The Job Market Is On Fire Right Now: Here Are 4 Ways To Take Advantage Of That
By Ashley Rogers 
Job seekers, rejoice! The job market is on fire, and according to Forbes, it’s only going to get hotter.
Let’s take a look at the numbers: In the United States, there are more than 161 million people working and 15.7 million jobs open. What does that mean in practice? Every company is competing against each other for staff, and around 10% of jobs are sitting open. Just in December of 2021, more than 530,00 new jobs were created and the unemployment rate is now down to 4.6% (and dropping).
With unemployment rates at historic lows and new jobs being created every day, this is the perfect time to start a job search — whether that means jumping back into the job market if you have taken a pause or comparing opportunities so you can increase how much you are making.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to take advantage of this moment, so you can land the kind of job you’ll be excited about while making as much money as possible.
1. Get Help From The App Steady To Start Your Search
Never say no to help when it comes to a job search — especially free help. Consider Steady — a free job search and income tracking app (available for both iOS and Android) — your ultimate job search assistant.
Steady is home to over 1.5 million verified job opportunities, from one-time gigs and flexible side-hustles to part-time and full-time positions. Whether you’re looking to fill in gaps in your income, just want to make enough money to achieve a specific financial goal, or are looking to have multiple income sources in your back pocket, Steady can help you find the jobs that fit your schedule and income needs. Steady is over 2.5 million members strong and says its members make an average of over $5,500 a year in extra income.
In a competitive job market — where the job seeker is in the driver’s seat — Steady can come in extra handy.
Right now you can afford to be picky about what kind of job you accept, and Steady helps you filter jobs by distance, date posted, and occupation categories (general labor, food and beverage, retail, freelance, tutoring, etc.).
On top of that, Steady makes it really easy to apply for jobs, which means you can apply for a bunch of jobs at once to find the best option for your needs. Within the Steady app, find a job you like, hit apply, and proceed with filling out the application for the position. That’s it.
Don’t go another day without having the Steady app on your phone. It’s a must in this particular moment. Sign up now.2. Do Your Due Diligence
Because you no longer need to jump at the first job opportunity that comes your way, now is the moment to make sure you are doing your due diligence during the job search. Take the time to find out if the companies and positions you are looking at match up with your values, and passions.
A few tips to do this? Dig into the companies you are considering, looking at their websites where you can usually find mission or value statements, do Google searches for recent press on the companies, and ask around to see if you can find friends and family who might have worked at the companies to get firsthand feedback.
Lastly, look at sites like Fairgygodboss and Glassdoor to see what current and past employees have to say about the company.
3. Ask The Right Questions
When the job market is skewed in favor of employers, the interview process can often feel entirely one-sided. Now is a time when you can feel comfortable taking a different approach – don’t be afraid to ask questions! You have power in this situation.
A few examples of questions that could be good to bring up to help you in your search:
- Are there professional development, upskill, or continuing education opportunities available?
- What is a typical day like?
- What’s the culture of the company like?
- What do you like about working here?
- Are flexible work arrangements offered?
- Do you have any organization & leadership development programs?
- How are pay raises and bonuses decided?
- What’s your management style?
4. Don’t Forget To Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate
This is a fabulous time to negotiate, you don’t have to just accept the first offer that is on the table. Remember, it’s a job-seekers market and the employer might be desperate.
The other thing to remember is that there is more on the table to negotiate than just salary — time off, hours, and benefits are all on the table, too.
Bottom Line
This is a job-seekers market! The power is in your hands, so use it.
And most important? Don’t forget to start your job search with help from Steady. It can make all the difference when it comes to finding a high-paying job or adding to your bottom line with side hustle income.
Sign up today.
