The trap, by the numbers
The signature of this market is stillness. US employers announced 43,281 job cuts in the month of September, the lowest monthly total since 2022. Well it sounds like a good news until you see the other side as well: they announced plans to hire just 90,787 workers, 23% below a year earlier and the weakest September since 2011. Layoffs are down, hiring is down even harder. Unemployment ticked up to 4.2%. As the former Fed chair put it, it's an uncomfortable balance where people without jobs struggle to break in because the people who have jobs aren't leaving them.
Why "spray and pray" backfires
With thousands of people applying for each position, the sensible approach seems to be to increase the volume—sending more applications and taking more chances. However, experts believe this is the wrong thing to do. Since employers are receiving so many applicants and are now using AI to screen them, yet another ordinary application just ends up among the rest. Coaching experts are clear in their advice: 20 carefully targeted and personalized applications are better than 100 generic ones, and going for volume generally leaves you tired and discouraged. The suggested strategy is what is known as the "side door", which involves getting referrals and friendly introductions from former managers who know your work.
The AI arms race on both sides
The changes in 2026 are as follows: nowadays applicant tracking systems analyse language with real accuracy, which means it's more important than before to use the exact terms found in the job posting — if the ad says 'vendor management' then use that phrase, rather than 'supplier relationships'. However, merely tricking the system will only get you past the first stage. Because all applicants are using AI to enhance their CVs, a well-presented resume now says nothing at all. What actually makes an impact is evidence of your actual work — for example, a portfolio, a writing sample, or a short video demonstrating how you would carry out the job — together with the human abilities that AI cannot impersonate: judgment, critical thinking, and leadership. Experts believe that the wise way to use AI is to improve the quality of your job search (such as by researching your interviewer or addressing the employer's real problem), not to produce a larger number of applications.
The counterintuitive timing play
That's the final point and it's the one that most people get wrong: don't give up on job hunting during the holidays. In November and December hiring tends to slow down, which is precisely the reason why competition decreases — and some firms have a use-it-or-lose-it budget that must be spent before the end of the year. The experts' view is that there is no dependable method for timing the market, so there's no point in making an effort. It's better to stay in the market than to try to time it. You should concentrate on what you can control and keep going while everybody else is waiting until January.
