As the calendar flips to March, the job search for early-career candidates takes on a new urgency. While some high-profile internships may have been snapped up months ago, the majority of opportunities are just beginning to open up. This is the time to shift gears and adopt a more aggressive approach.
Skills-based Positioning and Proactive Networking
The job market in 2026 favors a different strategy. Employers are moving away from strict GPA requirements and are instead seeking proof of impact. Highlighting specific projects where you've utilized AI tools, managed budgets, or solved complex problems can set you apart. It's not just about what you've studied; it's about what you've achieved.
For local or seasonal work, don't rely solely on online postings. The 'drop-in' culture is making a comeback, and a well-timed, professional in-person inquiry can bypass the online crowd. Set weekly application goals and remember that many summer roles fill up quickly once the initial spots are taken.
Expert Insights and Personal Perspectives
Amit Agrawal, Founder & COO of Developers.dev, emphasizes the importance of signaling your skills. He suggests building a proof-of-work portfolio to showcase your abilities. Agrawal also highlights the value of informational interviews with founders or team leaders, especially in smaller companies, where direct approaches can lead to unlisted positions.
Nabilah Shamseddine, Founder & CEO of Barkology Wellness, takes a grassroots approach. She recommends treating your career like a franchise rollout, tracking your daily outreach, and focusing on community-driven networking. Shamseddine believes that brands valuing people-centric coaching provide the best environments for early-career professionals to thrive.
Rudy Mosketti, Founder of Rudy's Smokehouse, brings a unique perspective. He encourages aligning your job search with your values and demonstrating a servant's heart. Mosketti suggests visiting local businesses in person to showcase your hospitality and passion, which a computer screen cannot capture.
Pivoting and Persisting
Ryan Pittillo, Owner of ProMD Health Bel Air, suggests creating a visual 'game plan' for the role you want. He emphasizes the importance of volunteering and being ingrained in the local community to bypass automated filters. Pittillo believes that a proactive strategy and a 'can-do' attitude are key.
Janne Lynch DDS, Dentist at AZ Dentist, shares a similar sentiment. She recommends identifying the unique marriage of science and artistic skill in your field to differentiate yourself. Lynch also suggests seeking out high-intensity environments to gain valuable experience and build a diverse portfolio of technical skills.
Unconventional Alignments and Persistence
Dan Keiser, Principal Architect at Keiser Design Group, shares his unconventional path. He joined a tiny firm, which gave him solo project experience. Keiser also highlights the value of persistence, sharing the story of an intern who contacted him directly after a year-long search. He suggests using downtime to travel and expand your perspective, making you a more valuable candidate.
Mary Sullivan, Business Owner at A Company That Buys Houses, emphasizes the importance of accessing the 'hidden market' through informational interviews. She also recommends upskilling and giving back to open-source projects to become the desirable talent everyone seeks.
Treating Your Job Search as a Job
Scott Brown, Founder of Focus Group Placement, echoes this sentiment. He suggests treating your job search as a daily job, networking, and setting up informational interviews. Brown believes that building meaningful connections is crucial to accessing unadvertised opportunities.
Shannon Beatty, Real Estate Investor at House Buying Girls, agrees. She suggests direct networking and professional chitchat to build real relationships. Beatty also recommends seeking short-term gigs or consulting work to gain experience and stay relevant in a contracting market.
Rebooting and Redoubling Efforts
Zachary Smith, Founder & CEO of Ready House Buyer, suggests redoing your resume with new keywords and focusing on networking. He encourages contacting former employees or industry connections to uncover unadvertised openings. Smith also advises considering temporary or freelance work to stay active.
Geremy Yamamoto, Founder of Eazy House Sale, emphasizes the importance of rebooting your search. He suggests writing a resume detailing your achievements and utilizing networking to uncover unposted jobs. Yamamoto believes that direct messaging recruiters or former colleagues can be a game-changer.
Keeping Your Method Sacred
Jonathan Carcone, Principal at 4 Brothers Buy Houses, shares his take on the March job search. He advises dusting off your resume and focusing on networking IRL. Carcone believes that disappointing roles can also be unearthed through personal connections and that authentic conversations create fans and referrals.
Democratization of Opportunity
John Karsant, Founder and CEO of LevelUp Leads, brings a unique perspective. He suggests considering self-employment, even temporarily, to keep earning. Karsant highlights the democratization of opportunity through social media, podcasting, and AI, where your ability to use tools matters more than your resume.
Competing with the Experience Gap
Gary Gray, CEO of CouponChief.com, offers encouragement to new college graduates. He understands the experience gap and the time it takes for employers to recognize your potential. Gray suggests treating your job search as a disciplined, day-to-day operation and maintaining momentum.
Treating It as a Numbers Problem
Cody Schuiteboer, President & CEO of Best Interest Financial, advises against panicking. He suggests treating the job search as a numbers problem and addressing what isn't working. Schuiteboer recommends leaning on people, professors, and previous connections to access unadvertised opportunities. He believes that being in motion matters more than waiting for the perfect role.
Developing a Professional Network
Dora Bloom, Chief Revenue Officer at iotum, encourages a proactive approach. She suggests speaking to alumni, professors, and professional contacts to develop a network. Bloom advises creating clear paths for employers to see how you fit into their organization and making your own experience through freelance or volunteer work.
The Importance of Networking
Saini Rhodes, Real Estate Expert at Clever Offers, emphasizes the importance of March as a hiring month. She suggests tightening your sights, learning about companies you want to work for, and applying directly. Rhodes believes that networking is key and that talking to someone on the inside gets results faster than any application.
Flexibility and Networking
Rafael Sarim Oezdemir, Head of Growth at EZContacts, agrees that March is not late. He advises being flexible and stopping the job board applications in favor of networking. Oezdemir believes that one conversation with someone on the inside will beat a dozen applications.
Positioning and Proactive Engagement
Milos Eric, Co-Founder of OysterLink, sees March as a verification point. He suggests focusing on your potential and ensuring your previous experience showcases measurable impact. Eric recommends expanding your range of target roles and increasing your direct engagement with employers.
Reset and Revamp
Robert Fausette, Owner & CEO of Revival Homebuyer, suggests a reset in March. He advises moving from high-volume applications to a more focused approach. Fausette highlights the importance of a skills-based resume and becoming AI literate to tap into the hidden job market.
Redesigning Your Strategies
Darcy Turner, Founder of Investor Home Buyers, recommends redesigning your job search strategies. She suggests posting an updated portfolio and leveraging personal relationships to pave the way for new opportunities. Turner believes that discipline and new data feeds are key to success.
Revising Your Approach
Anton Strasburg, Media Manager at FreeConference.com, offers a step-by-step guide to revising your approach. He suggests limiting your choices, creating proofs, and streamlining your networking strategy. Strasburg also advises preparing for and practicing interviews and considering temporary employment for self-support.
Relax and Reflect
Dr. David Ghozland, Owner and OB/GYN at David Ghozland, advises relaxing and taking a pause to reflect. He suggests editing your CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn and filtering your applications to save time and energy. Ghozland believes that volume is important, but so is focusing on the right opportunities.
Daily Learning and Interpersonal Cold
Zack Moorin, Founder of Zack Buys Houses, emphasizes the importance of daily learning. He suggests revamping your portfolio or earning a niche certification to get on the hiring managers' radar. Moorin also highlights the value of interpersonal cold and the role of old colleagues and local industry functions in uncovering unadvertised vacancies.
Keeping the Job Hunt Going
Colton De Vos, Marketing Specialist at Resolute Technology Solutions, offers practical advice. He suggests identifying the tasks needed to keep the job hunt going and building a weekly cadence. De Vos advises blocking off time for job-seeking tasks and asking for feedback from hiring companies.
Remote and Contract Listings
Azman Nabi, Organic Growth & Content Lead at CoinGape, shares his experience. He found better luck with remote and contract listings, especially for content work. Nabi advises against sending the same resume everywhere and mentioning something specific about the company's mission.
Freelance Platforms and Global Team Building
Mansha Aziz, Founder of Allusive Digital, recommends jumping on freelance platforms. Aziz built her team globally through freelance work when local jobs dried up. She suggests putting up a straightforward profile and grinding to build experience and contacts.
Broadening Your Search Criteria
Matt Bowman, Founder of Thrive Local, suggests considering whether you're being too narrow in your search. He advises students to focus on gaining professional experience in their general field rather than fixating on specific job titles. Bowman also highlights the value of geographic flexibility and the potential benefits of relocating to less competitive markets.
Small Projects and Connections
Ben Rose, Founder & CEO of CashbackHQ, suggests picking up small projects on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. He believes these gigs can lead to full-time offers and build valuable connections and skills.
Building and Sharing Your Work
Runbo Li, CEO of Magic Hour, emphasizes the importance of making and sharing your work. He posted his AI video tests online and caught the eye of hiring managers. Li believes it proves you're a builder, not just a waiter.
Getting Your Hands Dirty Online
Tashlien Nunn, CEO of Apps Plus, encourages getting your hands dirty with something online. He's seen engineers on GitHub land interviews by posting their projects. Nunn believes employers in SaaS want to see what you can make, not just hear about it.
The Basics and Handling Rejection
Tobias Burkhardt, CEO of Paretofit, shares his experience of sticking to the basics during a long job hunt. He suggests maintaining a routine, taking walks, and preparing food to handle rejection better. Burkhardt believes this approach keeps the process from taking over and allows you to show up as yourself in interviews.
Freelance Stuff and Project Work
Cyrus Partow, CEO of ShipTheDeal, recommends picking up freelance stuff and small remote projects. He kept earning and learning while looking for full-time work. Partow believes it keeps you busy and improves your portfolio.
Direct Outreach and Creative Intros
David Bokman, CEO of Philly Home Investor, suggests reaching out directly to people in the fields you're interested in. He shares a story of a friend who helped out at a real estate event and landed an internship that wasn't posted. Bokman believes a creative intro or a good question can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Coffee Chats and Certifications
Lisa Clark, Director at Bell Fire and Security, recommends emailing people in your industry for coffee chats. She believes this leads to interviews for jobs not posted online. Clark also suggests getting a certification or volunteering to show you're not standing still.
Learning a New Language
Carmen Jordan Fernandez, Academic Director at The Spanish Council of Singapore, shares her experience. She tells her students to learn a new language, even just getting a certificate, which can lead to interviews. Fernandez believes online courses and webinars can build confidence and make you a more interesting candidate.
Part-Time Jobs and Internships
Justin Carpenter, Founder of Jacksonville Maids, advises against panicking if you're still looking in March. He suggests trying part-time jobs or internships to help pay the bills and figure out what you enjoy. Carpenter believes this approach leads to a good fit and builds confidence.
Contract Work and Building Your Own Projects
Zuri Obozuwa, Founder & CEO of Bluestairs, recommends getting contract work in software or real estate tech. He hires people who show him their own projects, not just their diplomas. Obozuwa believes in not waiting for permission and starting building something with a small team.
Building Things You Can Show
Kari Brooks, CEO of Team Treehouse, encourages building things you can show. She's seen Treehouse students build portfolios with real projects and land jobs once they could prove their skills. Brooks believes online programs give you concrete examples for interviews, even without a computer science degree.
Volunteering and Meeting People
Allen Kou, Owner and Operator of Zinfandel Grille, shares his experience. He knows people in hospitality who volunteered at local events and landed jobs through meeting the right people. Kou believes in staying busy, meeting people, and letting jobs pop up when you're not looking for them.
Building Something in Public
Andrew Yan, Co-Founder and CEO of AthenaHQ, suggests building something in public. He recommends starting a side project or a newsletter about your job search. Yan believes a GitHub project shows your skills better than a resume, and a newsletter gets your story in front of the right people.
Applying Every Day and Following Up
Heather Vesely, Digital Marketing Specialist at My Supplement Store, shares her experience. She encourages applying every day, even if you don't hear back. Vesely recommends following up with companies and sending polite messages or emails to check on your application. She believes showing your potential future employer why you're the best for the job is key.
Remaining Active and Networking
Jennifer Adams, Vice President and Lead Clinical Educator at Texas Academy of Medical Aesthetics, advises remaining active and not stopping your job search. She recommends perusing your resume to ensure it showcases your skills, certifications, and experience. Adams also suggests making your job application materials professional and tailored to the jobs you're interested in.
Positioning and Results
Blake DeWitt, CEO of Investorade, emphasizes the importance of positioning. He believes employers hire for results, not just activities. DeWitt suggests transforming your language to showcase measurable outcomes and illustrating your improvement, efficiency gains, or revenue support.
Concentration and Referrals
Jan Lutz, Director HR & co-founder at Quantum Jobs List, advises against panicking. He suggests getting real experience through volunteering, freelancing, or internships. Lutz believes employers will be more focused on skills than degrees and recommends getting experience, even if it's unpaid, and doing freelance work.
Specific Suggestions and LinkedIn Networking
Lutz also offers specific suggestions, such as adding five more connections on LinkedIn daily and updating your resume and profile. He believes writing about results, not activities, is crucial. Lutz encourages utilizing your time to gain skills and create a network that employers cannot ignore.
Making Your Search More Specific
George Fironov, Co-Founder & CEO of Talmatic, suggests making your job search more specific. He recommends focusing on a particular kind of job and sending a message to the hiring person about their current projects. Fironov also suggests looking for contracts or internships and optimizing your search by keeping a record of response rates.
Widening Your Definition of 'The Right Job'
Debbie Emery, Co-Founder & CSO of Juvo Jobs, encourages widening your definition of 'the right job.' She suggests considering hourly or part-time roles as a bridge to get your foot in the door. Emery believes these roles can lead to full-time opportunities and unexpected connections.
Small Companies and Weekly Letters
Jeff Patten, Co-Founder and Wine Industry Expert at Flatiron Wines & Spirits, recommends getting to small companies where you can talk to the boss immediately. He suggests writing weekly letters to demonstrate your knowledge and reaching out to owners with a message about why you like their shop.
Widening Your Scope
Jonathan Palley, CEO of QR Codes Unlimited, advises considering widening your scope if you aren't getting results. He suggests looking for work in adjacent fields, new locations, and exploring new online search tools. Palley believes hiring is a numbers game, and even the best candidates need to send out a lot of applications.
In conclusion, the March job search requires a proactive, skills-based approach, a focus on networking, and a willingness to pivot and persist. Experts offer a wealth of advice, from building portfolios to treating your job search as a job, and from accessing the hidden market to widening your scope. It's a time to reflect, reset, and redouble your efforts, with a mindset of flexibility, persistence, and a focus on building real connections and showcasing your unique value.
