Job hunting is not for the faint of heart these days. Nothing is more demoralizing than sending in a LinkedIn application to a job that already has hundreds of other applicants…but you do it anyway because a hail mary is pretty much all you’ve got left to try.
If you’re coming out of a white collar job situation – whether by your choice or someone else’s – and you feel like it’s really tough to land that great new job, you’re right! And you’re not alone. So what’s going on in the white collar job market right now, and how can you maximize your odds of success?
Here are Five Fast Facts on doing what you gotta’ do:
- 👔 White Collar Woes - By most measures, overall job hiring is still above pre-pandemic levels, and it’s great if you’re in the construction, insurance, or manufacturing sectors. Buuuuut if you’re in the white collar job market, it’s brutal. Banking and finance jobs are 7.4% lower than in early 2020, and software jobs are down 32%. It takes an average of 294 applications and 247 days to land a white collar job now. It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
- 🧓 Aging Out Of The System - A lot of white collar job seekers are seasoned workers, and they also face challenges about their age. Over 60% of workers over age 50 said they’ve experienced or seen age discrimination. Those damn young whippersnappers and their snap judgments!
- ⏳ It’s Temporary - This is leading to a lot of former white collar workers to accept lower paying jobs while trying to get back on their feet. Less of a Paycheck still beats no Paycheck, right?
- 👀 Step Back… - If you’re a white collar worker who has taken that step back, look at it as a stepping stone on the way back. Use it to gain experience and new skills, and network with new circles of people who can help you get back to where you want to be.
- 🤔 …But Carefully - The trick is, of course, that there are no guarantees. Not on wages, not on timelines, and not on opportunities. You can help maximize your odds by taking that step back in your own industry, in an industry where you might have specific knowledge from a side gig or past role, or in a role where the skills directly transfer to your end goal.
🔥Bottom line: It’s a tough, tough market right now, especially for white collar workers. But keep at it - a better day is just around the corner! Until it does, you do what you gotta do to make ends meet.
What’s your experience with white collar job seeking?
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