Bold Moves In A Tight Market

Don't Wait for Job Postings—Take the Initiative!

There will come a time when you see fewer jobs posted but don’t let that stop you. Let’s say you don’t see any suitable openings at one or some of the companies you are really interested in working for. 

Try sending a letter of interest!

What Is A Letter of Interest?

A letter of interest is written by a job seeker when they are interested in working for a company that does not appear to have any job opportunities listed.

A well-crafted letter of interest can put you directly on a hiring manager's radar. Here's why this approach works:

✅ Good managers are ALWAYS looking for their next great hire
✅ You'll stand out from the crowd who only apply to posted positions
✅ It demonstrates initiative and genuine interest in the company

Quick tips for writing an effective letter of interest:

1. Research thoroughly—understand the company's challenges, culture, and recent news

2. Address your letter directly to the decision-maker (not HR unless that's your target department)

3. Craft an attention-grabbing subject line

4. Keep it concise with short paragraphs or bullet points

5. Include a link to your LinkedIn profile instead of attaching a resume

6. Ask for a conversation (not an interview) to learn more about their needs

7. Always follow up

The letter is 3 simple paragraphs: 

📍 Reason for writing
📍 Brief overview of relevant success stories
📍 Call To Action

This approach might feel bold or outside your comfort zone—that's exactly why it works! While others wait for job postings, you could be having meaningful conversations with decision-makers.

Details and examples of letters of interest are here.

🔎 JOB SEARCH

How I Landed My New Job In Under 60 Days | Dan Dougherty

I don’t know Dan, he’s a 2nd degree connection on LinkedIn. In his post he outlines exactly the steps he took and how he prioritized his time and energy to secure a new job. There’s nothing magic or easy about what he did. What I appreciated most was how he outlined his success across the different actions he took from cold outreach to second interviews. Can you measure your activity and success? 

Stuck in a Prolonged Job Search? Here’s 8 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong | Shelley Piedmont

If you have been in job search longer than you want, it’s probably due to one (or more) of these 8 things. But let me echo Shelley’s final words of support “There are very few things worse than a prolonged period of unemployment. It saps your confidence and puts you in a state of constant stress. You start thinking that there is something wrong with you.

I am here to tell you that nothing is wrong with you. Sometimes, your situation is due to a strategy that is not working, and sometimes, it is bad timing for your job search.

Don’t give up!” 

💻 LINKEDIN

Brenda Meller’s Top 5 Videos on How To Use LinkedIn | Brenda Meller

Chances are one of these 5 videos will answer one of your questions. But perhaps you’ll learn something you should know about. Here’s one I want you to take action on this week “How to Change Your LinkedIn Header Image"

🗨 INTERVIEWING

Should You Still Send an Interview Thank-You Email? | The Job Hopper

The data shows the odds are in your favor if you do send a than-you after a job interview. While many may feel it’s unnecessary, see when and what to say to make it worth the effort with examples. (And while you’re reading, check out the many other resources on the Job Hopper.)

⚙ AI

AI Job Search: What You Need to Know Now | Job Search Guide newsletter

Learn how AI is used in resume screening, virtual interviews, and job matching plus what you can do to adapt your materials. Jan Tegze has a challenge for you too! Make time to learn AI skills every day, not just for your job search, but these skills will help you in your work/job. 

🔮 WORKFORCE

Layoffs Are the New Business Strategy (And It's a Problem) | Johnny Austin

Tech companies (and others) are seeing layoffs despite the fact they are performing well. We’ve seen layoffs when companies underperform, but what will the longer-term impact be when institutional knowledge is shown the door and the employer’s reputation becomes tarnished? There aren’t answers, just a shift in how businesses operate today and something to be aware of. No job is safe- ever.

💰 CAREER

Jumping Ship in the Era of Low Raises | Korn Ferry

Over the last three years, job hoppers’ salaries have risen by 35%, compared to just 18% for tenured employees, according to a survey conducted by Side Hustle. But things are different today.  Just 1 in 10 employees are getting promoted annually, down 23% from 2022 figures. And companies are holding back on salary bumps, with 2025’s average increase projected at 3.7%. So if you’re looking for a raise, it’s not going to be easy either internally or externally.

📶 RECRUITER PERSPECTIVE

Behind the scenes of sourcing candidates | Kelli Hrivnak

For clarity, Kelli is an external recruiter. She is hired by companies to find candidates. And what you may not realize is what goes into her search. It’s not as simple as sharing a job posting. This is what you should understand when working with or searching for an external recruiter. 

How A Recruiter Spots An AI Imposter | Bettina Liporazzi

People in Talent Acquisition or recruiting have a new challenge to deal with and it will potentially impact all job seekers. AI video fakers are posing as candidates (and interviewing for jobs) forcing TA to ask them to screen for fake candidates by asking them to turn their head to the side, put their hand in front of their face, or remove filters. How will recruiters be able to put safeguards in place? Perhaps more in-person interviews are on the horizon. (Shoutout to Hung Lee’s Recruiting Brainfood newsletter for featuring this)

EVENTS

Job Search Challenge
March 25-April 22, 2025
Get weekly job search goals/actions for 5 weeks plus instructions
Plus weekly check-in calls
$39
Sign up for your 5-week job search challenge

CAREER LIFELINE: Job Search Summit for Federal Employees
Free Virtual Event | March 24-27, 6-8pm CDT / 7-9pm EDT, on Zoom
⭐Leveraging Linkedin + AI for Career Building, Networking & Job Search
- Tues, 3/25 at 7pm EDT with Sabrina Woods

Details & Registration: https://www.career-zen.com/lifeline

JOB SEARCH VISUAL

Don't just announce you are open to work. SHOW who you are and what you want like this one on linkedin

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DID YOU MISS THESE

How to Prepare for an Interview

3 Options To Update Your LinkedIn Job Title and Employer When Unemployed

How To Work With A Recruiter To Find A Job

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

The 2024 American Opportunity Index ranks the largest U.S. companies based on how well they help employees grow in their careers and improve their financial situation—factors that also benefit businesses. This ranking is based on independent data and looks at what actually happens to workers over time.

Check out company profiles and see the data behind their rankings. Explore the Top 100 companies, browse by industry, or view the full list, which you can sort by five key categories.

The overall score of each company is based on five metrics: Hiring, Pay, Promotion, Parity and Culture.