There’s no denying that 2025 has been a year of change. In just the past year, AI has entered the job-search conversation in a big way, and don’t even get me started on how bots are applying on behalf of candidates. It’s hard to keep up and stay relevant in today’s job market with everything that’s changing so quickly. Those of us who do this work on a daily basis must stay committed to our professions by connecting with the right people, reading about what’s new and upcoming, and (perhaps most importantly) learn to decipher what’s worth knowing and what isn’t.
How’s a job seeker to cope—especially when you may be in a job search for just a few months?
It can sound like a lot to take on to stay relevant, but the good thing is that you don’t have to invest a lot of time or money into the process. You just need a strategy with sound direction and goals. Here’s how you, as a professional who’s entering today’s job market, can stay relevant and involved without being fake or feeling like you have to start a profile on TikTok.
Tip #1. Embrace the Moniker “Lifelong Learner”
One of the best ways to stay relevant in today’s job market is to shift your mindset to that of a lifelong learner. This is more than just something to add to your resume summary or LinkedIn about section, and it doesn’t mean you have to enroll in classes at the local community college. Being a lifelong learner means that you are invested in industry trends, you seek out new ideas, and you know how to have a conversation about the things “the kids” are talking about these days.
Need some ideas for how to continue learning? I’ve got ‘em! (And most won’t cost much, if anything.)
Read (or read more)
Did you know that reading actually changes the wiring in your brain? That’s because we immerse ourselves in the story, and we experience the same things the characters experience. That means that even your dime-store novel can help, but if you really want to level-up your commitment to lifelong learning (and stay relevant in today’s job market), choose books about business building, the job search, or professional development. Places to find books on the cheap:
- Your local public library has free access to physical books, ebooks, magazines, and even audiobooks.
- Kindle Unlimited, offered through Amazon, often provides discounts and trial periods.
- Blinkist is an app that gives you bite-sized learning sessions of just 15 minutes. You’ll gain access to some of the top books on personal development.
Take advantage of LinkedIn Learning
Included with a premium subscription to LinkedIn (which, by the way, often gives you the first month free), LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of courses on various business topics, such as digital marketing, data analytics, communication, leadership, and tech tools. All are video based and can even result in certifications to add to your LinkedIn profile.
Major universities offer free online courses
Did you know that you can take courses at MIT and Harvard without traveling or paying a dime? It’s true, and I’m sure other schools also have a variety of free-to-you offerings that could be right up your alley.
Check out Coursera
If you can’t find the classes you want at your favorite Ivy League school, look into Coursera. Yale offers courses through the site, as do other colleges and universities. In fact, Coursera boasts more than 10,000 courses, professional certificates, and degrees from world-class universities and companies. Try it for free or choose Coursera Pro for a monthly investment.
Tap into the library
Sure, your local library has books, but did you know that they often provide free access to business databases, certification prep, and e-learning platforms such as Gale and Udemy? I’m in Phoenix, and our Phoenix Public Library has all these things and more, but I know it’s not the only one. Check out your local resource—and send a thanks to Benjamin Franklin for popularizing the idea of free public centers of knowledge.
Tip #2. Keep Up with Market and Industry Trends
Staying up on what’s happening in the world doesn’t mean you need to read the paper every morning—although it wouldn’t hurt. Subscribe to industry newsletters that mean something to you, such as the Harvard Business Review. Some other ways to stay current with industry trends include:
Subscribe to an aggregate news service
You can pick your poison here but remember that I’m not talking about CNN vs. MSN vs. Fox News. I mean a more focused business news services such as SmartBrief. Your city may have a Business Journal, which will provide up-to-date information on your area. And even Reddit can be a good source of what’s new and upcoming across a variety of industries.
Create Google alerts
Setting up multiple Google alerts for your industry, as well as some of the companies you’re targeting in your job search, can put you at the cutting edge of what’s upcoming. Simple and effective, these alerts will show up in your inbox throughout the day, once a day, or less often depending on the frequency you set. If they get to be too much, just create a folder for them in your mail server to review them at your convenience.
Listen to podcasts
Whether you commute to work or like to walk around your neighborhood, you can no doubt carve out a few minutes a day to listen to some good podcasts. Spotify and Apple have a plethora of them, and you can search based on your industry and interests.
Tip #3. Get Comfortable with Technology
Love it or hate it, we are moving forward in a symbiotic relationship with technology. As a job seeker, you probably know that LinkedIn is a must in your toolbox, but there are so many options for how to scale up in this arena. If you’re looking for remote work, you can expect your next employer will use a project-management tool such as Trello, Asana, or ClickUp, and they’re definitely going to conduct meetings on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet. Then there’s the whole conversation around generative AI, marketing automation sites, and business analytics tools.
The good news: If you’re not as familiar with any of these tools as you’d like to be, LinkedIn or Coursera probably has some education on them. Regardless of whether you’re comfortable now or need to learn a bit more about technology, showing that you’re ready to get on board with whatever tools your future employer chooses will make you a much more attractive candidate.
4. Strengthen Your Personal Brand
To stay relevant in today’s market, you don’t just need to know what’s happening in the world and have a handle on some of the most-used tools, you have to stay personally relevant as well—and that means having a strong personal brand. The easiest way to do this is on LinkedIn. I can go on for hours about LinkedIn, so be sure to look up some of my other blogs on the topic, but for this conversation on relevancy, remember to:
- Build a strong profile that tells a story.
- Share thoughtful insights, posts, and articles.
- Contribute to other conversations and lift others up.
Tip #5. Network Like You Mean It
Knowing something about your industry is only part of winning the battle to stay relevant in today’s job market. You also have to let everyone else know that you are a subject-matter expert! In part, this occurs through your posts and outreach on LinkedIn, but being successful in this arena is a lot about networking with intention.
Too often, I hear job seekers say that they stopped networking or stopped engaging on LinkedIn when they had a job—and then they’re left struggling to gain traction when they need those people again. The truth is that networking isn’t just a job-search tactic; it’s a strategy to use throughout your career. Whether it’s grabbing coffee with a former colleague, joining a professional association, or commenting on a peer’s LinkedIn post, consistent, genuine connection is key.
Some ideas to get you started:
- Attend industry events, which are gold mines for connections and knowledge acquisition.
- Join LinkedIn groups in your field and get involved in the conversations.
- Set a goal to reach out to one new or old contact per week. That’s 52 warm connections a year!
Make It a Priority to Stay Relevant in Today’s Job Market
It shouldn’t feel like a lot of work to stay up to date with what’s going on in the world. If you’re naturally curious, you’ll ask questions, you’ll read a book, and you’ll stay engaged. That’s really what it’s all about. Plus, this isn’t something you’re doing merely with the goal of securing interviews or landing a job. Yes, it will help you to have current knowledge while you’re in a job search, but it will keep your brain active, give you something to talk about at your next dinner party, and help you win games of trivia. And that’s fun all by itself.
I’m Amanda, Your Career Advocate, and I love sharing bits of wisdom to elevate your job search. I provide resume writing and LinkedIn optimization along with coaching and strategies to navigate a path to success. Want in? Learn more about how I can help.