Stay Positive in a Tough Job Market: Tap Into Your Power, Perseverance, and Joy

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The job market is tightening—again. In a recent CNN article, a headline grabbed our attention: “ About 25% of CFOs say they have cut their 2025 hiring plans due to tariffs. ” That kind of news can feel like a punch to the gut if you’re actively searching for your next role, or even stop you in your tracks before thinking about your next step.

The job market is tightening—again. In a recent CNN article, a headline grabbed our attention: “About 25% of CFOs say they have cut their 2025 hiring plans due to tariffs.” That kind of news can feel like a punch to the gut if you’re actively searching for your next role, or even stop you in your tracks before thinking about your next step.

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The truth is—your career success doesn’t depend solely on the market. It depends on your mindset, your clarity in direction, and the ability to tap into what makes you unique.

The truth is—your career success doesn’t depend solely on the market. It depends on your mindset, your clarity in direction, and the ability to tap into what makes you unique.

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Here’s a list of inner strengths you can tap into right now to stay positive, stay motivated, and move forward, regardless of what the headlines are saying.

Here’s a list of inner strengths you can tap into right now to stay positive, stay motivated, and move forward, regardless of what the headlines are saying.

The Power of Hope: Buckle Up—You Are in the Driver’s Seat!

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If you’re feeling uninspired, stuck, or in despair: That’s OK. It happens to all of us, and it’s OK to NOT be OK, especially when in the throes of a demanding job search. Hope is not an ethereal concept—it is fuel. Hope is your internal voice that says, “You’ve got this,” even when things feel shaky at best.

If you’re feeling uninspired, stuck, or in despair: That’s OK. It happens to all of us, and it’s OK to NOT be OK, especially when in the throes of a demanding job search. Hope is not an ethereal concept—it is fuel. Hope is your internal voice that says, “You’ve got this,” even when things feel shaky at best.

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Start by identifying what brings you joy in your current role or the favorite role you’ve ever had. Ask yourself a few questions:

Start by identifying what brings you joy in your current role or the favorite role you’ve ever had. Ask yourself a few questions:

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  What parts of my day give me energy or a sense of purpose?

  What parts of my day give me energy or a sense of purpose?

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  How can I align more closely with what I love that also gives me purpose?

  How can I align more closely with what I love that also gives me purpose?

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  What are the commitments I can make today to help get more closely to what I love?”

  What are the commitments I can make today to help get more closely to what I love?”

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Design your next chapter around what gives you hope—and let that guide your action.

Design your next chapter around what gives you hope—and let that guide your action.

The Power of Mindset: Shift First, Then Act

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Burnout is real and can be treacherous. In a 2020 Global Culture Report from the O.C. Tanner Institute , it was found that “79 percent of employees are suffering from mild, moderate, or severe burnout.” That is a staggering number that has not yielded and continues to grow since the publishing of this report nearly five years ago.

Burnout is real and can be treacherous. In a 2020 Global Culture Report from the O.C. Tanner Institute, it was found that “79 percent of employees are suffering from mild, moderate, or severe burnout.” That is a staggering number that has not yielded and continues to grow since the publishing of this report nearly five years ago.

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How can we help solve for and—ideally—prevent our own burnout? It starts with self-care and a mindset shift. We run the risk of acting quickly before thinking about the impact of our actions. What would it look like to take a deep breath and start to move deliberately, and with more intention?

How can we help solve for and—ideally—prevent our own burnout? It starts with self-care and a mindset shift. We run the risk of acting quickly before thinking about the impact of our actions. What would it look like to take a deep breath and start to move deliberately, and with more intention?

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Try this simple, quick reset to shift your mindset:

Try this simple, quick reset to shift your mindset:

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  Start your day with a meditation (Mary likes the Insight Timer App).

  Start your day with a meditation (Mary likes the Insight Timer App).

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  Move your body (take a walk, a trip to the gym, or tune in to your favorite Peloton workout).

  Move your body (take a walk, a trip to the gym, or tune in to your favorite Peloton workout).

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  Savor your morning coffee (go ahead—add in a little sweetener if you want!).

  Savor your morning coffee (go ahead—add in a little sweetener if you want!).

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  Text a friend, family member, or former colleague for inspiration.

  Text a friend, family member, or former colleague for inspiration.

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  Start your day by identifying three things that you’re grateful for (Oprah and so many others do this too!).

  Start your day by identifying three things that you’re grateful for (Oprah and so many others do this too!).

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  Remind yourself that your current state is temporary—this too shall pass.

  Remind yourself that your current state is temporary—this too shall pass.

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  Replace self-doubt with a growth mindset —what are the lessons to learn here?

  Replace self-doubt with a growth mindset—what are the lessons to learn here?

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Before you spring into action … Pause. Breathe. Reflect. Recalibrate. Change doesn’t start with your never-ending task list. It starts with how you think about what’s possible and how you move your thoughts toward action.

Before you spring into action … Pause. Breathe. Reflect. Recalibrate. Change doesn’t start with your never-ending task list. It starts with how you think about what’s possible and how you move your thoughts toward action.

The Power of Curiosity: Ask Why and How

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Curiosity is a powerful tool in your job search and a superpower in today’s workplace. While many people think of picture-perfect resumes , intense networking events, and polished interviews as the keys to job hunting, curiosity is the engine that helps drive clarity, connection, and collaboration.

Curiosity is a powerful tool in your job search and a superpower in today’s workplace. While many people think of picture-perfect resumes, intense networking events, and polished interviews as the keys to job hunting, curiosity is the engine that helps drive clarity, connection, and collaboration.

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Curiosity can:

Curiosity can:

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  Lead you to ask more meaningful questions, while seeking to understand what truly drives people.

  Lead you to ask more meaningful questions, while seeking to understand what truly drives people.

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  Uncover the right opportunities for you by asking deeper questions about your wants and needs for your next role.

  Uncover the right opportunities for you by asking deeper questions about your wants and needs for your next role.

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  Deepen your connection with those around you by being curious about who they are and what motivates them.

  Deepen your connection with those around you by being curious about who they are and what motivates them.

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  Fuel your ongoing learning, helping you cultivate an agile and flexible mindset.

  Fuel your ongoing learning, helping you cultivate an agile and flexible mindset.

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Let curiosity lead you, especially in times of uncertainty. It may help you spark unexpected ideas and connections.

Let curiosity lead you, especially in times of uncertainty. It may help you spark unexpected ideas and connections.

The Power of Transition: Reinvent With Intention

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Whether it’s the seasons shifting, the economy shaking, or a lethargic job market, transition (and transformation!) is everywhere. Maybe you’re between roles . Maybe you’re rethinking your leadership path. Regardless, transitions can feel scary AND they are brimming with possibility.

Whether it’s the seasons shifting, the economy shaking, or a lethargic job market, transition (and transformation!) is everywhere. Maybe you’re between roles. Maybe you’re rethinking your leadership path. Regardless, transitions can feel scary AND they are brimming with possibility.

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Ask yourself—or take the time to journal—about the answers to these questions:

Ask yourself—or take the time to journal—about the answers to these questions:

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  What is the first step on this path, even if you can’t fully see the whole path yet?

  What is the first step on this path, even if you can’t fully see the whole path yet?

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  What is no longer serving you?

  What is no longer serving you?

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  What do you want to carry with you going forward?

  What do you want to carry with you going forward?

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  If you weren’t afraid or uncertain, what would you walk away from right now?

  If you weren’t afraid or uncertain, what would you walk away from right now?

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  What does success look like, and what could it feel like on the other side of this transition?

  What does success look like, and what could it feel like on the other side of this transition?

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Every reinvention starts with a moment of courage—of letting go and stepping forward toward the path you are meant to take. To borrow a quote from the inspirational Brené Brown: “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”

Every reinvention starts with a moment of courage—of letting go and stepping forward toward the path you are meant to take. To borrow a quote from the inspirational Brené Brown: “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.”

The Power of Perseverance: Lead Yourself First

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When your world feels as though it has been turned upside down, your steadiness and consistency become your strengths. There’s power in showing up for yourself and others with honesty, authenticity , and without judgment, especially when things are hard.

When your world feels as though it has been turned upside down, your steadiness and consistency become your strengths. There’s power in showing up for yourself and others with honesty, authenticity, and without judgment, especially when things are hard.

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Here’s how to root yourself in perseverance:

Here’s how to root yourself in perseverance:

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   Be the calmest person in the room.

   Be the calmest person in the room.

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   Create a structured routine to give yourself guardrails for your search.

   Create a structured routine to give yourself guardrails for your search.

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   Practice mindfulness and self-care as part of your routine.

   Practice mindfulness and self-care as part of your routine.

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   Rally the troops—now is the time to lean into your support network.

   Rally the troops—now is the time to lean into your support network.

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   Show up as yourself, even when you are feeling “less than.”

   Show up as yourself, even when you are feeling “less than.”

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You may not control the market, but you do control how you lead—and how you live—through it.

You may not control the market, but you do control how you lead—and how you live—through it.

The Power of Joy: Follow “What Lights You Up”

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This is the spark. The pulse. The YES inside you.

This is the spark. The pulse. The YES inside you.

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A sure path to success in times of uncertainty is to first identify what lights you up. This is all outlined in Mary Olson-Menzel’s book, What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career .

A sure path to success in times of uncertainty is to first identify what lights you up. This is all outlined in Mary Olson-Menzel’s book, What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career.

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When you’re in alignment with your joy and purpose, everything else begins to fall into place—clarity, energy, confidence, and courage.

When you’re in alignment with your joy and purpose, everything else begins to fall into place—clarity, energy, confidence, and courage.

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Think about the last time you were truly excited and energized by what you were doing. Remember that feeling? That’s your roadmap to success. To find your roadmap, we recommend you start with this simple practice:

Think about the last time you were truly excited and energized by what you were doing. Remember that feeling? That’s your roadmap to success. To find your roadmap, we recommend you start with this simple practice:

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  Create a daily “light log” and pay attention to what is happening in your day when you feel the most energized and happy.

  Create a daily “light log” and pay attention to what is happening in your day when you feel the most energized and happy.

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  As you create this list, look back and notice what patterns are emerging for you.

  As you create this list, look back and notice what patterns are emerging for you.

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  What are you seeing? Is your work aligned with the things that are bringing you joy? If not, maybe it’s time to create a new plan.

  What are you seeing? Is your work aligned with the things that are bringing you joy? If not, maybe it’s time to create a new plan.

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  Celebrate your wins, no matter how big or small!

  Celebrate your wins, no matter how big or small!

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  Follow your light. It will lead you to your next great move.

  Follow your light. It will lead you to your next great move.

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Yes, the market is challenging. Yes, headlines can feel grim. AND you are more powerful than any external factor. Hope, mindset, curiosity, transition, perseverance, and joy—these are not just platitudes. They are tools already in your toolbelt, waiting to be put to work!

Yes, the market is challenging. Yes, headlines can feel grim. AND you are more powerful than any external factor. Hope, mindset, curiosity, transition, perseverance, and joy—these are not just platitudes. They are tools already in your toolbelt, waiting to be put to work!

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You’ve got more in you than you think. We are rooting for you!

You’ve got more in you than you think. We are rooting for you!