026. From a setback to a comeback: Tips for job searching in a terrible job market

A few weeks ago, I was invited to be a speaker for a networking event hosted by Tech Ladies. The host, Caro Griffin, gave me a heads up that a lot of folks in attendance are actively job searching – and indeed, when we kicked off the fireside chat, we asked who in the room was looking for a job, and just about every hand went up.?

I’d planned on giving some real talk career advice anyway, but seeing all those raised hands – and the surprised murmur of the room – I resolved to get even more real, as it was clearly a perfect opportunity for? a group working session. Afterwards, I was swarmed by attendees who expressed gratitude for the session: “You have a way of delivering hard truths in an accessible way.” “The advice was so on point, it really resonated with me but I wouldn’t have come up with it myself.” “You gave me a lot to think about.”??

Given that right now, so many people beyond that room are actively searching, I thought I would share a few excerpts. Read on for:?

1. Job search strategies that are actually helpful?
2. How to make networking less intimidating?
3. Reflection prompts for education and self-investment.?

Caro (Host): Being part of the tech industry has meant a lot of uncertainty in these last few years. There have obviously been so many layoffs, resulting in an intimidating job market, but also budget cuts and less money for professional development. There’s an inclination to lie low, get through times like these, and put your career goals on hold. But is that what you really have to do? We don’t think so.

Jennifer Kim is here to talk about career strategy and job search advice during tough times. How can you still invest in your career even when options feel limited? I’m hoping Jen will enlighten us!?

Let’s get started: The tech industry has seen a lot of upheaval in recent years. How has the job market changed? What strategies still work for those looking for a new role??

Jen: The thing that attracted a lot of us to the tech industry is the shared value of idealism. The potential for growth! Mission! Work that matters! These are the factors that serve as very effective recruiting strategies for companies to draw in talent. And certainly, these values make the good times very good.?

But idealism can obfuscate the reality, which is that ultimately, this is all about money. The goal of business, the raison d’etre, is to make money. Tech, especially startups, are appealing because of the potential for a business to grow exponentially – unreasonably fast. Which is exciting, but at the end of the day, it’s still about the bottom line, it’s just not as “cool” to talk about compared to building/mission/impact.?

That’s the reality to be anchored during times like these. With funding less free-flowing and more scrutiny towards growth expectations, budgets and spend – it’s time to get down to brass tacks and simply focus on delivering value.

I say all of this because being aware of the market conditions is just part of a smart job search strategy. Using the same tactics and pitches from 2021 job search won’t work in 2024. Employers will be less responsive to your impassioned pleas about your potential and dedication to mission. It's not because they’re heartless corporate monsters – hiring managers and recruiters are people too! They’re simply responding to 1) the fact they’re seeing so much more volume of candidates, so they can afford to focus on "proof" over potential and passion, and 2) pressure from their own bosses to focus on limiting costs and maximizing profitability.?

“So what strategies really work?” – focus on delivering value, and make sure your “marketing” message is a match for what the market is looking for. It’s about being able to talk about yourself from a very practical place, of being able to show how your role can add value to the business, whether you’re in sales, engineering, or operations. Connect the dots to how hiring you will lead to value for the business. Like really spell it out, don’t expect the company to guess at them. In the boom times, you can get away with not doing this, or not learning how to speak the language of business. You could have shown your passion/potential, throw in some luck, and a company in the mindset of ‘we need warm bodies in here, now’ would have been willing to take a chance. But that’s not how it works right now.?

Some folks may resist that – “Oh gosh, that just feels so transactional.” I get it. You can still be the most idealistic, mission-driven person with high hopes for the tech industry, that’s fine. The boom times will come around again, as well as the possibilities that arise from times of abundance. But that’s not where we are today, and the more quickly you accept that reality, the more you’re likely to be able to survive this down-period to still be around for the up.

Caro: Networking is a topic that comes up a lot in career advice. And indeed, your network is everything – a source for job referrals, but speaking opportunities, side gigs, etc. But networking can also be intimidating and time consuming. Do you have any pro tips for networking?

Jen: Ok, this is something I’ve thought a lot about – and have written about [link] – because I used to find networking very intimidating. Not anymore – Yes, it gets better!!

Raise your hand if you similarly feel awkward, or intimidated by the idea of networking. [Most hands go up] OK, this is a great place to start, and I’d love to share what worked for me.?

For everyone who finds networking awkward first, I offer a reframe. I’m a big believer in that most of our “weaknesses” can be traced to overused strengths. I used to say, “I’m so bad at networking” but at some point, I got sick of that self-imposed narrative and chose a different one: Maybe I feel like I’m “a bad networker” because I’m a thoughtful person who really values deep, authentic exchanges. But casual networking is optimized for breadth over depth, which feels unnatural. Maybe similarly, you need to give yourself some grace, recognize this dynamic, and focus your time on your existing connections (and connections of connections) rather than random strangers.

Another big reframe about networking is that you're building relationships in a game of “give and take.” It's easy to approach networking in a very transactional way. I don’t blame people, especially in tough times like this, being very focused on the “take,” i.e. “Who can give me a job right now?” But this isn't the path to success. People can tell when they're in a conversation with someone who is only listening for “What can you do for me?”?

Networking is most effective when you can focus on the give and take. Personally, I choose to see it as an opportunity to look for ways I can do small favors. What does this person need? What can I help provide that might not cost me much? Maybe an introduction, or even a small tip or perspective/feedback. By focusing on what you can give, you continue to think about the value that you’re bringing to the table – just like we talked about earlier. Also, these are seeds you’re planting, and you never know which of these seeds may bloom, months, maybe years from now, to become opportunities for you. Even now, I am constantly getting Linkedin messages from folks I met at events years back, reaching out now because they want their startup to partner with Workflow!?

One last tip about networking – When you’re actively job searching, there’s a tendency for many people to feel intensely vulnerable. I get it! Having to admit “I need a job” can bring up a lot of fear and shame. This doesn’t actually make sense – being jobless should mean just that, that you are not currently employed. But in our society, there’s a lot of stigma and vulnerability in “needing” a job.?

That’s why a lot of people in job search mode will think of networking as having to go very outward – “I have to talk to as many people as possible! Anyone who will talk to me! I just need to catch a break!” It’s an understandable instinct, but it can lead to a lot of scrambling.?

The most effective networking will actually start by looking inward – which is often the last thing you want to do when you’re feeling vulnerable! But this is why you need to re-focus on networking as relationship building, and the reality is that the people who are most likely to be helpful are those who already know you.?

Once again I recommend checking out this post from my newsletter, “Networking advice for people who hate networking” [link] – I wrote it because I used to be one! But networking doesn't have to be a drag, as long as you approach it from the right mindset.?

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Caro: With so many of us actively looking, or unhappy in our current roles, we may be considering a career change, or taking advantage of this slow time in the market to learn new skills or pivot entirely to a new field. When is more education – like a programming bootcamp – a good investment? And how can you make sure it pays off?

An education should be an investment, not an escape.

With an investment you’re risking something – your time or money – and it could pay off or it could fail. This is why a practical perspective is so important. To be a good investment, you should be confident that the expected return is worth it given the uncertainty.? I've seen so many people pursue more education, certifications, career pivots, etc. from a purely emotional place, not having thought through the cost-benefit analysis.?

Given this, the best way to invest in yourself is to identify your true strengths and double-down on them. This means getting really honest with yourself – not chasing what looks good to appease your ego or your parents. I’ll give an example – when I was a kid, I was constantly writing – little fiction stories, in my journals – and now as an adult, writing is one of my professional competitive advantages. Doubling down would mean looking for ways to go more “in” on it – whether it’s enrolling in a writing program, investing in a writing community, or picking up writing gigs – but making a drastic career switch by becoming a yoga teacher or a personal trainer would make no sense, because I would get outcompeted by people who were more naturally drawn to those things (but it would be just fine to pursue these activities as hobbies!)

Now’s the time to get really intentional. In addition to thinking about your skill set and value-exchange in the business context, think about ways to play to your natural strengths. Here’s a list of questions you can ask yourself – take yourself on a nice cafe date with a notebook or a friend, and walk through the following and mine your answers for clues:??

• When you were a kid, what activities did you most like doing? Make a list. (e.g. Legos, reading, wrestling in mud, making as much trouble as possible – all valid answers!)?
• What kind of activities do you find yourself in flow – getting so absorbed and engaged in hyper- presence, that time seems to melt away??
• What kind of positive feedback have you received? Any patterns to them? In what ways have you stood out from your peers???
• What kind of things do you find most gratifying? The type of things when you put effort in and get rewarded you find most satisfying / feel proud of??

And now think about how you can apply this in a business context. Where are these skills and traits valuable and in demand? Pro tip, this is also where networking could come in, to gather more perspective and advice.?

Caro: Any other advice do you have for growing your career and skills??

Jen: Tech is an exciting industry to be a part of. It’s also growing – taking over the world, really – but we don’t know in what ways and how exactly things will shake out. And given that women still continue to be underrepresented in many ways, these conversations are so important to try to counterbalance the systemic inequities that exist to limit opportunities for talented people. In other words, if you’re a good fit for tech, I think you should get to be part of it, even through the bumpy times.?

There’s a saying that I refer to often: the Greek root word for “crisis” means to “sift,” That means when things get shaken up, we are forced to hold onto only what truly matters. Certainly the job market can seem very scary right now, and I know there are a lot of folks dealing with some big life decisions. Ultimately, I trust everyone will do what’s best for them, and that might mean making compromises, getting very practical – but it’s also an opportunity to strip away all the noise and really focus on you. How can you get closer to the most authentic version of yourself? How can you set yourself up so that you’re operating from a place of leveraging your true strengths, as opposed to what you’re “supposed” to do, or what others have long expected of you? How might this opportunity allow you to really look at your network and relationships and ask for help – and give it?

These are the questions I’ve asked of myself during past crises – and it wasn’t always smooth. When I was struggling, it felt like I’d be struggling forever – but it always passes. And what has remained is the result of the self-focus and investment. It’s taken a long time to become this version of myself – a lot of unlearning about being a woman, person of color, an immigrant, as well as a lot of childhood survival lessons. But I now embrace the ways I’m obnoxious, because it’s part of being really honest about my strengths, weaknesses, and the value I bring to the workplace and my community. And that journey has been so worth it, I hope it will be for you!?

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Jennifer Kim is the CEO/Founder of Workflow, an education and consulting company that trains the next generation of startup leaders on all things Recruiting, People Ops, and DEI. Through its flagship program, the HireEd Accelerator, Jen and her team have taught hundreds of startup leaders to make hiring a competitive advantage. Previously, Jen was Head of People at Lever and advised dozens of top startups. She is known for her hot takes on tech industry and culture as @jenistyping.