If you are planning to job search this year, there are some important things to know – especially if you haven’t been in the job market for a while. I want to focus on 5 things I think are important for you to understand about the current job market and hiring process.  Of course, the job market can vary widely depending on your field and industry; the hiring process can vary as well. Having said that, I tried to focus on some virtually universal truths.  1.    Remote Work TrendsThe availability of remote and/or hybrid work arrangements varies widely by field and industry, but what I want to talk about here is the WAY jobs are being posted.  Prior to Covid, you might find a few jobs that indicated “remote” or “hybrid,” but the absence of this language meant you could expect the job to be in person.  Post-Covid, companies are much more explicit in the type of job they are offering. They typically lay out the parameters of a job they list as “hybrid.” “Remote” jobs may have a geographic location they want you to live in, even though you don’t have to go to the office.  Another aspect of remote work is the proliferation of sites specifically targeted to remote work. In addition to mainstream sites that you can search on using the filter “remote” or “virtual,” here are a few specifically for remote work: Growmotely  We Work Remotely  FlexJobs  Remote.cohttps://ratracerebellion.com/https://www.wahjobqueen.com/ One thing I want to caution you about is the possibility of a company deciding to change the location requirement AFTER you’ve been hired. It’s a good idea to ask about the possibility that a remote or hybrid job might be redesignated as in-person in the future.  They probably won’t tell you straight out – they may not even know – but look for evasiveness. I’ve had clients who had to look for a new position for this reason.   2.    Personal Branding Especially if you haven’t been in the job market for a while, you will probably be surprised at the importance of personal branding.  Here’s the way this works: Think of your favorite coffee shop or retailer…whatever you frequent. What do they stand for? Why do you go there and not somewhere else? What do they offer you that no one else can?  Prospective employers want to know the same thing about you: What you stand for, why they should hire you and not someone else, what you can do for them that no one else can.  You want an employer to have an immediate, visceral reaction to your resume – they either immediately know you aren’t the right candidate for them, or they immediately want to pick up the phone and schedule an interview with you.  Without that reaction, you languish in the “maybe” pile, sure to be eliminated somewhere along the way – or offered a below-market salary.  Back to product branding. You can buy no-name athletic shoes at Walmart, or you can buy Nikes. You’ll pay significantly more for the Nikes – and you want an employer to pay significantly more to get YOU.  Without personal branding, you are like a generic product – an alternative for an employer who doesn’t want to pay as much.  I spend an entire hour with my resume clients to tease out their personal brand, which is not only helpful for their resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile but also as they network their way to their next great job.   3.    Tailor, Tailor TailorOne of the biggest missteps I see job applicants making is submitting umpteen applications every day, yet not taking the time to customize their resume and cover letter for each position.  Focus on quality over quantity – otherwise, you’ll wear yourself out AND you’re setting yourself up for failure.  I talked about the specifics of how to tailor your resume and cover letter in episode 287: http://exclusivecareercoaching.com/posts/2023-09-06-287-how-to-tailor-your-resume-and-other-materials-for-a-specific-position Here’s the bottom line: Your resume needs to include the skills, competencies, and qualifications listed in the job descrip