Modern job search

By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter

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EP 3119 Searching for a job in the current market can be overwhelming, but changing your approach from “random applications” to “strategic connections” can make all the difference. Recently, headhunting firm Korn Ferry shared its views on the current job market. 00:00 – The feeling of “shouting into the void”: Acknowledges the common frustration and exhaustion faced by job seekers in the current market.

00:40 – job market paradox: Discuss the “vicious cycle” of job seekers targeting automation roles while companies strive to fill less “fancy” but critical positions.

01:38 – 70% of the hidden market: Emphasize that the vast majority of positions are filled internally or through referrals before being publicly posted.

01:57 – 30% lottery:Explain why competing for the remaining public posts via an automated system feels statistically impossible.

02:31 – old ways vs new ways: Compare past personal contacts with today’s impersonal, algorithm-driven Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

03:44 – Six-step strategic plan: Introducing Korn Ferry’s roadmap: Know yourself, measure success, strive for goals, network, make warm introductions, and create a plan.

04:20 – faith and despair: Emphasizing thoughtful strategies can project calm confidence and help you stand out in a noisy market.

Okay, let’s get started. If you’re out there looking for a job, you know this feeling, right? It feels like you’re just shouting into the void. It’s a hugely common frustration, and today we’re going to break down why you feel this way and, more importantly, what you can do about it.

We’ll get some very sharp insights from executive search firm Korn Ferry and what they think about the modern labor market. Is this close to home? According to Korn Ferry, this is what they hear in almost every conversation about the job market today. It perfectly captures the feeling of constantly sending applications and crickets.

If this is you, I want you to know that you are not alone and it is not a figment of your imagination. This feeling is a core part of the current job market. So what exactly happened? Well, Korn Ferry has a name.

They call it a vicious cycle. It’s not just a matter of more people finding jobs. No, there is a serious mismatch between what people are applying for and what companies actually need.

And, you know, technology has basically solved the whole problem. Okay, this slide gets to the heart of the matter. On one hand, you might encounter candidates like yourself whose target roles are quietly being automated internally or are no longer a priority.

But on the other hand, companies have these critical positions that are desperate to be filled, but they’re not always the flashy, super-sought-after positions. This mismatch fueled the entire frenzy, resulting in a wave of applications for jobs that were actually shrinking. So if you feel like the odds are completely stacked against you, the numbers actually back you up.

Let’s look at the hard data that makes this whole thing so difficult. Just look at this number. This is shocking.

Build your referral community

An analysis by Korn Ferry shows that as many as 70% of positions are filled before being publicly posted. They go to people within the company or referrals. Let’s understand this.

The vast majority of opportunities are gone before you even see a job ad. So that’s the bottom line. Throughout the chaotic external job market, we are all competing for the remaining 30%.

So when you’re just one of hundreds or sometimes thousands of applicants filtered through some automated system, yes, getting an interview can really feel like winning the lottery. It doesn’t just exist in your head. This is a statistical reality.

So how did we get here? The biggest conundrum is that we’ve gotten too far away from the most basic part of finding a job, which is simple human connection. Let’s explore what is being lost in this new technology-first world. This slide explains it very clearly.

The old way was personal. You can actually walk into a place and talk to a real person or have a friend say, hey, you should meet someone. This new approach is loud and completely inhumane.

It’s all about trying to defeat these things called applicant tracking systems. This is software that scans your resume. And you’re competing against tons of other people.

The human part has almost been replaced by algorithms. You know, Korn Ferry used this perfect metaphor from Alice in Wonderland. With all this automated noise and no clear direction, the entire job search process can feel completely disorienting.

Like the Cheshire Cat said, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there. In a job search, this often means you end up going nowhere. But here’s the good news.

Develop your LinkedIn mission statement

It doesn’t have to be this way. That feeling of loss is actually a signal. This is a sign that it’s time to try something different.

So instead of applying haphazardly, Korn Ferry developed a real strategic plan to find a better path forward. That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? How do you actually break out of this frustrating cycle? How do you stop being reactive and start being proactive? Let’s look at the strategies Korn Ferry recommends. Okay, here it is.

Korn Ferry’s six-step program is designed to stop shouting into the void and start making truly targeted connections. It all starts with knowing yourself. Look inward before looking outward.

Then determine your goals. But look at the last few steps. Network, network, network.

Find a warm introduction. Have a plan. It’s all about connection and systematization.

This is exactly the opposite of the random dispersion method. In fact, when you boil it all down, you’ll find that this is more than just a new to-do list. It’s about a complete shift in the way you think.

It’s about moving from a place of despair to a place of purpose. I want to leave you with one last thought from Korn Ferry because it is so powerful. The voice of despair was loud.

Strategy is calm confidence. While everyone else is frantically clicking “apply,” having a well-thought-out strategy can help you stand out. It’s not just more efficient.

It projects this quiet confidence. So the question is not just how to find a job. In such a noisy market, do you want to keep shouting or do you want to make connections to speak directly to the right people?

The interview is a performance: Did your script fail?

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