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The Hill
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
These states have the strongest job opportunities in 2025, says new report
Does it surprise you that California and New York don't even crack the top ten list of states with the best job opportunities in 2025? That's just one of the eye-opening findings in MyPerfectResume's latest analysis of January 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, which looked at which states offer the strongest job markets for Americans across 49 states. The District of Columbia was not included in the study for reasons unstated. Each studied state was scored across six labor indicators; percent of hires relative to employment, percent of job openings relative to total employment, unemployed persons per job opening, layoffs and discharge rates, labor participation rates, and average hourly wages. Topping the list is Virginia, with low unemployment per job opening (0.5 unemployed per opening), a strong job openings rate (5.7 percent), and above-average wages ($36.26). Second is Vermont for its high hire rate (4.8 percent), and job openings rate (6.3 percent), followed by Connecticut, which combines strong average wages ($39.14), and job market stability, with one of the lowest layoff rates in the country. Massachusetts comes in fourth as the state ranks #1 in wages, ($42.65), and fourth in job stability. Known for its high labor participation (68.1 percent) and low job competition (0.5 unemployed per opening), Minnesota comes in fifth place, followed by Alaska, which has a high hire rate (4.7 percent), and a high number of job openings (5.8 percent). Achieving moderate results across all categories was New Hampshire in seventh place, with low unemployment and strong wages, while Rhode Island which follows, had similarly balanced performance in job availability, stability, and compensation. North Dakota has the highest labor participation rate (69.4 percent) in the country, nabbing it spot nine in the rankings, and lastly, Wisconsin rounds out the top ten for its competitive job market with low unemployment per opening, and steady labor participation. It may be surprising to see smaller Northeastern states rank so highly –– five make the top 10, but these states benefit from substantial public-sector employment, healthcare infrastructure, and education-driven economies. With these factors combined, the result is lower unemployment, higher wages, and overall job quality. Alaska may seem a more obvious inclusion, as we know it has high demand for workers due to its high job availability per capita. North Dakota is similar. Both states have low unemployment, and demand in key industries like healthcare, transportation, and energy. And though usually ranking closer to the bottom in national economic rankings, Vest Virginia nabs spot 22 in this analysis. This is credited to recent growth in remote work, healthcare, and infrastructure investment. States in the Sunbelt and Mountain West, including Arizona (11), Florida (15), Texas (17) Georgia (18), Utah (19), North Carolina (20), and Colorado (21) all did well. All demonstrated strong job market fundamentals, thanks to population growth, the migration of technology companies, and a diverse economic landscape. As for California and New York, they landed in positions 38 and 29, respectively, mainly due to diversified economies, but particularly due to opportunities in tech, healthcare, and media. 'Job seekers often focus on roles and industries—but where you live can be just as important,' says Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectResume. 'This report highlights how some states are pulling ahead in hiring, job availability, and stability. If you're considering a career move, these insights can help you align your goals with the places offering the best chances to thrive in 2025.' However, if moving isn't on the cards for you this year, these figures might at least be a comfort if you're finding the job market a struggle in your state at the moment. One tactic you can take is to look for organizations based in these states but who are hiring for remote or hybrid roles. Your state might just be in their catchment area. If that's the case, visit The Hill's Job Board today, where you'll find a mix of roles across the U.S., but with special focus on Washington D.C.. Ready to find a new role? Browse thousands of jobs on The Hill Job Board
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How To Turn A Career Gap Into A Selling Point Employers Love
When interviewing with employers, a career gap can be turned into a selling point. Nearly half (47%) of U.S. workers have experienced career gaps, according to a recent MyPerfectResume report. Yet, countless talented professionals sabotage their job search by treating a career gap like a dirty secret. They stumble through job interviews, apologize for time away from work and eventually convince hiring managers that their career break was a liability. But the most compelling candidates aren't those with linear career paths. They're the ones who have developed diverse skills and can articulate how their unconventional journey makes them a valuable asset. Here are five key steps to go from minimizing your career gap to reframing it as a competitive advantage. Focus On Skill Building Your first instinct might be to downplay your career gap, but this approach signals weakness to employers who already worry about outdated skills and reduced motivation. Instead, demonstrate how your time away developed valuable skills and kept you professionally engaged. Here's how to flip the script: Instead of saying: "I was laid off and it took me longer than expected to find something." Say this: "After my position was eliminated, I used the transition period to upgrade my skills in digital marketing and earned my Google Analytics certification. I'm returning to the workforce with advanced capabilities and a fresh perspective on data-driven marketing strategies." Instead of saying: "I was a stay-at-home parent for three years." Say this: "I managed complex family logistics, including budget planning, schedule coordination across multiple activities and relationship building within our community. These experiences strengthened my project management, financial planning and stakeholder engagement capabilities." Instead of saying: "I tried to start a business but it didn't work out." Say this: "I launched and operated an independent consulting practice, gaining hands-on experience in market research, client acquisition, financial management and strategic planning. While I ultimately decided to return to corporate employment, this entrepreneurial experience gives me valuable insights into business development and customer needs." The key is to be specific about what you accomplished and learned and then draw clear connections to the job requirements. Optimize Your Resume And Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are your first opportunity to control the narrative around your career gap. Rather than hoping employers won't notice, address it from the start. Use years instead of months when listing employment dates to minimize the appearance of resume gaps. If you engaged in meaningful activities during your career break, such as freelancing, volunteering, education or caregiving, include them as legitimate entries with action-oriented descriptions. Address your employment break in two to three sentences rather than avoiding it. Focus on what you gained, not what you missed. Instead of saying: "Although I have been out of the workforce for two years..." Say this: "During my recent career transition, I enhanced my project management skills while coordinating complex family logistics and completed advanced certifications in digital marketing. This experience, combined with my previous marketing director role, gives me a unique perspective on stakeholder management and strategic planning." The key is positioning your career gap as a purposeful part of your professional journey, not an unfortunate interruption. Master Your Job Interview Strategy Your job interview is where you transform your career gap from a potential liability into a compelling differentiator. Preparation is everything. Use the three-part structure: Context (brief), Action (detailed), Value (specific). Practice this story until it feels natural, not rehearsed. Context: "I took 18 months off after my father's cancer diagnosis." Action: "During that time, I managed his treatment coordination, researched clinical trials, and handled complex insurance negotiations." Value: "This experience strengthened my research abilities and stakeholder management skills, which I'm excited to apply to vendor relationship management in this role." Prepare confident responses to these common concerns: Question: "Why didn't you work part-time during your break?" Response: "I wanted to fully commit to the situation at hand and use any remaining time for strategic professional development." Question: "Are you concerned about being behind on industry trends?" Response: "Actually, my time away gave me fresh perspective on emerging trends in the industry, which I explored through targeted research and continuing education." Question: "How do we know you won't take another extended break?" Response: "This was a unique family situation that required my full attention. I'm now ready to fully commit to my career growth and have strong support systems in place." Don't wait to be asked about your employment break. Bring it up naturally when discussing your background. This approach shows confidence and prevents awkward moments later. Also, record yourself telling your career gap story to perfect your delivery. Your tone should be matter-of-fact and confident, not apologetic. Maintain eye contact and speak at a normal pace, as rushing through suggests discomfort. Rebuild Your Professional Network Strategic networking is crucial to overcome the visibility gap that often accompanies career breaks. Reconnect with former colleagues who can vouch for your abilities and provide insider perspectives on company cultures. Consider informational interviews with people in your target companies. They're often more willing to discuss opportunities when there's no immediate job pressure. Join professional associations and attend virtual events in your field to rebuild visibility. Update your LinkedIn profile to reflect your career gap positively, using the same reframing techniques from your resume. Engage with industry content by commenting thoughtfully on posts and sharing relevant insights. Use LinkedIn's "Open to Work" feature, and consider reaching out to recruiters who specialize in your field. Target Gap-Friendly Employers Not all employers view career gaps equally. Rather than applying broadly and hoping for the best, focus your efforts on organizations where your unconventional path becomes an advantage. Look for employers that explicitly mention valuing "diverse backgrounds," "non-traditional paths," or "life experience" in their job postings and company values. Startups and smaller companies often prioritize skills over linear career paths, while organizations with strong diversity and inclusion programs typically appreciate varied life experiences. Before applying, investigate whether the organization truly supports work-life balance or if it's just marketing speak. Check employee reviews for mentions of flexibility, family support and career development opportunities. Companies that offer returnship programs, flexible schedules or explicitly welcome career changers are ideal targets. Turn Your Career Gap Into Your Greatest Asset Your career gap doesn't have to be a liability. With the right strategy and mindset, it can become one of your strongest selling points. The key is approaching it with confidence, connecting your experiences to employer needs and demonstrating the unique value you bring because of your unconventional path, not despite it.
Fast Company
24-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Don't hide that career gap on your résumé. Own it
Career gaps have become commonplace in people's work history, yet job seekers still feel the need to hide them—a strategy experts warn is likely to backfire. According to a recent survey conducted by MyPerfectResume, 47% of American workers have taken a break from work. Despite how common those breaks have become, 38% are 'highly concerned' about how it will affect their future job prospects, and 30% believe employers will consider it a 'major red flag.' 'During the pandemic, there was so much shifting in the workplace—lots of people getting laid off or stepping out of work to manage caregiving responsibilities—and you might have thought this need for a linear career path would have maybe diminished,' says MyPerfectResume career expert Jasmine Escalera. 'What the data tells us is that there is an enduring stigma. It still affects how employees see their career prospects.' That stigma, according to Escalera, is adopted from a bygone era when most workers remained at the same employer for the majority or entirety of their careers, and when a break from that pattern signaled a performance or loyalty issue. 'It's so old-school and comes from the way corporate America was set up in the past. But it doesn't fit the times we're actually in,' she says. Not all career gaps, however, are received the same. According to the survey, respondents are most sympathetic to medical or caregiving leaves, followed by a return to school. However, the most common career gaps were the result of layoffs or company restructuring, career transitioning, mental health needs, or termination. Hiding a career gap is worse than having a career gap Ironically, according to the MyPerfectResume survey, a career gap itself can often be less damaging to a candidate's prospects than any attempts made to hide it. In the survey, nearly two-thirds of those with career gaps said they keep that information off their application and only discuss it if the hiring manager asks about it directly, while 4 percent admit to lying about it outright. Only one in five people say they address the gap directly. 'Earlier in my career, it was common when an employee had a gap in their résumé, and to try to cover that by stretching the date they left and the date they started another job. Don't do that,' says Jim Link, chief human resources officer for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). 'The first thing the employer is going to do is verify backgrounds and employment dates, and call your references. And even if it's a month or two off, that's going to raise red flags.' No matter the reason for the career break, Link emphasizes that it is always better to be transparent instead of trying to hide the truth and risking getting caught. No matter the reason, he says, employers would rather know than be left guessing, or worse, feeling deceived. 'We will look at someone who has a criminal history for employment in our organization, and I know hundreds of other employers like that,' he says. 'Even in those circumstances, I believe that the truth is the absolute right thing to present, because employers who believe in second chances just want that candidate to say what happened, what they were convicted of, and why they are worthy of a second chance.' Shift the narrative from past to future When it comes to career gaps, honesty is always the best policy, though candidates are advised to be tactful in how they present it. 'A gap isn't a red flag; it's a story to be told—the problem is that most people don't know how to tell that story,' says career coach, author, and podcast host Marlo Lyons. 'You have to own the narrative about the gap.' Key to owning that narrative, Lyons says, is offering an explanation that focuses on what was learned or accomplished during the time away from work. 'For example, if you took time away to be a caregiver, you would say, 'I took time away to care for a family member, and now I'm energized to return to work,'' she says. 'Or 'I took a pause in my career to figure out exactly what I want. And after taking that time, I know this job is exactly what I want.' So, it's all about positioning, and being future oriented.' According to data provided by LinkedIn, 2.7 million professionals have added a career break to their profiles, and 67% say they gained valuable skills during the absence. Whether that time was spent traveling, caring for a loved one, overcoming a medical challenge, going back to school, or simply job searching, Lyons says there are almost always employable skills to draw from those experiences. 'If you've taken time off to travel, highlight cultural fluency, adaptability, and language skills,' she says. 'Same with volunteering. You do not have to get paid to put it on your résumé.' Address it early Employment gaps left unexplained can leave recruiters guessing, and for more competitive positions, some might not give candidates the chance to explain. As opposed to hiding gaps, addressing them with a sense of embarrassment, or waiting to be asked, Lyons encourages job seekers to share their story proactively. 'It's critical, both on the résumé and when you're asked to walk them through your résumé [in interviews], that you address the gap very confidently and clearly,' she says. Those who spent some of their time away from work volunteering, taking courses, consulting, or networking are encouraged to add those points to their résumé directly. Those that left work to travel, pivot their careers, manage a medical need, or be a caregiver can also offer a brief explanation in their cover letters, emphasizing the lessons learned from those experiences. 'The simpler it is, the more authentic it will be received, and the recruiter can then move on to the next question,' Lyons says. 'It's when you don't fill in the gap, or when you stumble, or when you try to talk around what happened in that situation—that's where the red flag comes in.'
Business Insider
07-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The dos and don'ts of networking
You might be networking all wrong — and that could be more detrimental than ever before. In the age of AI-generated applications and a tough market for many desk workers, making connections can be key to landing a job. Career coaches and etiquette experts told Business Insider about some of their dos and don'ts of networking. Be specific Too often, people blast out generic LinkedIn messages that will never stand out. "You can't go into it cold," Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with MyPerfectResume, told BI, referring to networking. "That doesn't mean that you can't go into it making a cold connection, but you can't go into it just without a connection." That connection doesn't always have to be strictly professional, Escalara said. You could, for example, find a common hobby. When it comes to online outreach, send a tailored message instead of a boilerplate one. Madeline Mann, a career coach and CEO of Self Made Millennial, offered similar advice. "If you're going to ask for 15 minutes of their time, be sure to show that you spent 15 minutes of yours," she said. Generally, though, social media alone isn't enough. Brandon Dock, managing director of the recruitment firm TGC Search, said that talking to people in person is always best. "I have always been a fan of using social media and other online tools as part of your arsenal, but it is a grave mistake to think of it as the entirety of your networking strategy," Dorie Clark, a communication coach who teaches at Columbia Business School and wrote the book "The Long Game," told BI. Keep it professional — even online While it's great to bond over hobbies, it's crucial to maintain professionalism. At in-person events, that often means limiting alcohol to one glass, Escalera said. On social media platforms you're using for outreach, she said to maintain a "professional tone" and "tight brand." Gen Zers can sometimes struggle to balance between professionalism and friendliness, Escalera and Lisa Richey, the founder of the American Academy of Etiquette, said. "The formality of a handshake — you can never go wrong," Richey said. "It shows leadership. It shows confidence." Dress for the industry Now that in-person schmoozing is back, dressing the part is crucial, but each industry requires a slightly different look. "Dress the way someone would in that office or in the industry, with a step up," Mann said. She said that no matter your gender, a button-down top is a safe bet. Escalera advised sticking to one statement piece. It's important to tailor your clothing to the industry. Mann said, for example, that a suit might look odd at a tech event, but it's perfectly normal among lawyers. The same rules apply online, Richey said. "You have to be aware of what's going on behind you, your hair," she told BI. "You have to be groomed. You have to dress the part, even if it's an online meeting." Don't wait until you need a job People often only start networking when they need a job, but experts told BI that can be a mistake. "Whenever there's an economic down cycle and people start to get worried about their jobs, that is inevitably when networking accelerates," Clark said. To avoid becoming just one among many asking for a favor, you should maintain relationships even when you're secure in a job. Texting with closer connections is an underrated tool, according to Clark, who advised reaching out when you're not looking for anything in return. Keeping up relationships doesn't follow a cookie-cutter template. Mann said that connections can come from the unlikeliest of places, so it's important to chat about your interests frequently. "Never underestimate who knows the person you want to know," she said — maybe your barber's cousin works at your dream company. Don't make it all about you Experts said that too many people only highlight their experiences. "Don't focus on knowing people. Focus on noticing people," Mann said. Both she and Escalera suggest coming up with specific questions for people you find exciting. "Having a good elevator pitch is really awesome, but what we don't want to do is make it all about you," Escalera said, which can make the process feel "robotic." Don't ask for too much Networking is necessarily transactional, but that transaction can be a delicate dance, the experts said. "You have to be cognizant of power relations and power differentials in networking," Clark said, noting you can ask a friend for more favors than a distant connection. "You need to be very targeted and strategic about your ask, and you can probably only get away with asking them one thing," she added. Mann thinks about it as flipping the switch from asking to giving — instead of just trying to extract information, consider what you can offer the other person, even if it's something as simple as tips for a coming vacation. No matter the conversation, gratitude is key. "Do not forget to follow up with them the next day or within a few hours, thanking them," Mann said. "And do not forget within the coming weeks to say how you utilize their insights."
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Leaving A Job Without A New One Lined Up? 5 Times It Makes Sense
Workers are growing more cautious. An analysis of 33,000 cover letters created on the MyPerfectResume platform shows that, compared to last year, job seekers are 70% less likely to leave a role before starting a job search. That still leaves 30% who quit their job before finding a new one. There are definitely advantages to waiting till you have a new job before quitting your old one. It's less of a financial risk since you don't have a gap in your paycheck. It's less of an emotional burden since you don't have a gap in identity from employed to unemployed. It's arguably less taxing mentally and physically since you don't have a gap in routine. However, sometimes jumping without a net is a reasonable choice. If you're weighing whether to leave a job without a new one lined up, here are five times when it actually makes sense: If your health is suffering from burnout or workplace bullying, then quitting for your own self-preservation could be the smartest move. Try first to get help from HR, your company Employee Assistance Plan hotline, and/ or a mentor to improve the situation. Check if you can arrange a sabbatical or qualify for short-term disability, which gives you options to return. See if your accrued vacation days gives you enough time off to recover. However, if you've already tried this and your situation hasn't improved, prioritizing your health is definitely a good enough reason to quit your job. When you're at work, you're not wherever else you could be, and that's the opportunity cost of your current job. If you are a working parent and long to be a stay-at-home parent, your child will only be at that age now. If you long to travel, places on your bucket list will change over time (from natural evolution, climate change, overtourism), so depending on what you want to see, you are risking those travel dreams. If you find a strong pull to do something else, and you need time away from any job to fulfill this, then quitting your job without another one might be the optimal choice right now. The advantages of going immediately from one job to the next are continuous earnings and less disruption to your identity and routine. However, if you have savings or other income outside your job, the drop in earnings may not be an issue for you. If you have clear ideas for what to do next – whether that's knowing exactly how to land a job you love, consulting for a while, or taking on personal passion projects – then you may not even have much of an employment gap to explain. If your next move could be more lucrative, more fulfilling or otherwise more suitable to you, then quitting your job and investing that energy into what's next may be the best use of your limited time and effort. Maybe you want to start consulting, but it would be a conflict of interest with your current job. Or you want to buy a small business and want to spend your workdays vetting prospects. Maybe your job was good enough before, but you're different now and ready for a change. You can replenish most resources: the salary you forfeit can be earned back by working extra hours down the road; your skills and expertise can stay updated with project work or volunteering in your field; your professional relationships can be maintained by following up on a regular basis. However, you can't get back time. So, if you're done at your job, be done with it, and allocate your time to something more meaningful.
