Career Briefs: Job Search Agility, Mindset Shifts, and Rethinking Career Paths

It’s mid-June, and for me, this time brings a chance to reflect and realign. The excitement of early summer has softened just enough, and the rhythm has settled into a steady pace. We’ve almost made it through the first half of the year. But now is the time to think about and question: what do we want from the second half?

By now, the year has picked up speed. Resolutions have faded, inboxes have piled up, and the pace of things can feel relentless. But now, there’s a subtle invitation to pause. To look up from your to-do list. To reflect and ask yourself: Is the way I’m moving through the world still aligned with where I want to go?

Now is a powerful midpoint, not just in the calendar year, but in your own journey, both professionally and personally. It’s a chance to recalibrate, to check your internal compass before moving into the second half of the year, not on autopilot, but fully in control of where you want to go.

Maybe you’ve been moving so fast that you haven’t had a chance to pause and reflect. Maybe the daily grind has left you wondering if your work still feels meaningful, or if you need clearer boundaries. Maybe you’re craving space to rethink your direction, your goals, and how your career fits into the bigger picture of your life. Whatever it is, this moment offers a gentle invitation to pause and ask yourself: Is the way I’m investing my time and energy still aligned with what truly matters to me? Is my career moving me toward the future I want to build, or is it time to adjust course?

So here’s your permission slip to reassess. To recommit. To reroute if you need to. It doesn’t require you to have everything figured out. You just need to pay attention and notice what feels true, what feels heavy, and what’s ready to change.

Wherever you are in your career or your life, I hope you take a moment to breathe, reflect, and realign. The rest of the year is still wide open. And you get to decide how you meet it.

Here’s to moving forward with intention. I’m with you all the way.

The Job Market Has Changed and So Should You

The question “Are referred candidates more likely to get hired?” is a common one but recent data analyzing millions of applications challenges the assumptions behind it. While inbound applications overwhelmingly dominate in volume, making up over 93% of applications, the proportion of applications coming from referrals has actually decreased over time.

However, despite their lower volume, referred, internal, and agency candidates demonstrate significantly higher success rates in advancing through the hiring process. Internal candidates are particularly successful, with 42% reaching an interview and 32% of those interviewed receiving an offer. Referred candidates also perform strongly, with 40% moving to an interview and 16% of those interviewed getting an offer. Although overall offer rates have seen a decline across most application sources, inbound applications still constitute the largest share of actual hires due to their sheer volume. This indicates an employer's market, where inbound applications face rigorous scrutiny to identify suitable talent.

Read the full article here: Are referred candidates more likely to get hired?

Job Searching in the Age of AI Requires a New Mindset

Finding a job today requires adaptability and a proactive approach. While the job market isn't collapsing, increased competition, the rise of AI, and some hiring hesitancy are making job searches more challenging. This means job seekers may need to be flexible and resourceful.

There are several strategies for how to improve your job search, and one key to success is staying open to different opportunities. Consider a range of industries and companies, even those outside your initial focus. Be prepared to pivot, potentially exploring entirely new fields. Skill-building is essential. Stay competitive by actively developing your skills. This doesn't necessarily mean pursuing a degree; explore free or low-cost classes, especially in areas like AI. Experiment to see what excites you. If you're committed to a specific field, find ways to stand out. Some employers are becoming more selective, so highlight intangibles like strong communication skills and a personable demeanor.

To navigate uncertainty, adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. Generate multiple career ideas and test them. Discuss your options with connections on LinkedIn or attend industry events to gather information. This approach reduces pressure and broadens your perspective on potential paths to success. Ultimately, stepping back and considering alternatives can be highly beneficial, revealing a wider range of possibilities than a single-minded focus.

Read the full article here: Job search going nowhere? Try this.

Mastering the Art of Salary Negotiation

Effective salary negotiation is a powerful art, often overlooked due to fear, but crucial for significant career earnings and personal well-being. Failing to negotiate even a small initial increase can lead to substantial lifelong losses. A first job largely shapes your career path, so it's vital to negotiate like a pro, not just for advancement but also how workplace well-being, including recovery time and communication practices. Forward-thinking organizations actively design systems that prioritize well-being.

To succeed, begin by understanding your true professional value, leveraging your unique skills and background to confidently push back against any self-doubt. Next, identify an employer's core values and mission to discover areas of negotiation flexibility beyond just salary. This helps align your contributions with their definition of success. Approach the process as a collaboration, not a confrontation, as likability can significantly influence outcomes. Being well-rested and prepared also sharpens your focus, contributing to more thoughtful and patient negotiation. Mastering this vital step helps define your career trajectory and ensures a workplace where you can truly thrive.

Read the full article here: Negotiate Like a Pro: A Physiatrist’s Playbook to Getting Paid.

From Hashtags to Hires

Influencer marketing gains ground as global ad budgets tighten which presents significant opportunities for content creators and related professionals. As businesses shift advertising budgets towards social media, a robust demand is emerging for individuals skilled in authentic content creation and social engagement. This growth also translates into more roles within agencies that specialize in influencer management, spanning areas like account management, strategy, and talent representation.

Professionals across marketing and advertising can find new avenues by adapting their skills to master creator partnerships and social-first strategies. The emphasis on genuine connection and audience trust elevates the value of creativity and digital community understanding. While future developments, including AI-generated content, are anticipated, the immediate outlook points to strong demand for human talent within this dynamic economy. Staying current with these trends offers a clear advantage for career development and new job prospects.

Read the full article here: Influencer Marketing Gains Ground as Global Ad Budgets Tighten.

Discreet Job Searching: Navigating LinkedIn While Employed

For job seekers, exploring new opportunities while still gainfully employed presents a unique challenge. Yet, how to quietly search for your next job on LinkedIn is, in fact, a readily achievable feat, with some strategic discretion. With a few strategic tweaks, LinkedIn can become a powerful tool to help you explore new opportunities without raising any flags.

• Subtle Profile Updates: Avoid sudden, drastic overhauls of your profile. Make gradual changes, starting with less conspicuous sections like skills or older experiences.

• Control Notifications: Turn off notifications for changes to your "Experience" section to prevent LinkedIn from broadcasting updates to your connections, including colleagues.

• Headline Optimization: While maintaining an appearance of loyalty (e.g., using your company's given headline), strategically use keywords to attract recruiters.

• Banner and Posting Prudence: Consider using your company's corporate logo in your banner. Refrain from publicly commenting on job posts or discussing interviews.

• "Open to Work" Setting: If using the "Open to Work" feature, set it to "recruiters only," but be aware that LinkedIn cannot guarantee complete privacy from your current employer.

• Connection Visibility: Adjust your "Connection Visibility" to "Only you" if you're frequently connecting with recruiters, though mutual connections will still be visible.

• Group Participation: Be mindful of your posts in LinkedIn groups, as colleagues might also be members.

The overarching advice is to be deliberate and gradual in your LinkedIn activity to avoid signaling a job search to your current employer while still effectively attracting new opportunities.

Read the full article here: How to quietly search for your next job on LinkedIn.

The Mindset Shift Every New Executive Must Make

Ascending to executive leadership is an exciting professional achievement, offering expanded scope and strategic influence. But to navigate the jump from manager to executive, the transition requires professionals to fundamentally update their approach, moving beyond direct management to inspiring and empowering other leaders. It's an opportunity to embrace a new identity where success is measured not by individual tasks, but by cultivating an environment where high-performing teams thrive.

For those aiming for or currently in executive roles, three vital shifts enhance impact. First, transform from an expert problem-solver to a strategic coach, guiding managers to build independent judgment. Second, evolve from personal execution to driving results through others, valuing strategic conversations and relationship-building as core to productivity. Finally, implement scalable systems to manage information flow, setting clear priorities and delegation guidelines. Embracing these positive changes unlocks remarkable new levels of influence and career satisfaction.

Read the full article here: Navigate the Jump from Manager to Executive.

Landing Your Next Job: Essential Resume Guidelines for Job Seekers

Several common resume mistakes often prevent job seekers from securing interviews, and inevitably a job. A resume typically navigates three crucial stages, ATS, recruiter review, and HR evaluation, before ever reaching a hiring manager. And to succeed, candidates must strategically tailor their resumes to navigate these stages.

A primary misstep is failing to use the right keywords. ATS software scans resumes for terms from the job description. Customizing a resume to match the job's language is non-negotiable. If a specific job description isn't available, analyze similar listings for common phrases. Recruiters also seek skills and achievements detailed in the job posting, making keyword alignment crucial. Another pitfall is making the resume too self-focused. Recruiters prioritize how a candidate fulfills the role's needs, not personal aspirations. Avoid the common phrase you should never put on your resume if you want to land your dream job — like “hard-working team player.” Instead, lead with specific achievements or credentials, such as “Award-winning marketer” or “Qualified ACCA accountant.” Readability and conciseness are paramount. Resumes are reviewed quickly, so a clean layout with plain fonts is essential. Include only information pertinent to the employer's decision, focusing on certifications, accreditations, achievements, and relevant experience. 

Overall, a resume should be no longer than two pages and include contact information at the top. Its purpose is to market the candidate, helping employers easily envision them in the role.

Read the full article here: The common phrase you should never put on your CV if you want to land your dream job.