When the market is competitive, endlessly scrolling job boards and mass-applying can feel productive — but often leads nowhere.
Worse, it can drain your confidence.
LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher suggests a better approach:
1. Get specific.
Define your target role, industry, and location. Then make sure your profile reflects the skills employers are actually looking for — including AI literacy.
2. Build relationships before you need them.
Engage with people in your target industry. Ask for introductions. Reach out to second-degree connections. And when you connect, ask thoughtful questions — not for a job.
3. Show impact, not responsibilities.
“I managed a team” tells only part of the story. What changed because you managed that team? Use measurable outcomes wherever possible.
4. Invest in human skills.
AI skills matter. So do communication, leadership, judgment and collaboration. The strongest candidates will increasingly combine both.
5. Protect your energy.
Job searching for nine hours a day isn't necessarily more effective. Set boundaries, keep learning and make networking a sustainable habit.
6. Redefine what success looks like.
The next step doesn't have to be your dream job. A contract, part-time role or unexpected opportunity can build skills, relationships and momentum.
The biggest shift?
Stop measuring your job search by the number of applications you submit. Start measuring it by the quality of the opportunities and relationships you're creating.
Less doomjobbing. More deliberate career building.