"If the job market feels harder than it should right now, you're not imagining it. Recent analysis from LinkedIn shows that while more than half of professionals (56%) plan to job hunt in 2026, but 76% don't feel prepared. Hiring hasn't stopped, but it has slowed, narrowed, and become more selective. When fewer open roles, higher expectations, and longer decision cycles are now the norm, broad job searches are not the answer, but focusing on targeted job searches."
"In that kind of market, the instinct for many job seekers is to do more: apply to more roles, broaden their resume, and keep options open. Unfortunately, that strategy often backfires. You are probably an extremely capable professional who is doing "all the right things" and still not getting traction. In my work as a career coach, however, the issue is rarely a lack of skills. More often, it's a lack of focus."
More than half of professionals plan to job hunt while many feel unprepared. Hiring has slowed, narrowed, and become more selective, with fewer open roles, higher expectations, and longer decision cycles. Employers are prioritizing experienced talent and candidates who can deliver immediate impact; entry-level and middle-management hiring are contracting. Broad applications and generalized resumes often backfire because ambiguity in positioning makes decision-makers less able to choose. Clear, targeted job searches, tailored resumes, and focused positioning increase chances by signaling fit and reducing ambiguity for hiring teams.
Read at Forbes
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