Many people who work in corporate America will one day find themselves in the job market. It doesn't always have to be due to a negative reason such as experiencing a toxic work environment, being laid off, fired, etc. It could be due to a positive to neutral reason such as being bored and seeking more challenge, money, connections, etc. It could also be that one took a break to get more training or tend to a family and is now back in the job market.

But experience this you will.

Here are a few things I've learned from observing the job market:

1. Having a job is no guarantee that it would be easier to get another job- People frequently say that it is easier to get another job when you have a job. They say this because they believe that when you have a job, you are more marketable because one company-your current company- is currently picking you. It's a form of social proof. They also believe that when you have a job, you won't be desperate which is a good thing to see in a prospective employee. But this is not always true. I knew someone who had been continuously employed for 2 decades, had a job, and wanted to leave, but could not get interviews from other companies. I have known people with current jobs who are landing interviews but are not able to close the deal. Having a job doesn't always mean you will be picked by another company.

2. It is not always easier to get a job with your current company, even though you'd assume it would be- I have found that some companies actually prefer to hire external candidates rather than internal candidates. You would think that companies would be eager to pick the person who already knows the norms and systems of their company over someone that needs to be trained on that, but nope, many companies will hire someone externally. There are numerous reasons for this. Sometimes a company wants their internal employee to keep doing their current job, sometimes they don't want to advance that employee, sometimes they want new energy, etc. So know that just because you work for a company and they "know" you, doesn't mean you'd get your pick of roles or easily advance within that company.

3. Even with The Great Resignation going on, it is not necessarily faster to get another job- The interview process is inherently a very subjective process. The interviewers are looking for a "cultural fit", which is another way of saying that they are looking for someone they like. What this means is that, all sorts of biases, both conscious and unconscious seep into the interview process. Many interviewees will still experience ageism, sexism, racism, high-affinity bias, and more. Just because we are experiencing The Great Resignation, doesn't mean that everything has become unbiased and truly merit-based. Be prepared.

4. The sheer number of interviews you will go on will be mind-boggling- Interviewing, at least in the last decade is not for the faint of heart. You will interview with on average 6 to 10 different people for one job. Each interview will range from 30 minutes to an hour. Imagine how much time commitment it will take to be interviewed by multiple companies. In a nutshell: A lot. Interviewing is an exercise in patience, resilience, and fortitude so be prepared for that.

5. You will interview for a job; be so certain you will get it and then…. Crickets- Like I said earlier, the job market is an exercise in patience, resilience, and fortitude. You will be disappointed so many times. Your heart will break. You may even cry a lot. You may experience anxiety, desperation, and depression. You may even get angry at the unfairness of it all. But don't give up. Take breaks if you need to, but stay grinding. It only takes one.

Most job market articles give you generalized, advice. Not the reality of what looking for a job is like. But now you know.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed

Good Luck