\n Your prospects depend on your talents and transferrable skills, your contacts, the industries in which you\u2019re looking and where you live. And, just as critically, they will depend on how you approach your job search.\n <\/p>\n
\n That search may take longer than you expect. But you have more agency than you think over whether you get that interview or eventually get hired.\n <\/p>\n
The first and most important step<\/p>\n
\n Career experts CNN spoke to said the same thing: Before doing anything, clarify for yourself \u2013 even in broad strokes \u2013 what you want and what you have to offer.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cGet clear on what you bring to the table. Inventory your skills. And get clear on what you want to do next,\u201d said Hannah Morgan, a job search strategist who runs Career Sherpa.\n <\/p>\n
\n For instance, what kind of role would you like? Would you prefer to work at a large or small company, or at a startup? Do you have a preliminary list of employers you want to pursue? What transferrable skills do you have that can be applied in several industries?\n <\/p>\n
\n Having a rough roadmap makes it easier to align what you\u2019re communicating in all your job-related documents (eg, resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letters, etc.). And it makes it easier to clearly convey what you want to others, who may provide valuable information or introductions to people who are hiring. (More on that below.)\n <\/p>\n
\n Be clear, too, on what you really don\u2019t want to do in your next role, said Lisa Rangel, CEO of Chameleon Resumes, a job-search services firm for mid-to-senior-level executives.\n <\/p>\n
\n Even if you\u2019ve had great success with certain tasks or assignments but you never want to do them again, don\u2019t emphasize them in your job materials and conversations. \u201cYou can talk about it if asked,\u201d Rangel said. But your goal is to attract what you want.\n <\/p>\n
\n So highlight first the skills and experiences you\u2019ve had that speak to what you\u2019re pursuing. Say you want a leadership role. If you\u2019ve managed people in the past, lead with that fact, even if the titles you\u2019ve held don\u2019t indicate managerial experience, Rangel said.\n <\/p>\n
\n Recruiters and employers are increasingly using AI<\/a> to sort through incoming resumes and other organizational functions in the hiring process. But it\u2019s not calling the shots.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cPeople are still making the decisions,\u201d said Rangel, who is an advisory board member and investor in a company creating agentic AI for recruiters.\n <\/p>\n \n But you can use AI to your advantage to figure out if your experience and skills are a good fit for a new role, and to lower the chance that your resume gets tossed due to a technicality like the words you use.\n <\/p>\n \n An AI tool can call up a variety of job descriptions for the type of role you\u2019re seeking. So take note if there is a similarity in terms used. Also, closely read the listings for specific jobs you plan to apply for.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cUse the same language,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cIf a posting says we need someone with \u2018Power BI\u2019<\/a> skills and your resume doesn\u2019t list that, you\u2019re not a match\u201d \u2013 even if your resume notes you have experience using \u201cbusiness intelligence tools.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n AI can also help you prepare for potential interview questions, said Priya Rathod, workplace trends editor at jobs site Indeed. Just don\u2019t rely on it solely, and don\u2019t parrot what it offers up. Anything you present about yourself needs to be authentic to your skills and experience, Rathod said.\n <\/p>\n \n Organizations may want employees who are technically proficient.\n <\/p>\n \n But they need candidates with human skills like critical thinking, empathy and a track record of collaboration, Rathod said. \u201cLean in to your human skills. \u2026 Those are the differentials for employers now.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n If you work well collaboratively, for example, highlight how. Perhaps doing so led to a given project being completed two weeks ahead of schedule.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cTalk about soft skills, but use quantifiable results,\u201d she said.\n <\/p>\n \n You\u2019ll do a lot online: Research jobs and specific companies, and search listings. (Career Sherpa compiled this helpful list<\/a> of the best general and niche job sites right now).\n <\/p>\n![\"AI](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/gettyimages-2220890471.jpg\")
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