How to Job Hunt When Companies Are Barely Hiring

If your job search feels slower than it should, you’re not imagining it. Companies are hiring ar very low levels.

On paper, the job market looks steady. Layoffs are near historic lows. But talk to almost anyone who is looking for work right now, and you’ll hear the same thing: applications go out, and very little comes back.

Both things are true at once. And understanding why can change how you search.

Low layoffs, slow hiring: what the numbers say

Reuters reported last week that first-time jobless claims fell to 194,000, below what economists expected and near the lowest levels in decades. Fewer people are losing their jobs.

But the same report shows the other side. The median time people spend unemployed reached 11.5 weeks in September, near a 4.5-year high. U.S. employers added just 29,000 jobs that month. Economists call this a “low-hire, low-fire” market: companies are holding on to the people they have, and they’re slow to add new ones.

You can see the same caution in holiday hiring. Challenger, Gray & Christmas expects U.S. retailers to add about 450,000 seasonal jobs this quarter, down from 461,500 last year, which was already the smallest holiday hiring season since 2008. Amazon is the big exception, planning more than 300,000 seasonal hires, according to Forbes.

And some employers are reshaping their teams even in good times. American Express announced about 3,500 job cuts as it restructures for AI, on the same day it reported a 28% jump in quarterly profit, according to Banking Dive.

The takeaway: fewer people are leaving jobs, so fewer openings come up. Each opening draws more candidates. That’s the market, not a verdict on you.

Why the old “apply everywhere” playbook stalls

When hiring is slow, sending out more applications feels productive. Usually it isn’t.

Many employers use an ATS, the software that screens resumes before a person sees them. When dozens or hundreds of people apply for the same role, a general-purpose resume rarely makes it through. And even strong resumes can sit unread when a hiring manager already has a referral in hand.

4 moves that work in a slow-hiring market

1. Target fewer roles, and go deeper on each. Pick 10 to 15 organizations you’d really like to work for. Learn what they’re working on, who leads the teams you’d join, and what problems they’re trying to solve. Then tailor your resume and LinkedIn profile to that story.
2. Lead with relationships, not applications. In a tight market, warm introductions often matter more than anything else. Reach out to former colleagues, alumni, and recruiters. Ask for a 15-minute conversation, not a job. Most people are glad to help when the ask is small and specific.
3. Consider a bridge role. A seasonal, contract, or part-time role can keep income coming, add fresh experience to your resume, and get you inside an organization. Forbes reports that nearly half of Michaels’ 2025 seasonal store workers moved into regular roles after the holidays. A bridge isn’t a step backward if it moves you forward.
4. Show how you work alongside AI. As companies like American Express reorganize around AI, hiring managers want to know whether you can adapt. Be ready with one or two specific examples of how you’ve learned a new tool, improved a process, or used judgment that technology can’t replace.

Protect your energy for a longer search

A longer search is harder on your confidence than on your calendar. So plan for it.

Set a weekly rhythm: a few hours for research and outreach, a few for applications, and time that has nothing to do with the search at all. Track what you do, not just what you hear back. Conversations started and introductions made are real progress, even when an offer hasn’t come yet.

And don’t search alone. A friend, a peer group, or a coach can help you see what’s working, adjust what isn’t, and keep going on the days when the inbox is quiet.

Your next step

A slow market rewards people who are focused, connected, and patient. You don’t have to figure it out on your own.

If you’re in a search that’s taking longer than you hoped, or you want to get ahead of changes at your company, let’s talk. Book a conversation at https://calendly.com/randersoncoaching, and learn more about how I help job seekers and executives at https://nocoastconsulting.com/.