How To Survive The Holidays While Unemployed
Roughly 7.6 million Americans were unemployed as of September, with more than 23% out of work for over 27 weeks. White-collar job searches now regularly stretch beyond six months, compounded by increased AI-driven screening that makes passive application strategies ineffective. Julia Korn advises job seekers to proactively prepare holiday-season messaging, set boundaries, and recognize networking as the most reliable job-search channel.
Workplace Trends & Advice.
Content highlighted includes guidance on elevating mid-tier leaders, improving Gen Z retention, navigating tip-related tax deductions for 2025, and understanding the rising Gen Z “career minimalism” trend.
Career Spotlight: Katie Fitzgerald, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Fitzgerald explains her lifelong commitment to social-impact work, shaped by early exposure to diverse communities and a desire to influence systemic opportunities for families. She underscores the nonprofit sector’s resilience despite funding pressures and describes why many professionals transition into mission-driven roles—often seeking purpose, impact, and legacy beyond financial achievement.
Sector Conditions.
Nonprofits are facing cutbacks in federal grants and shifts in donor behavior. Nevertheless, professionals derive motivation from daily impact and from contributing to long-standing societal challenges such as healthcare crises, poverty, housing instability, and substance abuse.
Labor Market Signals.
Recent indicators reflect mixed momentum:
-
Job openings reached a five-month high.
-
Weekly jobless claims hit a three-year low.
-
Planned job cuts fell, though private-sector shedding remained significant.
-
Worker sentiment improved: perceptions of job security rose, and the probability of finding a new job increased to 47.3%.