Welcome to Career Essentials, where I share actionable insights and curated articles that will help accelerate your career and supercharge your job search.
Long-Term Unemployment Is Rising. Here's What That Means.
One in four unemployed workers has now been out of work for six months or longer.
That's roughly 2 million people.
Long-term unemployment has risen 36% in the last year and 73% over the past three years.
However, the unemployment rate is just 4.3%. Meaning there companies hiring.
Long term unemployment is roughly defined as being unemployed for 27 weeks or longer while still actively looking for work.
We all know that the unemployment numbers are imperfect. Not everyone is counted. But for argument’s sake, let’s use it as a benchmark. Not an exact number.
The labor market is painful right now.
But if you remember November 2010, you've seen worse.
Unemployment reached 9.8%, and more than 6 million Americans (41.9% ofr unemployed) had been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer.
Today isn't easy, but history reminds us that these cycles eventually change.
Whether we blame a skills mismatch, corporate greed, or whatever, the reality is, people are defaulting on mortgages and feeling desperate.
But…
You may not control the economy, but you can control how quickly you adapt
If unemployment benefits are ending and savings are shrinking, it may be time to shift into survival mode:
Contact lenders before you miss payments.
Reduce discretionary spending.
Shop for less expensive health insurance options.
Reconsider expensive vehicle leases.
Take temporary work, even if it's outside your profession.
Pride doesn't pay the bills. Cash flow matters.
Read this by The Job Hopper, Surviving a Layoff in 2026
Recessions and labor market disruptions are part of history.
They are painful, but they are temporary.
The people who make it through aren't always the smartest or most connected.
They're the ones who adapt.
If you're six months into a job search and feeling discouraged, don't confuse today's circumstances with your long-term future.
This season won't last forever.
Long-term unemployment is rising. We've lived through worse. Survival sometimes requires difficult choices, but adaptation beats despair.
🔎 JOB SEARCH
“90% Of Companies Are Using AI To Screen Out Applicants Before A Human Ever Sees Them” - Kelli Hrivnak
This headline is all over the internet. And it’s just not accurate. Sure, there are probably some companies using AI to screen, but no where near 90%. This recruiter post and comments debunk this horrible, fear-mongering headline. You can stop blaming AI and look at what you can do.
🩶AGEISM
Ageism Loves Silence - Loren Greiff
Ageism is alive and well! BUT, what can you do about it? Loren shares multiple examples of people over 50 who debunked the negative stereotypes. You can too! If you know what to do! Watch this 11 TedX talk she gave. You’ll walk away inspired!
What To Post On LinkedIn - Erin Kennedy
Here are 6 ideas you can immediately use to help you post more consistently/regularly on LinkedIn.
The topic you choose to post about should align with your job goals (industry, level, skills, etc). Show LinkedIn (and your network) what you have done, what you know, and what you are interested in!
🗨 INTERVIEWING
Interview Rates By Application Channel - Sam Wright, Huntr
The ATS probably isn’t the problem. Where you apply matters.
TL:DR, apply directly on the company career page.
Based on Huntr data, 5.6% of job seekers who applied directly on the company career page secured interviews.
💰 CAREER
The Most Dangerous Sentence In Your Career Isn't This - Mark Danaher
You are likely your own worst enemy! YOU are getting in your own way. Limiting self-belief and/o, negative self-talk is the problem. You are a work in progress. Growing, adapting, learning all the time! Try using new phrases to change your behaviors.
📶 RECRUITER PERSPECTIVE
Recruiters Don’t Find Jobs For People - Cicily Tastle
This is always a good reminder. Recruiter (specifically 3rd party recruiters) find people for jobs! If you have been reaching out to recruiters and they aren’t calling back, it’s because they don’t have openings that match what you are looking for (or what you say you are looking for).
Should you reach out to recruiters? Absolutely, just research what they are recruiting for. And don’t if they don’t have something today, they may later. Yes, you should reach out to multiple recruiters!
EVENTS
Ask Me Anything (AMA)
Summer is a hard time to plan things. But don’t let your job search stall.
I’ll be hosting a 45-minute call on Tuesday, June 15, 2026 at 2pm ET
Ask your job search questions
Be a fly on the wall
Leave with answers and perhaps a bit of motivation!
JOB SEARCH VISUAL
Do you have structure?
When you were working you had deadlines, meetings, and defined activities you needed to complete and you used a calendar.
As a job seeker, it’s easy to find yourself distracted by home improvement projects, running errands, and taking care of other long-neglected projects.
What I’m suggesting is that you structure your job search like you structured your time at work.
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm with breaks. Of course, if you prefer 9-6 or some other schedule, that’s fine, just hold to it.
Whatever you do, DO NOT exceed 35 hours a week and do not work through the weekend. This will lead to burnout.
BLOCK ONE-HOUR FOR THESE ACTIVITIES:
☕ Networking Time: One-on-one meetings
💻 Email time: Respond to emails and send emails
📞 Phone time: Make followup calls, return messages
🔔 LinkedIn Time: Use LinkedIn to post updates, comment on posts, respond to group conversations, research target companies or people, write recommendations
🧠 Knowledge Update Time: Read industry newsletters, local newspapers, online courses🍎 Online Application Time: Apply for jobs online
🥰 Me Time: For your well-being include volunteer activities, exercise, hobbies or interests every day.
There’s still a lot of open time in your week to book conversations and interviews!
Another huge outcome is that you are more aware of how you are spending your time.
❓ How will you block your time to increase your energy and effectiveness?
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DID YOU MISS THESE
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Career Dreamer - Google
I often see job seekers struggle with knowing where to start, how to value their past experiences, and how to find the right types of jobs. Google's Career Dreamer is an AI-enhanced tool designed to eliminate those hurdles.
Here are the top three features of the tool and why they are incredibly beneficial for your job search:
1. Uncovering Your "Career Identity" (Shaping Your Story)
The Feature: The tool asks you for a few basic facts about yourself and helps you draft a customized "Career Identity Statement" to use on your resume or professional profile.
The Benefit: Many job seekers, including recent graduates, parents re-entering the workforce, or individuals with non-traditional career routes, often find it hard to recognize their own value. This feature takes on the task of uncovering the hidden, transferable skills hidden within your unique life experiences. It shows you that the skills you may overlook are precisely what employers seek, providing a significant confidence boost.
2. Data-Driven Career Exploration
The Feature: Based on your background, Career Dreamer suggests a variety of career options that align with your unique strengths and helps you find relevant jobs near you.
The Benefit: This feature acts like an instant brainstorming session, opening your eyes to new, realistic career possibilities and growth opportunities that you might never have considered on your own.
3. Actionable Application Help with Gemini (Taking the Next Step)
The Feature: Once you find a path you like, you can collaborate directly with Google's AI, Gemini, to write a first draft of your resume.
The Benefit: Staring at a blank page is often the most paralyzing part of a job search. This feature gives you an intelligent partner to help you quickly draft and tailor your application materials. It takes you out of the "dreaming" phase and pushes you to take concrete first steps toward landing the job.
In short, Career Dreamer requires zero prep work and acts as a fantastic starting block to help you reflect on your value, explore your options with confidence, and actually get your applications out the door.
THE ASK
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