You did everything right. You earned your degree, got your first job and started building your career. On the surface, the job market looks fine. But underneath, it’s frozen.
Hiring is slow. Fewer people are quitting. And companies are cutting entry-level roles as they adopt AI. So, how are you supposed to advance your career when the usual paths are blocked?
Normally, you move ahead through promotions or by switching jobs. Today, neither is reliable. If you want to advance, you need a different strategy.
I’ve spent more than 20 years analyzing career growth and mentoring early-career professionals. Doing your job well is expected. Advancement goes to those who not only perform—but show they can do more. In a constrained market, advancement is about signaling value, not just completing tasks.
Here are three ways to move forward—even when the job market freezes.
In a frozen job market, doing your job well isn’t enough. You need to show that you have the skills to help your organization execute its strategy. Employers don’t just reward performance—they reward relevance.
One of the most underused ways to do this is through employer-sponsored training. Fewer than half of employees take advantage of it. Consistently opting in signals that you are committed to developing skills aligned with the organization’s priorities.
This can mean becoming an early adopter of new workflow software, such as Asana, or a CRM like Salesforce. As one of the few people trained on the new system, you quickly become a go-to resource as others learn to use it. This kind of visibility matters.
AI skills are quickly becoming a baseline expectation in today’s job market. Demand for AI fluency has grown seven times faster than any other skill in U.S. job postings. They are also emerging as a requirement for advancement. Accenture CEO Julie Sweet says that AI is required for promotion at the global, technology-driven consulting firm.
But many employers aren’t providing upskilling support in AI. You may need to build your own learning plan. I was fortunate to have access to AI training provided by my employer, which I supplemented with the Google AI Essentials course on Coursera. The goal isn’t to become an AI expert. It’s to use AI to improve the business—and make the impact visible.
Show how your AI use improves workflow, saves time, cuts costs, or drives revenue. Just as important, you need to communicate that impact to your manager and colleagues. In a frozen job market, advancement doesn’t come from skills alone. It comes from skills that are seen, understood, and valued.
To advance in a frozen job market, you need to invest in what sociologists call social capital. Social capital refers to the value that comes from positive relationships and social networks. It’s not just about who you know. It’s about who knows you.
Many job openings are never posted. I got my start through a referral. My resume was handed directly to the hiring manager. And my experience isn’t unusual. Half of workers say they got a job through a referral.
It also matters for promotions. You are more likely to advance when people are willing to advocate for you. Those relationships often start with having recognizable skills that add value to the business—that visibility mentioned earlier.
I’ve seen this play out in my work. The people who raise their hands to learn new systems become go-to resources across teams. This opens the door to building relationships with potential mentors and sponsors—two powerful drivers for advancement.
None of these actions guarantee a promotion. But in a frozen job market, standing still is a risk.
Don’t wait for hiring to pick back up. The people who move ahead are the ones already adapting—making themselves more valuable, more visible and more connected.
Just because the job market is frozen doesn’t mean you have to be.
