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

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The Challenge We're Solving Today

“Why isn’t anyone calling me back?”

You’ve been job searching and hearing crickets... it’s easy to think the job market is broken. 

But I'm here to tell you the market isn’t the problem. 

Most candidates are using old strategies in this new world of hiring.

Why This Matters to You

Back in 2021/2022, companies were betting on potential. They were hiring fast and furious and learning on the fly. A new company popped up every two seconds to grab those federal COVID response funds. Now, that money is g.o.n.e.

Now in 2026, hiring is slower, more careful, and focused on one thing: reducing risk.

Not because no one’s hiring.

Because making the wrong hire costs too much.

Common Solutions and Why They Won't Work

Here’s what used to work:

• Broad resumes to show how flexible you are

• “Open to roles” to seem available and adaptable

• Applying early and often to get ahead of the pack

• Talking about transferable skills in theory

These made sense when companies were hiring for potential.

But now, that approach is vague... and vague = risky.

A Better Approach for You

Here’s what works now:

• Narrow positioning: Be clear about what you do best

• Show your proof: Tie your experience to real business results

• Be useful before Day 1: Show how you think, solve, and add value

• Build trust: Be easy to understand, not fancy Nancy, overly impressive

Here's the bottom line as it pertains to YOU:
The market didn’t betray you. It stopped rewarding vagueness.

So what’s the goal now?
Not to have the fanciest resume or a million skills listed.
The goal is to feel safe to hire.

🛑 BEFORE: Resume Example

This is using the outdated approach

Jane Doe
Open to Learning & Development Roles

Summary:
Experienced elementary teacher looking to transition into corporate training. Passionate about education, collaboration, and lifelong learning. Excellent communication skills and a quick learner. Seeking an opportunity to use my teaching background in a new environment.

Experience:
5th Grade Math Teacher
Jefferson Elementary School, 2018–2024

• Taught 5th grade math to diverse student populations

• Developed lesson plans aligned with state standards

• Collaborated with other teachers to support student success

• Maintained classroom discipline and encouraged participation

• Communicated regularly with parents and administration

Skills:

Lesson Planning, Classroom Management, Communication, Microsoft Office, Adaptability, Teamwork

Education:
B.A. in Elementary Education
State University, 2017

✅ AFTER: Resume Example

This is refined + highlights what you're after.

Name: Jane Doe
Learning & Development Specialist

Summary:
Former elementary teacher with 6 years of experience leading training and supporting school-wide professional growth. Strong background in running workshops using data to improve service delivery across departmental teams. Looking to bring clear communication, planning skills, and people-first training to a corporate L&D team.

Professional Experience:

Jefferson Elementary School
Data Improvement Training Leader | 5th Grade Math Teacher | 2018–2024

• Co-led the school’s Instructional Leadership Team, supporting new staff and shaping annual professional development goals

• Built and facilitated PD sessions for teachers on using student data in instruction

• Partnered with administrators to redesign onboarding for first-year teachers

• Led cross-grade curriculum alignment project, collaborating with 3 grade levels

• Served on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee to support school-wide learning initiatives

• Created data tracking systems used across classrooms and parent workshops

• Mentored student teachers and provided feedback on lesson delivery

Tools and Platforms:

Google Classroom, Canvas, Moodle, Zoom, Loom, Screencastify, Articulate Rise 360, Canva, Google Slides, Trello, Google Forms, Edulastic, Pear Deck, Slack, YouTube Studio, Google Workspace

Education:
B.A. Elementary Education
State University, 2017

Professional Development:
Instructional Design Certificate (Coursera)
Peer Coaching Workshop (District-led)

TL;DR:

Let’s break it down:

• Hiring is slower in 2026, not because of fewer jobs, but higher risk

• Old tactics (like being broad and flexible) now feel unsafe to employers

• New tactics focus on proof and trust

• The best candidates today make it easy to say yes

Your Next Steps

Here are 3 ways to show you're the safe bet in 2026:

1. Stop trying to be everything. Focus your resume and messaging on one clear role.

2. Tie your experience to impact. Talk about outcomes, not just responsibilities. How did your work help other adults be better at their jobs too? I know you didn't "just teach kids." You were on committees, you took on extra responsibilties to make the school run. Talk about THAT.

3. Make trust easy. Show real examples of how you think: posts, short case studies, clear language on your LinkedIn and resume.

P.s.

When you’re finally done reworking your resume to death and second-guessing every line, my Career Change Accelerator™ gives you the path you need to make this career change happen. You’ll learn how to position yourself in a way that feels true to your experience and makes sense to hiring teams in 2026.

See you next week!

Steph Yesil

Find me on LinkedIn, Get My Career Change Kit, 
Book a 60-Min Strategy Call