Looking for a job or thinking of leaving? Best practices for landing a new role
For the first time since 2007, Minnesota’s unemployment rate is higher than the national rate. That’s according to a study released in July by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
Researchers found that unemployment insurance claims remain low, suggesting Minnesota workers aren’t being laid off in large numbers. Rather, employers are holding off on both hiring and firing.
Marcus Owens, director of the Office of Financial Empowerment at the City of St. Paul, described the current environment as one of “low hire and low fire.” He said economic uncertainty, including tariffs, higher energy prices and wars, has led companies to hold onto both their cash and their employees while they wait to see how conditions develop.
“There’s a low hiring environment,” Owens said.
According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, or DEED, the unemployment rate for Black Minnesotans was 10.7% in July, more than double the statewide rate.
Abdi Mohamed, 32, a local filmmaker and journalist, recently moved into communications work after three months of looking for a new role.
“The biggest challenge was time,” Mohamed said. “I had to accept that it would take dozens of applications to find good opportunities, and I had to commit to setting time aside specifically for the search. Part of that was also getting a clear understanding of the job titles and the specific positions that matched my strengths, and narrowing my focus there. Once I figured that out, it really helped me land interviews with places that were the right fit for me.”
Networking in Hard Times
In a stagnant job market, relationships can still be incredibly helpful in landing a new role. Owens encourages job seekers to build relationships in their industries rather than relying solely on submitting applications. Networking gives job seekers opportunities to explain what they can bring to an organization and highlight their skills.
“If you've put out 100 resumes and 100 applications, eventually somebody will contact you, but also start to build those relationships with networks,” Owens said.
Owens advises job seekers to seek out affinity groups that match their desired industry.
“Go to those events, network. Those will be where you'll likely find your next opportunity,” he said.
Understand the Transferable Skills You Have
For those who are newer to the job market for any reason, it might feel difficult to connect early work experience or life experiences to the role they’re seeking. They may have more relevant skills than they’re giving themselves credit for.
Owens encourages job seekers to look beyond their job titles and identify the skills they developed in previous roles. Someone who worked as a cashier, for example, can highlight experience handling money. Someone who worked in fast food may have developed skills related to following processes and working efficiently.
“These are all transferable skills,” Owens said. “Look for things that you're doing and create a storyline around your transferable skills into other industries.”
For Mohamed, it was important to focus on how various work and life experiences increased the value of his candidacy.
“The other thing that helped was talking more about my unconventional experience — the work I've done on boards, and the fact that I started my own business and LLC and have been contracted to do the kind of work I'd be doing as an employee,” Mohamed said.
He said those experiences demonstrated his initiative and organizational skills, as well as his ability to find clients and deliver work.
“Having your own business signals a lot about work ethic and follow-through,” Mohamed said.
Workforce agencies can also be an option for helping job seekers identify how their skills match the roles they’re pursuing.
Owens said the growing emphasis on AI fluency could also be something for job seekers to consider. He said familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Copilot, Claude and ChatGPT can help workers demonstrate how they use technology to improve efficiency, even in jobs that aren’t specifically technical.
Mohamed also found that using AI tools and LinkedIn was helpful in aligning his skills with what employers were seeking in job descriptions.
“Using AI tools was a big part of it, but not in an abusive or constant way,” he said.
Mohamed said he used AI tools to analyze job descriptions and identify experiences on his resume that were relevant to specific positions. With more than 15 years of experience, he said the process helped him recognize accomplishments he might otherwise overlook.
LinkedIn tools that show how closely a profile matches an application were also useful, he said.
“I think you have to apply that same matching process to yourself,” Mohamed said.
Owens said networking remains an important tool for people looking for work, including those who expect they may need to search for a job soon.
“If you're looking for a job right now, you should be building your network,” Owens said.
He also recommends reaching out directly to hiring managers rather than relying exclusively on job postings. Building professional relationships can help job seekers become known within their industry and find people who can vouch for their skills.
On the application side, Owens recommends tailoring resumes to individual positions rather than relying on a generic resume. He said job seekers should incorporate relevant keywords from the actual job postings when highlighting their experience.
For more information about career opportunities and networking, visit the People of Color Career Fair at www.peopleofcolorcareerfair.com. The event is happening on Oct. 13 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Along with networking, attendees can get free professional headshots and learn from interview and resume workshops.
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