Bridge builder | CEO @ TechChange | Prof @ Columbia | Top Voice (300K+)
ð—¦ð—¼ ð— ð—®ð—»ð˜† ð—£ð—²ð—¼ð—½ð—¹ð—² ð—›ð—®ð˜ƒð—² ð—”ð˜€ð—¸ð—²ð—±: ð—›ð—¼ð˜„ ð——𗼠𗜠ð—¦ð˜ð—®ð—´ð—² ð— 𘆠ð—ð—¼ð—¯ ð—¦ð—²ð—®ð—¿ð—°ð—µ ð—¥ð—¶ð—´ð—µð˜ ð—¡ð—¼ð˜„? With USAID downsizing and ripple effects hitting implementing partners, contractors, and global development orgs, the job market is brutal right now. So I’ve consolidated my best advice—specific to this moment. 1ï¸âƒ£ ð—§ð—®ð—¸ð—² ð—® ð—•ð—¿ð—²ð—®ð˜ð—µ ð—•ð—²ð—³ð—¼ð—¿ð—² ð—ð˜‚ð—ºð—½ð—¶ð—»ð—´ ð—œð—». If you can afford it, pause before panic-applying. This wasn’t just a job—it was a mission. Layoffs hit hard. Take a moment to process, reflect, and reset before diving in. 2ï¸âƒ£ ð—§ð—µð—¶ð˜€ ð—œð˜€ ð—® ð— ð—®ð—¿ð—®ð˜ð—µð—¼ð—», ð—¡ð—¼ð˜ ð—® ð—¦ð—½ð—¿ð—¶ð—»ð˜. Most searches will take 6-12 months. Some organizations are quietly hiring, but many have paused new roles. Pace yourself. Overwhelming yourself in month one will make month six that much harder. 3ï¸âƒ£ ð—•ð˜‚ð—¶ð—¹ð—± ð—® ð—¥ð—²ð—®ð—¹ ð—¦ð˜‚ð—½ð—½ð—¼ð—¿ð˜ ð—¦ð˜†ð˜€ð˜ð—²ð—º (ð—¡ð—¼ð˜ ð—ð˜‚ð˜€ð˜ “ð—¡ð—²ð˜ð˜„ð—¼ð—¿ð—¸ð—¶ð—»ð—´â€). Job searching right now is exhausting. You need more than LinkedIn messages—you need a team in your corner. That might mean a career coach, a job search accountability group, or a Slack/WhatsApp community where you can be honest about the struggle. The Bloom, Career Pivot, Reconsidered - all great. 4ï¸âƒ£ ð—•ð—² ð—¦ð—²ð—¹ð—²ð—°ð˜ð—¶ð˜ƒð—² ð—”ð—¯ð—¼ð˜‚ð˜ ð—ªð—µð—²ð—¿ð—² ð—¬ð—¼ð˜‚ ð—”ð—½ð—½ð—¹ð˜†. There are too many job boards, too many postings, and too many applicants. Instead of throwing resumes everywhere, go where the real opportunities are. (Yes, I’m partial to ImpactSource dot ai, because it updates dynamically and auto matches you with roles—but whatever board you use, make sure it’s giving you real signal, not noise.) 5ï¸âƒ£ ð—¦ð—¸ð—¶ð—½ ð˜ð—µð—² ð—¦ð—µð—¼ð˜ð—´ð˜‚ð—» ð—”ð—½ð—½ð—¿ð—¼ð—®ð—°ð—µâ€”ð—œð˜â€™ð˜€ ð—® ð—§ð—¿ð—®ð—½. I see too many people applying to 100+ jobs and getting nowhere. Right now, the jobs being filled are often never even posted. Instead of panic-applying, target specific orgs, connect with insiders, and have real conversations. 6ï¸âƒ£ ð—¨ð˜€ð—² ð—Ÿð—¶ð—»ð—¸ð—²ð—±ð—œð—» ð—³ð—¼ð—¿ ð—©ð—¶ð˜€ð—¶ð—¯ð—¶ð—¹ð—¶ð˜ð˜†, ð—¡ð—¼ð˜ ð—ð˜‚ð˜€ð˜ ð—”ð—½ð—½ð—¹ð—¶ð—°ð—®ð˜ð—¶ð—¼ð—»ð˜€. Everyone is applying through LinkedIn. But not everyone is building credibility there. Try this: Post once a week. Share something about your expertise, your past work, or even your reflections on the job search. Visibility = Opportunity. 7ï¸âƒ£ ð—ªð—®ð—¿ð—º ð—œð—»ð˜ð—¿ð—¼ð˜€ > ð—–ð—¼ð—¹ð—± ð—”ð—½ð—½ð—¹ð—¶ð—°ð—®ð˜ð—¶ð—¼ð—»ð˜€. Most people get hired through connections, not job portals. Instead of applying blindly, reach out to people who know your work. Ask for warm introductions. Use first-degree LinkedIn connections wisely. 8ï¸âƒ£ ð—šð—¶ð˜ƒð—² ð—•ð—²ð—³ð—¼ð—¿ð—² ð—¬ð—¼ð˜‚ ð—”ð˜€ð—¸. Even in a job search, you have something to offer. Share job openings. Offer to review someone’s resume. Connect two people who should meet. Generosity opens doors. 9ï¸âƒ£ ð—¦ð˜ð—®ð˜† ð—œð—» ð˜ð—µð—² ð—šð—®ð—ºð—²â€”ð—§ð—µð—¶ð˜€ ð—¦ð—²ð—°ð˜ð—¼ð—¿ ð—¦ð˜ð—¶ð—¹ð—¹ ð—¡ð—²ð—²ð—±ð˜€ ð—¬ð—¼ð˜‚. The world needs your talents more than ever. 🔟 What’s been most helpful for you? Drop your advice in the comments. Sharing is CARING.