New Year, New Job? - Circling Back

Welcome to Circling Back, the monthly job market newsletter by Ribbon! Circling Back is focused on the job market and professional networking. Helping you stay informed and have a leg up on the competition in today’s increasingly competitive job landscape.

Job Market Insights

January and February are notoriously busy months for hiring, but also competitive ones. Here are three tips for job seekers who are starting or continuing their job search in the new year:

• You’ll need flawless execution to stand out

  Finding and identifying jobs will be easier in January and February than in the slower month of December. But with a lot more people searching for the same opportunities.

• Companies open jobs before they know what they want

  In January and February, many companies are looking to add talent who can launch new product lines, address changing customer needs, or take the business in an innovative direction. Whatever new and aggressive goals leaders set, they won’t achieve them without hiring the right people.

• More great jobs are on the way

  It’s a good time to find a job, but be ready for some frustration when you don’t hear back from employers or you get automated rejections. This is because you are applying for more jobs and facing more rivals. Don’t let it catch you off guard or make you doubt yourself.

Read the full Forbes article here

How to Tailor Your Resume

Crafting the perfect resume can be a make-or-break in your job search. Here are a few tips:

1. Decode the job description🕵️

   Begin by decoding the job description. Identify the skills and qualifications the employer is looking for.

2. Spotlight your relevant experience🌟

   Shine a spotlight on experiences that align with the job. Highlight achievements and responsibilities that directly match the desired role.

3. Enhance your resume with Resume+🔑

   Use Ribbon’s AI-powered tool to analyze and enhance every aspect of your resume, from optimizing keywords to formatting suggestions.

4. Quantify achievements effectively💼

   Elevate your resume by quantifying achievements. Let numbers speak to your success and showcase impactful results to solidify your professional journey.

Feature Highlight - Resume+

Crafting the right resume can be a game-changer in your professional journey📄✨ Resume+ can make the process easier, offering insights that set you apart in the competitive job market!⁠

Numbers that Matter

The US economy added 223,000 jobs in December 2023, capping a year of extraordinary job growth and marking the second-best year for the labor market in records that go back to 1939. The unemployment rate fell to a record low of 3.5%, and wages grew by 4.6% on an annual basis.

However, these strong numbers could make the Federal Reserve raise interest rates more aggressively to fight inflation, which could hurt the stock market and the economy. The labor market slowed in 2023, compared to the previous year’s tear. December’s jobs total represents the lowest monthly gains in two years. Wages in December grew at the slowest rate since August 2021.

These data points suggest that the Federal Reserve’s historic rate hikes may not be having the effect that they should and that Jerome Powell & Co. may need to raise rates for longer to slow the economy and cool inflation.

Read the full CNN article here

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