In 2022 work-from-home became a codified practice for some companies.Morsa Images/Getty Images
- Some signs point to a recession, while others indicate a stable job market.
- These opposing conditions have left job seekers scratching their heads.
In 2022, the world of work has become the Wild West.
Technology giants have laid off thousands of employees, inflation has soared, and, in the second quarter, the US gross domestic product decreased 0.9% — all signs that a recession may be coming. At the same time, consultancies, travel businesses, and healthcare companies have continued to hire, and the unemployment rate remained stable at 3.6% in June, according to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This whirlwind comes on the heels of a chaotic 2021, when employees' heads were spinning from vaccine mandates, work-from-home policies, and mass resignations.
To help employees navigate the wacky world of the workplace, Insider compiled a collection of career advice. Whether you're trying to make sense of the job market, fearing layoffs at your company, or hunting for a new gig, here are the pieces of advice career coaches, economists, psychologists, and more have to offer.
If you don't understand what's happening in the job market right now ...
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America has entered a "precession," a phrase Insider coined and previously defined as "an awkward, confusing phase in which some economic indicators seem to portend a recession, while others suggest things could turn out to be OK."
While tech companies are being hit hard by the precession, education, consultancy, and nonprofit companies are more likely to boomerang back from this downturn.
The social and economic turmoil causing this precession has left many Americans feeling stressed about their physical, emotional, and financial health. This is why Insider spoke with business executives, hiring managers, career coaches, and economists to learn more about the job market and give suggestions to readers on how to navigate it.
Read more:
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If you like your job but want more from it ...
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If you're laid off ...
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Nearly 62,000 technology workers — including those from companies such as Coinbase and Twitter — have been laid off in 2022, according to the tech-industry-layoffs tracker Layoffs.FYI.
Simultaneously, in a survey of 1,004 working US adults in June by the staffing-solutions firm Insight Global, 78% of respondents said they were scared of losing their jobs in the next recession.
But rest assured, layoffs do not usually come out of nowhere, Eli Joseph, a professor at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies and the author of "The Perfect Rejection Resume," previously told Insider.
And even if they do, Insider has compiled advice from top career experts on how to move forward in your career after being laid off.
Read more:Don't underestimate your exit interview. Career experts share the 6 most common questions and how to answer them.
5 steps to take if you lose your job, from leveraging social media connections to building a network
4 ways to overcome the stigma of layoffs and find a new job in today's economy
If you decide you want to job hop ...
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This year, the US job market witnessed record quit rates, particularly in the retail, food-services, and hospitality industries.
Job seekers are taking advantage of high wages and job openings. In a tightening market, candidates need to put their best foot forward, develop a personal brand, and ace interviews.
But in your haste to leave, be wary that you're not overlooking red flags. In a recent survey, 72% of Gen Z respondents who just started a new job said they felt regret because the role or company was not what they believed it would be.
Here is how to find a new job in this fluctuating economy.
Read more:Should you change jobs with the market and economy in turmoil? Here's how to decide as decades-high inflation makes employers rethink their strategies.
Here are 5 tips for job hunting in a slower economic environment — even a recession
How to build an unforgettable personal brand that will help you switch careers, land your dream job, or snag a promotion, according to marketing experts
Job seekers are accepting offers only to find the reality is nothing like the recruiter sold them. Here's how to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
If you're looking for something new ...
Freelance worker working from the van while taking a road trip. MStudioImages/Getty Images