WCT #104: 6 Moves to Restart Your Job Search in 2026
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The end of the year has a way of suspending motion. Calendars fill with holidays, inboxes quiet down, and job searches get politely placed on pause. I understand why it happens. I also know what happens next. January arrives, hiring plans restart, bonuses are paid, and the people who stayed passive suddenly realize they are behind. Before diving in, I want to thank everyone I had the privilege of working with last year. Coaching is deeply personal work, and I do not take lightly the trust clients place in me during moments of transition.
Now the new year is here, and this is not a soft reset. Companies are assessing headcount, leaders are reevaluating teams, and candidates are quietly making moves. If your job search slowed during the holidays, this is your call to action. Waiting longer does not create clarity. It creates competition.
1. January rewards clarity, not contemplation.
Many jobseekers enter the new year with a vague sense that they want something different but cannot articulate what that is. Ambiguity feels safe, but it is corrosive. Employers hire for defined problems, not open-ended dissatisfaction. January is the time to get precise about what you want next, what you are qualified to do, and what tradeoffs you are willing to make. Role, scope, industry, compensation, and trajectory all matter. Without clarity, every posting looks tempting, and every conversation drifts. I help clients make these decisions early so their search becomes intentional rather than reactive. Clarity creates momentum, and momentum attracts opportunity.
2. Your resume must reflect where you are going, not where you have been.
Most resumes fail because they read like historical documents. They catalog responsibilities instead of signaling value. Recruiters and hiring managers are scanning quickly, comparing candidates side by side, and making fast judgments. Your resume must tell a tight, coherent story about impact, progression, and relevance. That means quantifying results, sharpening your language, and aligning your experience with the roles you want now. A stale, impactless resume does more damage than no resume at all. This is foundational work. Without it, every application and referral underperforms. I spend significant time with clients here because this document drives everything else.
3. LinkedIn is not optional, and it goes beyond the content of your resume.
If your LinkedIn profile is an afterthought, you are invisible at precisely the wrong time. January is peak sourcing season. Recruiters are active, alumni are reachable, and hiring managers are browsing quietly. Your headline, summary, and experience sections must speak directly to the problems you solve and the value you bring. A passive profile signals a passive candidate. A strong one opens doors before you ever apply. I help clients position themselves so their profiles work while they sleep, attracting the right conversations rather than random outreach.
4. Outreach is where real searches are won or lost.
Applications feel productive. Networking feels uncomfortable. The market does not care about your comfort. Most meaningful roles are filled through personal outreach, referrals, and warm introductions. January is when people are receptive to reconnection. The mistake I see is waiting until everything feels perfect. It never will. Outreach should be strategic, consistent, and human. It is not about asking for a job. It is about building visibility and trust. I coach clients on what to say, who to contact, and how to follow up so networking becomes a repeatable system instead of a source of anxiety.
5. Interviewing is a skill, and skills require practice.
Strong professionals routinely underestimate how rusty they are in interviews. They assume experience will carry them. It does not. January interviews move quickly, and expectations are high. You need crisp narratives, confident delivery, and the ability to handle pressure. Mock interviews expose blind spots before they cost you offers. They also build confidence, which changes how you show up. This is one of the highest return investments candidates can make. The difference between an average and excellent interview is rarely intelligence. It is preparation.
6. Negotiation and readiness separate amateurs from professionals.
By the time compensation comes up, most candidates are emotionally invested and poorly prepared. That is backwards. You should understand market ranges, your leverage, and your priorities well before an offer appears. January is when budgets are fresh, and flexibility exists. That window closes as the year progresses. In parallel, this is also the moment to shore up references, request LinkedIn recommendations, and address any skill gaps through targeted upskilling. None of this is busywork. It is leverage. I help clients think through these moves early, so they are calm and confident when it matters.
The Bottom Line
The new year does not magically create opportunity. Action does. January favors candidates who move decisively while others are still warming up. If your job search paused during the holidays, that pause has now expired. You do not need to overhaul everything overnight, but you do need to start. Momentum compounds quickly when effort is focused and guided.
If you want structure, accountability, and an experienced partner in this process, reach out. I help clients gain clarity, sharpen their materials, build real traction through outreach, and execute with confidence. Most people know what they should be doing. Far fewer actually do it. This is the moment to change that.
I help people land amazing jobs fast and manage their career journeys through coaching and advising. I also transform resumes and LinkedIn profiles to attract more interviews and offers. Learn more about my career coaching and contact me or request a free 15-minute Career Solutions Call.