Why Now is Actually the Best Time to Job Search in Years
Looking beyond the headlines to understand what’s really happening in tech hiring
If you’ve been following the news lately, you might think the tech job market is in complete collapse. Every week brings fresh headlines about layoffs, AI displacement fears, and hiring freezes. The narrative is doom and gloom: companies are cutting costs, workers are getting replaced by algorithms, and nobody’s hiring.
Here’s the problem with that narrative: it’s not what the data shows.
While the headlines grab attention with their negativity, the actual employment data tells a much more nuanced — and optimistic — story. In fact, if you look at the right metrics, we’re seeing conditions that suggest this might be the best time to job search in years.
Let me break down what’s really happening in the market.
The Supply Side: Layoffs Are Real, But Trending Down
Let’s start with the uncomfortable truth: 2024 hasn’t been kind when it comes to layoffs. The 744,000 announced job cuts this year far outpace any year since the pandemic began in 2020. Those numbers are real, and they represent real people facing genuine challenges.
But here’s what the headlines miss: layoffs have been decreasing month over month for the last four months.
We’re not in a continuous downward spiral. Instead, we’re seeing a stabilization back to monthly layoff amounts that mirror what we experienced last year. The massive cuts that dominated early 2024 appear to be behind us, suggesting companies have completed their “right-sizing” efforts and are moving into a more stable operational phase.
What This Means for Job Seekers: The flood of newly unemployed workers entering the market is slowing down. While competition remains high from previous layoffs, you’re not competing against an ever-increasing pool of candidates.
The Demand Side: Where the Real Story Lives
This is where things get genuinely encouraging.
After sustained bumps in hiring at the beginning of both 2024 and 2025, we’re seeing job postings at US-based tech companies up 45% from the lows. That’s not a minor uptick — that’s a substantial recovery in hiring demand.
Currently, there are approximately 235,000 job openings in tech, representing a new stable baseline that’s significantly higher than the market bottom we experienced in recent years.
The Trend is Your Friend: Companies aren’t just posting jobs — they’re actively hiring. The increase in job postings corresponds with actual hiring activity, not just companies “fishing” to see what talent is available.
Market Dynamics: Supply and Demand Moving in Your Favor
Here’s the current market reality:
Supply of tech workers: Still exceeds demand, but decreasing Demand for tech workers: Previously suppressed, but increasing
We’re not at equilibrium yet, which means you shouldn’t expect the massive salary increases and bidding wars of 2021–2022. But we are moving toward a more balanced market where qualified candidates can secure good positions.
The Practical Impact: Most job seekers aren’t getting the huge raises of years past, but they are able to secure jobs. The market has shifted from “impossible” to “competitive but achievable.”
Who’s Actually Hiring: The Winners Are Expanding
The companies that are hiring aggressively right now fall into a clear pattern: they’re the winners in their respective sectors. Whether it’s AI, SaaS, crypto, fintech, or other high-growth areas, successful companies are investing in talent while their competitors cut costs.
High-Growth Companies Actively Hiring:
Databricks
Coinbase
ServiceNow
Stripe
Airbnb
Netflix
Revolut
Docusign
HubSpot
Uber
Salesforce
Snowflake
These companies are expanding their teams because they’re winning in their markets. They need talent to capitalize on their momentum, making them excellent targets for job seekers who want to join growing organizations.
Big Tech: A More Nuanced Picture
The story with large tech companies is more complex but ultimately encouraging for the right candidates.
Yes, companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon have conducted layoffs. But here’s what’s happening simultaneously: they’re hiring aggressively in AI while cutting in other areas.
Overall, big tech companies are actually increasing their hiring of product managers and other key roles:
The Strategy: Big tech is optimizing, not shrinking. They’re cutting roles that don’t align with their AI-first future while investing heavily in the capabilities that will drive their next decade of growth.
Why This Creates Opportunity
This market dynamic creates several advantages for savvy job seekers:
1. Less Competition for the Right Roles
While overall competition remains high, there’s less competition for roles at companies that are actively growing. Many job seekers are still focused on traditional “safe” companies rather than identifying the real winners.
2. Companies Are Motivated to Hire
Growing companies need talent to execute on their opportunities. When you find these companies, they’re motivated to move quickly and make competitive offers to secure the right people.
3. Career Growth Potential
Joining a winning company during a growth phase typically leads to faster career advancement than joining established companies during stable periods.
4. Skill Development Opportunities
Companies that are investing in new technologies and capabilities need people who can learn and adapt quickly. This creates opportunities to develop cutting-edge skills.
The Strategic Approach: How to Capitalize
Given this market reality, here’s how to position yourself for success:
Target the Winners
Focus your search on companies that are actively growing in high-potential sectors. Use the job boards linked above as starting points, but also research which companies in your industry are gaining market share.
Develop Future-Focused Skills
Big tech’s hiring pattern tells you everything you need to know: AI skills are in demand. Product managers, engineers, and other professionals who can contribute to AI initiatives have significant advantages.
Move Quickly When You Find Opportunities
In a market where good companies are hiring but competition exists, speed matters. Have your application materials ready, practice your interview skills, and be prepared to move through processes efficiently.
Focus on Value Creation
Companies are being more selective, which means they’re looking for candidates who can demonstrably create value. Be ready to articulate specific ways you’ll contribute to business outcomes.
Ready to Take Advantage?
If you’re convinced that now is actually a good time to job search, the next question is: are you prepared to succeed in this environment?
The companies listed above are hiring, but they’re being selective. You need a systematic approach to stand out from the competition and convert opportunities into offers.
For a complete step-by-step system for cracking interviews at these top companies, check out: The Complete Interview System
The Bottom Line
Don’t let the headlines discourage you from pursuing your career goals. While the market isn’t as frothy as 2021–2022, it’s significantly better than the depths of 2023. Supply and demand are moving in job seekers’ favor, and the companies that are hiring are the ones you actually want to work for.
The professionals who succeed in this market will be those who look beyond the noise, identify the real opportunities, and execute systematically on their job search.
The data is clear: this is a good time to job search. The question is whether you’ll take advantage of it.
What’s been your experience searching in this market? Are you seeing the trends I’ve described, or something different? Share your observations in the comments — real market data from job seekers is invaluable for everyone.
Love product management?
Join Product Growth Newsletter and discover insights that will accelerate your PM career! ✨
Important Links for you:
- Coaching — Guidance From me
- Newsletter — Weekly PM insights
- YouTube — Product Growth Podcast
- Spotify — Audio episodes
- Apple Podcasts — Subscribe here
- LinkedIn — Daily insights
- Medium — More articles
- Website — Resources & frameworks
Follow Aakash Gupta on Medium.
