Finding Your Path In a Crowded Market

In a crowded market, visibility isn't just about being seen, its about being understood

We’re in an unusual moment in a crowded market. Unemployment in New Zealand is hovering at 5.1% - not alarming, but not ideal. Filled job numbers have barely shifted (up just 0.1%) and yet job ads have dropped almost 30% compared to last year. On paper, it looks like everything’s slowing. But in July, something interesting has been happening: job ads crept up by 3%. Not a surge. Not a bounce. A nudge. And that tells us something not that confidence is back but that employers are starting to look ahead… very carefully.

This isn’t a downturn. It’s a recalibration.

So what does a cautious recovery actually look like?

In practice, it means:

• Fewer roles being openly advertised

• More competition for each listing

• An increased focus on the ‘perfect fit’ from employers

• Hiring decisions being drawn out or put on hold altogether

It also means more movement behind the scenes - roles being quietly filled, priorities shifting and hiring managers unsure whether to lock someone in or wait for clarity. For jobseekers, it can feel frustrating. You’re ready. You’re applying. But the response is… slow or silent. So how do you shift gears in this kind of market?

Four Strategies for a Cautious Market

1. Rethink visibility. It’s no longer enough to simply be available - you need to be visible in the right way. That means a CV and LinkedIn profile that doesn’t just list duties but tells a cohesive story: who you are, what you bring, and how you solve problems.

   
   

2. Build active, not passive, networks. This isn’t about shouting your availability to everyone you know. It’s about targeted, meaningful outreach - coffee chats, shared content, reconnecting with old colleagues. Most people want to help — they just need to know how.

   
   

3. Stay agile in your focus. Hybrid roles are increasingly common - roles that blend advisory and execution, customer and tech, operations and strategy. If you’re stuck looking for the exact job title you had before, you might miss the opportunity that’s two steps to the left.

   
   

4. Adopt a strategic lens. This market is asking more of jobseekers - not just persistence, but intentionality. That might mean taking a step back to realign your positioning, revisit your strengths, and set a fresh path forward (not just send more applications).

A cautious market doesn’t mean a closed one.

But it does mean you need to move differently - with strategy, with intention and with the kind of clarity that cuts through hesitation.

If that’s something you’re navigating right now, you’re not alone. This is exactly where career strategy makes the difference - not by offering easy answers but by helping you ask better questions and move forward with intention. Sometimes the smartest move isn’t doing more, it’s pausing to reframe how you're approaching it.

That’s the kind of work we do at Pick a Path, so if you’re ready to explore a different approach, come and meet our team here.

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Ready to take the next step?

Explore how we can support your career journey - check out our Career Strategy Sessions page here.