The current job market has earned itself a new nickname: "Jobmageddon." Dramatic? Maybe. Accurate? Unfortunately, yes.

The other day I was chatting with someone who works for a platform that does interview screenings for data and software engineers. They conduct 10,000 interviews per month. Ten thousand! And yet, people are still struggling to land roles.

So what's actually working in this chaos? Let me share some strategies that might help you stand out.

The Middle East Reality Check (But Relevant Everywhere)

I've spent the last four years in the Middle East, so my advice leans heavily on what works here—but these principles apply globally.

In the Middle East, there are basically two ways to find a job: recruiters or LinkedIn. That's it.

Here's how the recruiter game works: They specialise in specific areas (data, finance, engineering) and build relationships with companies. When a vacancy opens, multiple recruiters compete to place the right candidate. What's in it for them? Usually 10% of your yearly salary or up to three months' salary once you pass probation.

That's why they're genuinely invested in finding the perfect fit—your success is literally their paycheck.

The Recruiter Strategy

Find Talent Acquisition Managers on LinkedIn and follow them. They post jobs you'll never discover on your own—roles that aren't publicly advertised yet.

When you spot something interesting, send a DM. Reference the specific role and briefly explain why you're a great fit. Keep it concise and relevant.

A quick note on Easy Apply: It works for certain roles in the UAE (that's how I found my current job), but in Saudi Arabia? You'll be shouting into the void. You'll never hear back.

The "Open to Work" Hack

LinkedIn has an "Open to Work" setting visible only to recruiters. Here's the trick nobody tells you: every few weeks, go into your settings, untick the box, then tick it again.

This resets the algorithm and makes LinkedIn think you've just opened yourself to opportunities. Your profile gets pushed to recruiters again.

Find it under: Jobs (briefcase icon) → Preferences → Open to Work.

Here you can select roles you are interested in, as well as location. I was asked on Instagram how to see roles in Dubai - just select Dubai in the Locations settings.

Make Sure You're Showing Up for the Right Roles

Check what roles your profile appears for. Go to: Search Appearances → Where You Appeared → Job Titles You Were Found For.

You can see that in my case I appear as Data Scientist. Why is it only 2% and where is other 94% I have no idea. If you know how to check it - please share your knowledge with us :)

Ideally, these should match the roles you're targeting. If they don't, update your profile with relevant keywords and skills in your experience section and headline.

The Skills Endorsement Conspiracy

Recent gossip (and yes, this feels very 2012) suggests that skills endorsements actually matter again—especially from peers in your field.

If a data scientist endorses another data scientist's skills, it apparently triggers something in the algorithm. Weird? Yes. Worth trying? Also yes.

How do you get endorsements? Through genuine networking, which brings me to...

Networking: Please Don't Be That Person

Once you connect with someone on LinkedIn, DO NOT immediately message them saying "Find me a job." I get this constantly.

Think of it like a dating app. You match with someone, and your opening line is "Hi, thanks for matching, let's have a baby." Awkward, right? That's exactly how your "Find me a job" message feels.

Building relationships takes time. Comment on their posts. Ask thoughtful questions. Create a meaningful connection FIRST, then ask for advice or a referral.

This approach will dramatically improve your chances of getting actual help rather than being ignored.

More LinkedIn Tricks That Actually Work

Having a professional profile photo can make your profile up to 21 times more likely to be viewed. Not a selfie, not a group photo—just you, professional but approachable. You can use Nano Banana to generate a Linkedin style photo of you.

Use tools like Jobscan or Resume Worded (they have free trials) to match your resume to job descriptions. Companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), and if your resume doesn't match the job description at least 75%, it won't reach a human

LinkedIn notifies you when your CV is viewed. Don't ignore these notifications—they tell you what's working and which companies are interested.

For Those Just Starting: Build in Public

Here's something crucial if you're entry-level or switching careers: you don't need years of experience to stand out. You need visibility.

Start sharing your journey publicly on LinkedIn. And no, I don't mean posting "I'm looking for a job" every day.

Share what you're learning:

• "Today I learned how to use pandas for data cleaning. Here's what surprised me..."

• "Week 2 of my SQL course: wrote my first JOIN query and finally understand why they're useful"

• "Built my first dashboard in Power BI. It's not perfect, but here's what I learned..."

Building in public means sharing your process, your wins, and even your struggles as you learn and grow. It shows you're actively developing skills, you're teachable, and you're genuinely interested in the field.

People hire potential, not just experience. When recruiters see someone consistently learning and sharing their progress, they see someone who's engaged and hungry to grow.

Plus, this approach solves the classic problem: you need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. By documenting your learning journey and personal projects, you're creating proof of your skills without needing formal work experience.

Post once or twice a week. Keep it authentic. Don't worry about sounding like an expert—show you're on the path to becoming one.

The Bottom Line

Jobmageddon is real, but it's not hopeless. Be intentional about who you connect with, what you optimise and how you present yourself.

Your next opportunity might come from a recruiter you followed three months ago, from someone whose post you thoughtfully commented on last week, or from someone who's been following your learning journey for the past two months.

Keep pushing 💪

Karina

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