2024 started on a positive note for the US economy in general and the New York labor market in particular. According to a press release from the New York State Department of Labor, the number of jobs in the private sector grew by 0.2% in March 2024. The figure may not seem especially high, but this steady growth has been visible every month, and compared to the 2020 national recession, New York has not only fully recovered all of its private sector jobs — it has actually seen some growth, especially in construction, education, healthcare, and professional business services. 

According to SignalHire’s research, New York officially makes it to the list of the best cities for work in the USA. In New York, recruiters were looking for the most candidates, but of course, one should keep in mind that employment chances are not equal across different industries. All in all, the New York employment market leaves room for some restrained optimism, but despite all positive developments, it is still a highly competitive environment — especially for professionals who want to earn an above-average salary in this rather expensive hub. Fortunately, New York is also one of those places that offers plenty of head-spinning opportunities for people who do not shy away from the competition.

Below, we will discuss the main strategies for professional success in New York’s competitive environment. 

Critically Assess Industry Shifts in Your Profession

There is simply no hiding this cat in the bag any longer — modern industries are going through a major technological shift and artificial intelligence has a huge role to play in this development. If you think that this does not affect your professional area, chances are — you’re wrong. New tech advancements have already led to a major job displacement across multiple industries — particularly industries that saw a decrease in the number of new job openings.

In manufacturing, for example, AI automation led to increased efficiency, reduction of operational costs, and improvement in production rates — based on a report from Deloitte Insights. In contrast to that, New York State Department of Labor (NYSDL) indicates that in March 2024 alone, the private manufacturing sector lost 1,300 job opportunities. 

Finance, another sector that lost 800 vacancies in a month, according to NYSDL, is also heavily influenced by the spread of AI. Goldman Sachs’ 2024 economic outlook mentions enhanced security measures in banking platforms that were facilitated by generative AI and a series of improvements in customer service thanks to the same technology. 

On the other hand, AI is not necessarily the bad wolf that leads to mass layoffs — at least, it does not have to be. Healthcare, for example, saw a rapid increase in the number of vacancies and is also affected by the spread of AI, especially when diagnostic approaches and patient care are concerned.

The ultimate career tip, no matter if you’re in marketing, advertising, tech, logistics, or any other industry, is to start embracing the technology. In today’s fast-paced professional landscape, constant change is the only thing we can be certain of. To compete, professionals are expected to adapt and to adapt; they must always be aware of the latest industry trends — especially when technology is concerned.

Grasp at Each Networking Opportunity 

Let’s be completely frank — New York, despite its sheer population numbers, always had that vibe of a small-town community bordering on nepotism. Simply put, it’s all about connections — if you have those, your chances of landing a good job increase exponentially. The good news is that the city-that-never-sleep offers tons of opportunities for networking — all aspiring professionals need to do is grab at every networking chance that comes their way.

Keep Building Your Online Presence

In some industries, social media networking is as important as attending face-to-face conferences. Clearly, it starts with building an impressive LinkedIn profile, but depending on your job specifics, it can be any other social network — as long as it has a chance of connecting you with colleagues or potential clients. An active online presence helps build a professional reputation, which is key to success in any competitive market.

Note that it’s very important to consider your long-term social media strategy. In many professional spheres, online ‘portfolios’ can connect professionals both with peers and clients. So, if your line of work implies online interaction with peers (who can recommend you to an employer) and potential clients (who can actually order your services), invest effort in both aspects of building your online brand.

Take a Proactive Approach to Job Seeking 

Professionals looking for a job can apply a similar logic and reach out to recruiters themselves. Here, it makes more sense to contact HR and recruiting departments in relevant companies directly — but adding LinkedIn connections of ‘freelance’ recruiters is an option, too. In any case, first, you need to research professional recruiters in your relevant field because, like all experts, they have a specialization, too.

Next, you should contact them directly — preferably over email. A useful tip is to use the LinkedIn lookup tool that gives access to email addresses of people you want to contact. The main reason to use email as a preferred communication channel is because it’s more professional (and so, conveys a better impression) and has higher chances of response — because on social media, recruiters’ inboxes may be overflowing.

When you ‘pitch’ yourself to recruiters directly, you get a chance to showcase more strengths than you normally would over a resume. Still, the basic info blocks will be very similar — with a brief introduction of who you are, your top professional achievements, skills relevant for a position in a specific company, and long-term career goals. 

A carefully chosen combination of these strategies should seriously increase your chances of landing a great job and building an impressive career. Here, the emphasis is on strategy because none of these tips guarantee success if you follow them separately. Still, a balanced combo of regular networking, continuous self-improvement, and staying on top of the latest industry trends should definitely do the trick — and not just in New York! 

Published by: Khy Talara