqualified candidates usually expect higher salaries. Hiring managers also fear that the individual will leave as soon as a better role comes along. Ultimately wasting their time and resources onboarding.
4. You’re underqualified
In contrast, you could be shooting too high for roles.
While I do believe it’s great to apply for jobs even if you don’t meet all of the qualifications. You still need to meet most of them and have a strong resume to stand out. Otherwise, your application will just end up in the abyss.
In the current competitive job market, making a title jump is much harder than it used to be. Companies will likely choose a candidate that better aligns with the role. It’s not impossible, but you’ll need to strongly show your value at interviews.
5. Companies are hiring internally
It’s no surprise but companies often prefer hiring internal candidates for open roles. These individuals are already familiar with the company’s process, making it an easy transition.
As an external job seeker, this creates a misleading situation. Although you see the job opening posted, apply and possibly get an interview. The team has already made up their mind and your interview is just a formality.
Situations like this are disrespectful to external job seekers but happen more often than you realize. The best thing you can do for yourself is to remember that you are still a highly skilled and valuable candidate.
6. You’re applying for the wrong jobs
When searching for a remote job, it can be tempting to apply for any and every opening that comes your way.
However, it’s important to apply for the right jobs that align with your unique skill set and goals. Applying for positions that are not a good fit will be a waste of your time and energy.
To ensure you are applying for relevant jobs, review the job requirements thoroughly to ensure they match your skill set. Consider the type of work you enjoy and the industry you want to be a part of.
By focusing your efforts on applying for positions that align with your goals, you are more likely to find job satisfaction and long-term success.
7. You’re bad at interviewing
Do interviews stress you out? You’re not alone. I, myself, get overwhelmed easily and start rambling out of nervousness if I’m not prepared.
What I’ve found to help me is to practice, practice, practice.
Prepare answers for all the common interview questions and those specific to the industry you’re interviewing for. You’ll want to have examples of situations from prior jobs that highlight your skills and value and use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) method when answering.
Another thing I like to do is create an interview cheat sheet. For remote jobs, you can have it in front of you to quickly glance at if you get stuck but make sure you are not reading from it.
Remember, jobs don’t always go to the best qualified; they go to the candidate who can best show their value.
8. Companies are sending jobs overseas
Companies are always looking for ways to save money. Since remote jobs can be done from anywhere, they can easily be outsourced overseas for cheaper labor.
While this makes sense from a business standpoint, this is bad news for US job seekers. As jobs are moved overseas, the number of available positions decreases, making the job market much more competitive.
With a larger pool of candidates, including international ones, vying for a limited number of positions, it’s more important than ever before to have a strong resume that showcases your unique value.
9. You’re a job hopper
Being perceived as a job hopper can pose significant challenges and implications for job seekers. Employers often view frequent job changes as a lack of commitment or stability, making it harder for job hoppers to secure new employment.
If you’ve jumped jobs a lot, the most important thing for you to do is highlight your achievements and contributions in each position. If you left jobs due to circumstances outside of your control, such as restructuring or layoffs, mention that to the interviewer.
10. You’re not leveraging your network
Some estimate that about 85% of jobs are found through networking. This means that the majority of jobs posted usually go to someone who received an internal referral.
While this may seem unfair to other job seekers, you should be doing the same thing.
By tapping into your network, you can uncover job openings that may not be widely known or publicly advertised. They may also be able to refer you to others in their network that they know are hiring.
Another effective networking strategy is reaching out to individuals in your desired industry or company to inquire about open positions. You can easily find these people using LinkedIn. These contacts may be able to provide insights, recommendations, or even put in a word for you with hiring managers.
How to stand out as a job seeker for remote jobs
As a job seeker, separating yourself from the competition is more important than ever before. Here are things that I do to set myself apart and found to help my job search.
Reach out to the job poster
If you’re applying for jobs on LinkedIn and see who the job poster is, reach out to them! Send a short and concise message explaining your interest and highlighting your applicable value to the job description. Here is an example of what you can say:
Hello [NAME]
Great to meet you! I have applied to the [JOB TITLE] role that you posted and hope you don’t mind me reaching out. I know you’re busy, so I’ll share a few bullets that are relevant to the role the team is looking to fill.
- [HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCE 1]
- [HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCE 2]
- [HIGHLIGHT EXPERIENCE 3]
So please look out for my application and let me know if you’re interested in chatting.
All the best,
[YOUR NAME]
If you don’t receive a response, don’t take it personally. If you do receive one, that’s great! Your name is now in front of someone on the hiring team that you can network with.
Show your value, not your experience
On your resume, it’s easy to list out what you did at prior jobs. But what you need to do is highlight what value you brought to the job. The best way to do this is to add metrics and measurable outcomes in the description under each job description. Also, when describing your value, highlight what ‘you’ did and achieved, not your team.
Ask good questions during the interview
If you google “what questions to ask at the end of the interview?”, you’ll get a bunch of lists of generic questions. While these are a great place to start for inspiration, your questions need to be tailored to the conversation. Ask specific questions related to the job description and things the interviewer mentions. Asking them to elaborate on certain things shows you listen and are very interested in the role.
Always send a thank you note afterwards
This should go without explanation but you’d be surprised by how many job seekers fail to do it. Sending a quick note is an easy way to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the role. While most interviewers won’t respond, it shows your initiative as a candidate. Here is an example of what to send:
Hello [NAME],
Thank you so much for your time [WHEN INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE]. It was great to learn more about [COMPANY NAME] and the [JOB TITLE] role you’re looking to fill. I came away feeling excited about the opportunity and confident that I could hit the ground running.
I’m looking forward to hearing back on the next steps and meeting with other members of the team. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
All the best,
[YOUR NAME]
Final words of wisdom
If landing a new remote job is taking you longer than you expected, don’t beat yourself up over it. The current job market is much more competitive due to the unstable economy causing layoffs and budget cuts everywhere. The key to landing a remote job is to have a strong resume, know your worth, and present yourself confidently during interviews. By following these steps and maintaining patience, you will eventually secure the ideal job!
Are you having a hard time finding a remote job right now? Let me know in the comments below about your job search experience and if you have any additional tips.
