Get Hired: Tips for Navigating the Job Market in 2025

Whether you’ve lost a job, you’re looking for the first time, or you’re just getting back into the workforce, you’re not alone. Since April 2023, unemployment has risen from 3.4% to 4.2%, leaving over seven million Americans looking for work.

Of course, that also means you’ve got some competition, which may make the job hunt seem daunting. Add in new technologies and the rise of remote work, and you may be feeling like you don’t know how to find a job anymore.

Luckily, the fundamentals of finding a job haven’t changed much. Figure out what you have to offer that sets you apart. Taking inventory of your unique education, training, skills, experience and qualities will help you feel more confident and figure out what type of job you want. Once you do that, follow these steps to find and land your next job.

1. Create or dust off your resume.

Whether you’re creating your very first resume, writing one for the first time in years, or you’re just fine-tuning a previous version, making a resume stand out is both an art and a science. You want the hiring software to spot it, but you also want it to look clean and organized when a person eventually looks at it.

Typically, a resume has the following components:

• Name and contact info
• Professional objective
• Work history – List not just your job duties, but your achievements. Quantify them when possible.
• Additional skills, certifications and honors
• Education – Include all degrees and majors. You don’t need to list your graduation year(s)

There are a lot of good sources for free resume and cover letter help. Resume.com, Kickresume.com and ResumeGenius.com are three sites that help you build a resume. They provide templates as well as examples for people in specific careers. Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway can help you edit your resume.

An AI tool like ChatGPT can help you outline your resume and tailor it to your line of work. Try feeding it information about your work history and a few job descriptions for positions you’re interested in, and ask for a resume outline. Just make sure you’re writing it in your own words and double-checking factual information. Resumes written completely by AI can include errors and lack a personal touch, and may end up automatically for lack of authenticity and customization as well as ethical concerns.

If you already have a resume, update it with your most recent job experience and consider deleting some of your earlier jobs, especially if they have little relevance to your current career and/or if they’re more than a couple of decades old. Consider including a personal brand statement on your resume and try to use job posting keywords to describe your skills and work experience.

Unless you’re applying for jobs in vastly different fields, you’ll probably need one basic resume. However, it’s smart to tweak your resume for each job application. (Save variations of your resume with different titles, so you can easily grab one that fits the job opening.) Try to incorporate terms in your resume that are used in the job posting, making it as specific to the job title as possible. This will help your resume get selected by the applicant tracking systems and databases that most employers use.

Cover letters can be just as important as resumes when it comes to getting an interview. These should be more tailored for the job to which you’re applying. Use your cover letters to highlight how your skills and experience fit the job description and to dive deeper into particular achievements or projects that align with the job qualifications. Keep it simple and to the point, aiming for three to four short paragraphs.

2. Know where to look for a job.

Once your resume and cover letter are ready to go, it’s time to start applying. If you have specific companies in mind where you’d like to work, you can typically find open positions and apply for them on individual company websites. But you’ll find even more opportunities by exploring the job search sites, niche job boards, temp agencies, and even career fairs below.

Job search sites:

• CareerBuilder
• LinkedIn (Learn how to make your LinkedIn page stand out!)
• Monster
• FlexJobs
• Glassdoor
• Indeed
• ZipRecruiter

Look at niche job boards as well. There are probably sites geared to your line of work, and your city may also have location-specific job boards. Here are some examples:

• Remote work: FlexJobs, We Work Remotely, co, Remote OK 
• Tech and startups: Wellfound, Rocketships.io
• Restaurants and hospitality: Poached
• Legal: GoInHouse
• Media and creative: Mediabistro, Behance, Dribble
• Nonprofit: Idealist, JobScoop
• Education: HigherEdJobs
• Sales: RepVue

Don’t rule out looking at temporary or temp-to-hire jobs. Some companies may not be in a position to hire “permanent” employees right now. A temporary job can help you get in the door, prove your value to the company and get hired when the company is able to do so. If you’re open to temp work, look up temp agencies in your area to find open positions

Career Fairs:

Colleges, industry associations and individual companies are just some of the organizations that use career fairs to attract, screen and potentially employ a lot of people through one event.

The virtual version of these fairs began a few years ago with the same goal but a convenient location change—hiring companies and job seekers meet online instead of in a student union or convention center. Depending on where you live, career fairs in your area may be virtual, in-person, or a mix of both.

For job seekers, career fairs offer a convenient way to connect with multiple hiring companies in one day. Search online for “career fairs near me.” Many are hosted by event vendors or recruiting firms and feature multiple employers in one fair. Individual companies and trade associations also host their own events and typically advertise them on their websites.

Once you find a career fair to attend, follow these steps:

1. Complete the registration. This might include uploading your resume, so make sure it stands out. Some events even request a picture of you. Pick a professional-looking photo and avoid cutesy ones with your significant other or dog.
2. Review your confirmation email. You’ll receive an email confirming your registration, which typically includes instructions for attending the event. If it’s in-person, this email will likely include directions to the event venue and parking information. If it’s virtual, it should explain how to make sure your device works with the event’s technology.
3. Dress professionally. You should wear professional attire, whether the job fair is virtual or in-person. Dress like you would for your first day on the job.
4. Sell yourself. When you get to the career fair, start selling yourself just like you would in an interview, and be sure to ask questions about the company and its open positions to show that you’re truly interested in finding a good fit. If things go well, an employer could request an interview on the spot.

3. Ask your network for help.

Your network, both personal and professional, is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal during the job hunt. Here are some ways to leverage it:

• Update your information on LinkedIn and make a post letting your network know what kind of job you’re looking for and why you’re qualified.
• Create or update any industry-specific profiles. Many industries have professional organizations and associations for workers within those industries. Consider joining one if you haven’t already and utilize those networks in your job search.
• Your college alumni association likely has some networking resources.
• Look for people in your network who already have the jobs you want, and find out what helped them get there.

While checking in with colleagues, be sure to use tact if you ask for help on job leads. Many may be in the same boat as you employment-wise and worried about getting another job themselves. When you check in, be sure you actually “check in.” Find out how you can be of help to them. The whole idea of networking is to help one another.

How you go about your job search will depend largely on what kind of work you do. If your whole industry has been impacted by layoffs, for example, consider whether your skills and experience can apply to any other industries. See if any former colleagues have made a career change and consider looking for work in those industries as well.

Of course, some types of work will always be necessary. That’s where showing that you’re able to pick up new skills and learn new technologies will benefit you. It shows potential employers that you’re not just willing, but eager, to evolve along with your industry. You’ll be demonstrating that you have a positive, “can do” attitude that will make you an asset to their company.

For more networking tips, read our article, How to Network Online Like a Pro.

4. Invest time and energy in continuing your education and developing new technical skills.

Maintaining a lifelong focus on developing new skills is an essential part of growing in your career. In today’s technology-driven workplaces, for example, many businesses, regardless of sector, now rely heavily on employees who possess technical skills ranging from basic computer literacy to familiarity with database management, advanced programming fluency and beyond. Regardless of your career field, easily accessible online resources may help you enhance existing skills or develop the knowledge your employer needs to thrive in the current business climate.

Kickresume.com has a list of top sites for online learning, where you can brush up on coding, website design, digital marketing and more. If becoming more fluent in Spanish, Mandarin or another language would help your career, RosettaStone.com, Duolingo.com and other sites offer online language learning.

Look for professional organizations specific to your industry that offer trainings and certifications as well. There are certification programs in everything from accounting and financial planning to project management to sales. For example, you can:

• Develop a knowledge of basic computer science concepts with Harvard University’s free video lectures.
• Access a wide range of online marketing courses from a variety of well-known universities through EdX.
• Learn graphic design skills through Alison, one of the world’s largest free learning platforms.
• Unlock a wide range of IT-focused courses including database management, mobile app development and more through Microsoft’s virtual training academy.

Don’t forget your managerial skills. If you were promoted to a supervisory position by your last employer, but never really had any training in managing and motivating people, now’s the time to work on those skills. If you don’t want to spend the money for an online class, find a few good books. Typically, ebooks are less expensive than paperbacks or hardbacks. Audible.com has a 30-day free trial if you prefer to listen to your books while you’re working out, gardening or doing laundry.

One of the most effective ways to hone in on the latest trends and best practices in your industry is through customizing your social media news feeds to push relevant articles, blogs and videos your way on a daily basis.

Establish an account on X (formerly Twitter), Meta (formerly Facebook) and Instagram, and then tailor your preferences to ensure fresh content related to your industry appears in your news feed each day.

Find an article you want to mark and read for later? Simply save it to your email, take a screenshot on your mobile device or use an app like Pocket to tuck it away for later viewing.

You can also subscribe to a variety of professional journals tailored to your career field and professional interests.

5. Learn to sell yourself.

When you land an interview, take a minute to congratulate yourself! Whether you’re doing a virtual or in-person interview, the normal job interview advice still applies. Here are some tips:

• Dress like the job is already yours. This is not the time for loungewear, even if the interview is virtual. Dressing in appropriate attire head-to-toe (including shoes) will help you feel more professional and confident.
• Do your research. Show your interest in hiring companies by looking at their websites, social media and recent news coverage. Your research can provide you with an easy ice-breaker and help you ask thoughtful questions.
• Review your qualifications. Have your elevator speech ready so that you can succinctly explain why you’re a great fit for the company. Reflect on your work history and pick out some anecdotes that show you’re qualified for the role.

Anytime you’re talking to an interviewer, sit up straight, make eye contact and project confidence.

Virtual Interviews

Given the rise of virtual events and remote work, the interview may very well be on a videoconferencing app like FaceTime, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. Make sure you have it downloaded on your computer or phone and have allowed for plenty of time to test it out. Also be sure to test your Wi-Fi connection.

If you need to use your phone, make sure you can place it somewhere secure so you don’t have to hold it. If you can, practice with a friend or family member using the device, videoconferencing service, and room you plan on using for the interview so you can check the video and audio quality in advance.

Here are some tips for the call:

• Make sure you won’t be bothered by kids, animals or whomever is at home. Arrange for adult supervision for your children if they need it. Close the windows to prevent outside noises from distracting you. Unless you’re using your phone for the interview, turn it off and put it away. If you’re doing the interview on your phone, make sure you put it in “Do Not Disturb” or whatever mode you need in order to keep it from making noise if you get an incoming call or message. Shut the door and put a sign on it so that no one interrupts you.
• Keep the area around your computer free of clutter other than a pen, notebook or pad, and a copy of your resume and cover letter. Have any correspondence you’ve received from the prospective employer available for reference as well. Take a look at the area around and behind you. Are there any photos, posters or artwork on the walls that could be considered inappropriate or controversial? Take it down or cover it up.
• Be ready early and be sure to have the log-in information and code. Make sure you’re clear on which one of you is initiating the call. (And what time zone it’s in! Never assume the HR department is local.)
• Remember to look at the webcam on your device and not just the screen. That’s the best way to engage directly and appear to be making eye contact.

6.  Don’t forget to say thanks.

Good manners always apply. Send everyone you meet at interviews and career fairs a thank-you email that reiterates your appreciation for their time along with your interest and qualifications.

Good luck, and stay positive!