Your aunt’s job search advice is outdated
Here’s what hiring looks like now and what to do instead
Your aunt. Your uncle. That friend who’s been at the same company for five years?
They all mean well, but a lot of the job search advice being handed out right now is… outdated.
Because hiring in 2026 does not work the way it did even two or three years ago.
And if you’ve been applying, interviewing or refreshing LinkedIn wondering “is it just me?”, it’s not.
I’ve seen what this looks like from the inside. And I want to tell you what’s actually happening, without the guilt or the “just try harder” energy.
Here’s what’s actually happening when a role opens right now
A job goes live. The application count jumps fast. It looks brutal.
But that number doesn’t mean what it feels like.
From the inside, a big chunk of those applications never even make it past the first screen.
Wrong location. No work authorization. No relevant experience. Mass applications sent to anything with a decent salary because bills don’t wait.
So when you see “100+ applicants” on Linkedin, it’s not 100 equally competitive people going head-to-head with you.
At the same time, the pool is crowded and uneven. People with more experience applying below their level. People applying fast because waiting isn’t an option.
That pressure is why processes drag, roles get paused and three interview rounds suddenly turn into five.
Not because you did something wrong. Because the system is under strain.
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What does this mean for you, right now?
I know it feels personal, but it isn’t.
Most of what’s happening right now has very little to do with your capability.
You can apply, wait, hear nothing… and still be doing things right.
That’s why advice like “try harder” or “maybe your CV isn’t strong” misses the point.
If this feels harder than it used to, it’s because it is.
Annoying? Absolutely. Useful to know? 100%.
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So what actually helps:
Not doing more. Doing things more intentionally.
1. Be faster than you think you need to be
Right now, speed matters more than volume.
Apply early. Reply to recruiters the same day when you can.
If you’re invited to a first call, try to take it before “sometime next week” turns into “role on hold.”
This isn’t about being desperate. It’s about momentum. And momentum gets noticed.
2. Specific beats perfect every time
Generic CVs disappear fast.
Not because they’re bad, but because they don’t give the hiring team a clear reason to remember you.
The ones that move forward are clear about why this role, this team, this moment makes sense.
You don’t need to be perfect for the job or rewrite your whole CV every time. But you do need to be understandable.
If someone can’t quickly explain why you make sense for the role, they won’t fight for you.
3. Potential alone isn’t carrying as much weight right now
This one is uncomfortable, but important.
In tighter markets, teams lean toward lower risk.
That means they often lean toward candidates who feel easier to plug in.
That doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you have to help people see how your experience already translates.
Don’t just list responsibilities. Show outcomes, decisions you made, things you owned.
Teams want to see how you’ve already solved a version of their problem, not just that you could.
4. Don’t read the market as a reflection of your worth
You can be qualified, prepared, thoughtful, and still not get the role.
You can do everything “right” and still be affected by timing, budget freezes, internal candidates or last-minute changes.
I’ve seen offers pulled after final rounds. I’ve seen roles closed overnight.
That doesn’t erase your capability. Not even a little.
5. Use the system as it is, not as you wish it were
Yes, it’s competitive. Yes, expectations are higher. Yes, sometimes timing and luck play a role.
That doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Clarity beats volume and strategy beats spiraling.
Focus on being easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to advocate for.
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Big sister note
If job searching right now has you thinking, “Is it me?”, “It shouldn’t be this hard”, “Am I missing something?”
You’re not. And you’re not.
This market is noisy, crowded and a little unhinged.
That doesn’t mean you need to work yourself into the ground or spiral after every rejection.
What actually helps is learning how the system works right now and playing accordingly.
With clarity and with intention.
You’re not failing the process. The process is just… a lot.
So yes. We laugh. We cry. Then we adapt.
Because spiraling never got anyone hired. And no, refreshing LinkedIn every 10 minutes does not count as strategy.
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And because a lot of this is easier to talk through one-to-one, I’m opening a few free 30-minute chats as a small way to give back.
If you want to sense-check an application, an interview or just say something out loud that’s been sitting in your head, just reply to this email or message me on Substack. I read every one. ✨