Pattern Problems: Channel Your Inner Student for an Informed Job Search

In 9th grade, I had to retake geometry—but not because I failed the class. I'd taken geometry in 8th grade as part of my middle school's advanced math program. It's too bad my high school refused to accept that credit, so I had to do it again. Yay, bureaucracy!?

While helping my classmates solve a pattern problem, I realized an important truth: intelligence isn’t about how much you know or how many advanced classes you take (or how many times you take those advanced classes). It’s about pattern recognition. A pattern is “a regular and intelligible form or sequence discernible in certain actions or situations.” When you learn to recognize those predictable sequences, there's no problem you can’t solve and no obstacle you can’t overcome.

That's why I loved working in Microsoft Access back in the day. Access databases let you see the relationships between individual pieces of information. Back then, I'd dig through the databases to uncover the patterns in personnel codes, transactions, and requests. After that, I could “solve for x” every time.

Is your job search stalled because you view every job announcement as a single piece of information instead of a data point in a bigger pattern? As a job and salary analyst for the past 11 years, I can attest that every job announcement can lead to a treasure trove of data if you only seek out the patterns.?Here are some patterns to look out for:

1. Layoffs signal broader industry issues. When the Big Tech layoffs started, it was as if the floodgates opened wide. It happened in retail. In finance. In automotive manufacturing. In media, too. Entire industries were course-correcting (or nose-diving) simultaneously. But there were undoubtedly warning signs in sales, failing projects, budget shortfalls, and news stories. Industry-wide layoffs don’t always mean the entire industry is failing, though. It could be a domino effect, also known as “monkey see, monkey do.” (If my competitors can lower their salaries due to layoffs, so can I!) Keep your eyes on the patterns to figure out which is which.
2. High competition in once-stable fields signals shifting priorities. Just as cloud-based software has almost edged out Microsoft Access, most career fields will experience a shift at some point. When worker supply exceeds demand, you can bet that employers who once valued those solutions have found more efficient solutions or turned their attention to other problems. The person who sees the shift happening is the one who’s more likely to ride the wave.?
3. Fewer Open to Work banners in your industry signal that the winds have shifted in your favor. Huzzah! When people start signing offer letters, it means there are more viable jobs to go around. That’s great news, but don’t forget the patterns! Which job levels have been posted and filled, and in what salary ranges? If the patterns don’t align with your goals, you may be in the job market longer.??

Find ways to access various data sources to improve your pattern recognition skills. Realizing that valuable data is seldom free, it’s up to you whether you’ll spend time or money to get it. But don’t rely solely on general data to guide your job search. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a fantastic resource, but its published data will never be specific to your situation. That isn't the space they operate in. If you want to take control of your job search, you’ve got to bring things a little closer to home.

Need help uncovering the patterns that can turn your job search around? You’re in luck! I'm now offering coaching sessions to get you on the right track. With just one hour-long Job Search Launchpad session, you’ll get industry insights and targeted salary recommendations to point you in the right direction.

Want in? The link is in the comments!

I'm Angela M. Zachary, a job search coach, résumé writer, and certified HR pro. As founder of The Inside Track Career Services , I use little-known HR systems to help professionals strategize their way to shorter, simpler job searches.