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From Setback to Comeback: What I'm Seeing Work Right Now

I've been tracking this job market closely, and it's rough out there. The layoffs aren't slowing down, and even strong candidates are taking 4-6 months to land something decent. But here's what's interesting, some people are still getting hired quickly, and it's not always who you'd expect.

I noticed two things that separate the people who land roles from those still searching months later.

Stop Talking Like a Corporate Resume

Look, your Fortune 500 experience matters, but you're probably talking about it all wrong. I see this constantly,people lead with job titles and company names when they should lead with what they actually accomplished.

Here's what I mean. Instead of saying "I was VP of Operations at [Big Company]," try something like "I cut operational costs by $2M while scaling a team from 15 to 40 people." See the difference? One tells me what your business card said. The other tells me what you can do for me.

Your corporate background is actually an advantage, but only if you translate it right. You know how to manage stakeholders, navigate complex decisions, and work with enterprise-scale problems. That's valuable everywhere—you just need to say it in a way that matters to your next employer.

Quick test: Rewrite your LinkedIn headline right now. Don't mention your old title. Lead with the result you consistently deliver. DM me if you want me to review it for you

The Harddd Truth, This Is Going to Take Longer Than You Think

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you're expecting to land something in 6-8 weeks, you're setting yourself up for frustration. THE GOOD NEWS? Once you accept this is a longer process, you can actually get strategic about it.

The Solution:Think of it in two parts:

The long game: You need a routine that keeps you sharp and visible while you search. Maybe that's writing LinkedIn posts about industry trends, maybe it's doing some consulting work, maybe it's speaking at conferences. The point is to stay relevant and keep your confidence up.

The crucial moments: When you do get in front of decision-makers, you better be ready. I still use that L.A.T.T.E. thing because it works:

• Look at their actual business problems, not just the job description
• Anticipate the "you're overqualified" conversation and have an answer ready
• Think through creative ways to structure the role or compensation if they're being cheap
• Talk like the executive you are, calm, strategic, focused on solutions
• Evaluate what worked and what didn't after each conversation

Your Confidence Took a Hit (And That's Normal)

Okay, let's get into the part that's uncomfortable to admit. Getting laid off messes with your head, especially when you've spent years climbing the corporate ladder. You start second-guessing yourself in networking conversations. You feel weird about asking for help. You might even start apologizing for being "between opportunities."

STOP IT.

You need a story about why you're in the market that doesn't sound defensive. Something like "The restructuring actually came at good timing for me,I'd been thinking about my next move anyway, and now I can be more selective about the right fit." Practice it until it sounds natural.

And PLEASE, keep showing up like the professional you are. I see too many people go into hiding during their search. Stay visible. Keep your opinions. Act like someone who's making a strategic career move, not someone who got kicked out.

What to Do This Week

Pick the thing that's holding you back most:

1.If people don't get what you bring: Write three different ways to describe your value. Test them in conversations and see which one gets the best response.

2.If you're not having enough conversations: Stop asking people if they "know of any opportunities." Instead, reach out with insights about industry problems and ask for their perspective. Way more effective.

3.If you freeze up in important conversations: Find someone to practice with. Run through the objections you're worried about until you can handle them smoothly.

Look, this market is hard. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. But the people who get hired aren't necessarily the most qualified—they're the ones who approach it most strategically.

Make a decision today, What's the one thing you're going to change about how you're searching?

Keep moving forward,I'm here to support you each step of the way
Jacqueline

P.S. If this resonated with you, forward it to someone else who might need to hear it. We're all in this together.

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