Kate Morgan
Founder & CEO of Boston Human Capital Partners
I get a lot of unemployed people reaching out to me looking for help in their job search or just counsel on the market. I have clients who are overwhelmed with responses for roles when they post. Having been through the ups and downs in the market over the last 3 decades, I can say that, while the economy as a whole is chugging along on paper, we’re in a stealth white-collar recession.
The market isn’t rewarding excellence right now. It’s rewarding conservatism, cost-cutting, and “good enough”.
Frankly, founders and execs are burned out. Many are managing PTSD from 2020–2022, and their ability to vision-cast and lead hiring with confidence is diminished. Hiring feels like a risk again—and a luxury, not a growth strategy. In hi-tech backed by VC, they’re under considerable pressure to reduce their burn rate as their VCs warn that the coffers will run dry if they haven’t found their stride with PMF. Whether it’s real or not, the perception of AI-as-replacement is impacting how people are thinking about their human capital; should we hire entry level people —or can we automate it?”
Aside from riding out the storm, what can folks do during these trying times?
How to Find Opportunity When You’re Unemployed (and the Market Feels Broken)
1. Stop Applying Cold. Start Building Warm.
Applications are going into black holes. Stop throwing résumés into the void. Instead:
- Reach out directly to founders, hiring managers, or senior leaders. Not to ask for a job—but to offer insight or ask thoughtful questions.
- Comment on their posts. Share something useful. Show up.
- Send a “thinking of you” note with zero ask, just to stay in their orbit.
Goal: Be the person they remember when the budget gets approved.
2. Use LinkedIn as a Stage, Not a Résumé
Let’s be blunt: “Open to Work” isn’t a strategy. Instead:
- Share a weekly post: insights from your field, mistakes you’ve learned from, trends you’re watching.
- Write like a human. No one wants another bland “10 tips” list. Show your voice. Show your thinking.
- End every post with a light CTA: “If you’re seeing the same trend, I’d love to swap notes.”
Goal: Be known for your brain, not your last title.
3. Join the Hidden Market
Most roles right now are getting filled behind the scenes. How to tap in:
- Let people know exactly what you’re looking for. (Not “open to anything” – that’s a no-go.)
- Join founder groups, industry Slack communities, LinkedIn DMs where real talk happens.
- Offer to do project work or fractional roles. Many companies are hiring on the sly.
- Check out VentureFizz and learn about companies that you are interested in and introduce yourself.
Goal: Position yourself as a plug-and-play solution, not a wildcard.
4. Pitch Yourself Like a Consultant, Not a Job Seeker
Reframe your narrative:
- What problems do you solve?
- Who benefits most from your expertise?
- Can you write a mini “value prop” deck and send it to a few select founders?
Goal: Show up with clarity, not desperation. Think: I can help you fix this, not please hire me.
5. Protect Your Energy
Job searching right now can feel like rejection theater. Counter that by:
- Creating structure (apply or network X times per week, not all day every day).
- Doing one thing every day that has nothing to do with your job search but feeds your confidence.
- Connecting with others in the same boat. (You are not alone.)
This isn’t a broken you. It’s a broken hiring market. The people who win right now? They get creative, visible, and useful. They treat this like a weird season, not a reflection of their worth.
