What Happened to the Job Market?

Assuming you’re in the US, the tech scene can still be vibrant in certain areas. I’ve applied a few times for roles and never had to send out more than three applications to land a job.

Honestly, the job market is pretty rough right now. Across most sectors, companies are hiring way less. Unemployment rates are stable because many places aren't firing employees, but they aren't bringing new ones on board either. It's tough out there.

Things started to shift around 2–4 years ago for several reasons, especially in the US. A lot of folks jumped ship for new jobs during the pandemic, leading companies to cut back on staff afterwards. Big layoffs at companies like Twitter set a trend, and some regulatory changes made software development costlier for startups. Also, with interest rates going up, funding for new companies dried up, and many are focusing more on profits than growth. On top of that, AI tools have made businesses think they can operate with fewer developers, which has led to even fewer job openings and a saturated job market.

I haven't been actively searching, but it feels like many jobs have been outsourced. Throw in AI and the trend of companies believing they need fewer workers, and it's no wonder. I got hired just before everything turned upside down, and while I feel underpaid, at least I've got some experience.

AI is playing a big role in recruiting now. You’ve got to optimize your resume to get noticed by these systems that filter candidates. If you don’t tweak it well enough, you might not even make it past the first round.