How to get hired by year end in this market

A former Google recruiter gives decent tips on how to get hired by year end in this market:

1. Know what the market needs and how you can fill it. She correctly says “Ask yourself: What is your seniority level? What’s your niche? What’s your specialty? It’s not just about the type of job you want, what you think the market needs, or what you’re good at; it’s the intersection of those three things, and you need to be really clear on that.”
2. Selectively apply to what is a good fit. I agree with the Google recruiter that you should spend your time not on volume but quality. Put together a list of target companies and track them, including setting up alerts. I also recommend going one step further by seeing who you know at the target companies on LinkedIn and get referred.
3. Reconnect with companies you interviewed with before. You already have the contacts. Now reactivate them. Since it was “a near miss”, now “is a perfect time to re-engage.” First check for openings, then contact your old recruiter. Sample from the article works: “I’m not sure if this role is in your purview, but I would love to be considered. We last spoke when I interviewed for [X role] in [season], and since then, my skills have evolved. If you’re not the right recruiter, I’d appreciate it if you could connect me with the right team.” I also agree that you should “show them why you’re an even better fit this time.” (Lawyers are trained to marshall facts to prove a point, so do that for yourself now!)
4. Be super responsive! If a prospective employer or acquaintance who is well-connected responds to you, get back to them immediately. As lawyers, you know your clients have limited attention span, and if they are thinking about you, that’s when they want to hear from you. This observation is spot-on: “The candidate pool is so steep and response rates are so high that if you wait a week and a half or two weeks to talk with a recruiter, you’ve already missed your spot. Other people will be further in the process.” If you need to update your resume, you can do it in five minutes. Here’s how.