How Hiring Actually Works Now

And What That Means for Your Job Search


If job searching feels confusing or discouraging, it’s not because you’re doing everything wrong.

It’s because the rules changed in the last 5 years.

Most advice still assumes a hiring world that no longer exists.

I write regularly on this to explain what actually matters now and why old tactics have stopped working.


Hiring today is slower, pickier, and more cautious than it used to be.

I want to make sure you:

  • understand why jobs get reposted

  • make sense of ghosting and silence

  • see how employers make decisions now

  • stop using advice that quietly hurts your chances

If this sounds like where you're stuck, read on.


What people get wrong about hiring

Many people believe:

  • more applications means better odds

  • hiring is broken or unfair

  • employers just don’t see their potential

But hiring is not about potential anymore.
It’s about reducing risk.

Employers ask one main question:
“Can this person do the job with minimal hand-holding?”

If your materials don’t answer that clearly, you’re skipped.
Not because you’re unqualified. Because you’re unclear.


Across hundreds of searches, the same patterns show up.

  • Strong candidates lose out because they sound vague.

  • Jobs get reposted because no one felt safe enough to hire.

  • Hiring managers move slowly because mistakes are expensive.

Yes, this is frustrating. 
But once you understand it, it becomes easier to work with.


Go deeper here

The posts below break down hiring patterns and explain what’s really happening behind the scenes.

You don’t need to read all of them.
Start with the one that answers your biggest question.

Featured articles:


Before you apply again, ask yourself:

  1. Does my resume show exactly how I solve business problems?

  2. Can someone tell what I would do in the first 90 days?

  3. Am I reducing risk, or asking for a chance?

If the answers are fuzzy, hiring managers feel it.


 

Honestly, you can skip the rest of this and get the full process in one place.

That's exactly why I built the Career Change Accelerator™.

 


All posts about hiring reality

 Ask the Dumb Question. I Mean It. >

Stop Upskilling. Start Unlearning These Horrible Lies. >

250 InApply applicants?! I'll never stand a chance >

Recruiters Won't Respond. Now What? >

Companies See You As Just A Teacher. Now What? >

Nobody Knows Who You Are. Now What? >

Should I Wait Until Summer to Apply for Jobs? >

Want to See New Jobs Before Everyone Else? Here’s How. >

Remote vs Hybrid Jobs — What's Available and What to Do Now >

The Job Market Isn't Broken. You're Just Using Advice from 2022  >

Why Did That Job Get Reposted? What Teachers Need to Know About Reappearing Listings >

Layoffs are happening. So is hiring. What gives? >

Referrals are dead. Cold applications work. >

What's In and What's Out in 2026 >


Best articles on related topics

Leaving Teaching, On Purpose >

What Jobs You Can Do Instead >

How Hiring Actually Works Now >

How Employers Evaluate You >

How to Run a Smart Job Search >

What I’ve Learned From Doing This at Scale >

How to Get Promoted Once You’re Hired >

Job Market Trends & Who's Hiring Now >

 

 

 

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Join 12K+ readers of the Elevated Careers Society Newsletter for one actionable tip every Saturday to help you navigate and accelerate your career change in less than 4 minutes. 

When you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. The Elevated Career Change Accelerator™: Join countless educators in my core program. It’s built for folks who want a clear path out of the classroom and into corporate roles without guessing, over-applying, or wasting months trying to piece things together. Inside, you’ll work through six focused modules that cover role selection, positioning your experience, resumes, LinkedIn, interviews, negotiation, and what actually matters once you’re hired. This is the same framework I’ve refined over a decade of making this move myself and helping others do it faster and smarter.

2. 1:1 Action Planning Session: If you want direct guidance, this is a focused working session. We’ll map out exactly where you’re headed, what roles make sense for you, and the next concrete steps to take. You’ll leave with a clear plan you can execute immediately, based on your background and constraints, not generic advice.

Either option is a strong move.
Both put you on my radar and into my corporate-ready pipeline. That matters because recruiters and hiring managers regularly reach out to me when they’re trying to fill roles and want candidates who are already vetted, positioned well, and realistic about the work. As a customer, you’re invited into that pipeline by default.

 
 

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Join 12K+ readers of The Elevated Careers Society Newsletter for exclusive tips, strategies, and resources to change careers from teaching to corporate.