Can’t find a job? What to change first

01

Diagnose before you change anything

Look at the past six weeks and write down how many roles you found worth applying to, how many applications you sent, how many replies came back and how many interviews followed. The pattern tells you where to start.

If the second row is yours, the guide to why you are not getting interviews goes through nine specific causes.

02

Widen or narrow your target

These are opposite fixes for opposite problems, so be clear which one you have.

Widen when there are too few openings. Each of these adds roles without changing who you are.

• Other titles for the same work. Employers name the same job differently. Search by the tasks and tools you know, not only by your last title.
• Neighboring industries. The same function exists in sectors you have not worked in. Your transferable skills carry further than your industry knowledge.
• More places. Add nearby cities, hybrid roles with a longer commute a few days a week, or remote roles open to your state.
• Level. Consider a lateral move or one step down at an employer where you could grow.
• Type of employment. Contract and temporary roles count, and so do smaller employers that do not advertise on the big boards.

Narrow when you apply widely and nothing comes back. One resume cannot fit five kinds of job. Choose one or two closely related titles, rewrite the top of your resume for them and send fewer, better-matched applications for three weeks. Then compare the reply rate.

03

Change channels

Many people search in the same few ways. In Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 2025, 56.1% of unemployed jobseekers sent resumes or filled out applications, 23.7% contacted friends or relatives and 13.8% used a public employment agency. The average was 1.8 methods per person. If applications are your only channel, adding a second one sets you apart from much of the field.

1. People who know your work. Former managers, colleagues, clients and classmates. Ask for information and introductions, not for a job.
2. Employers directly. List twenty employers you would like to work for, check their careers pages weekly and write to the team’s manager when something close appears.
3. Recruiters and staffing agencies. Agencies that place people in your field hear about openings from their client companies.
4. Public employment services. American Job Centers keep job listings and can refer you to training.
5. Associations and events. Professional groups, alumni networks and local job fairs put you in front of people who hire.

Hi [Name],

It's been a while since [team or project]. I hope things are going well at [their company].

I'm looking for my next role as a [target title], ideally in [industry or location]. You know my work on [specific thing you did together], so I wanted to ask two things: do you know of anyone hiring for that kind of role, and is there someone you think I should talk to?

I'd also like to hear what you've been working on. Could we find 15 minutes for a call next week?

Thanks,
[Your name]

The guide to networking for a job has more wording, including how to follow up without being a nuisance.

04

Take bridge work without stalling the search

Bridge work is a job you take to cover costs while you keep looking: temporary or contract assignments, part-time work, freelance projects or seasonal roles. It is a sensible move, not a defeat, when savings are running down.

• Prefer work that adds something. A contract in your field, a role that uses a skill you want to show or a job at an employer you would like to join all help the search.
• Keep protected hours. Hold a fixed block each week for applications and conversations, so the bridge does not become the destination by accident.
• Describe it plainly. Put it on your resume with honest dates and a line about what you did.
• Check how it affects benefits. If you receive unemployment benefits, ask your state program how part-time or temporary earnings are treated before you start. Each state runs its own program.

The guide to contract and full-time work explains what changes when you are paid as a contractor.

05

Use the help and benefits available to you

• American Job Centers. The U.S. Department of Labor describes them as providing a full range of assistance to job seekers under one roof, including training referrals, career counseling and job listings. You can visit in person or use a center’s services online. Find the nearest one through the CareerOneStop website or by calling 1-877-US2-JOBS (1-877-872-5627).
• Unemployment insurance. It pays benefits to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own and meet their state’s work and wage requirements. The Department of Labor says to contact your state’s program as soon as possible after becoming unemployed, and generally to file in the state where you worked.
• Other benefits. The benefit finder on USA.gov, the federal government’s official guide to services, covers help with food, health, housing and utilities, and cash assistance, and explains how to apply.
• Health coverage. HealthCare.gov lists the options for people who are unemployed: a Marketplace plan, with savings based on household size and income; Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program; and COBRA continuation coverage if your former employer offers it.

06

Keep going without burning out

A long search is common, as the data in how long it takes to find a job shows. What wears people down is working without limits or feedback. Set working hours for the search and stop when they end. Measure effort you control, such as applications sent and conversations held, alongside results you do not. Stay in touch with people. And if the search is affecting your health, say so to someone you trust and to a doctor.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions