Hello Everyone & Happy Tuesday!

Snowy mornings and freezing temps can only mean one thing: it’s officially “stay inside and get comfy” season. While winter does its thing, we hope this week’s newsletter gives you something useful to dig into. Enjoy!

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The 2026 job market is absolutely fried. It's probably the worst we've seen in decades.

But before you panic or give up hope, I need you to hear this: people are still landing jobs. Good jobs. Six-figure jobs. Jobs with companies they're excited about.

So what's the difference between those who are succeeding and those who are stuck in an endless cycle of applications and rejections?

They're fishing in the right pond.

I get it. Applying online is familiar. You scroll through job boards, find positions that match your skills, upload your resume, maybe tweak your cover letter, and hit submit. Rinse and repeat. It feels productive, right?

Wrong.

Here's the harsh truth: applying online doesn't work anymore. And it's not your fault, the system is broken.

Think about it this way: imagine standing at a tiny fishing hole with only five fish in it, but you're surrounded by 10,000 other people with fishing rods. What are your odds of actually catching anything? Close to zero.

That's what online applications have become. Companies that used to receive a hundred applications per posting are now drowning in thousands. Why? Because everyone's using AI-generated resumes, application bots, and keyword-stuffing tactics to flood company inboxes. Your carefully crafted application is getting lost in a sea of noise, and hiring managers can't even see you.

You're fishing in the wrong pond, my friend. And it's costing you opportunities, time, and probably your sanity.

Now, what if I told you there's another pond where hardly anyone is fishing? A place where your chances of getting noticed are exponentially higher?

You might be wondering: "If it's so great, why isn't everyone fishing there?"

Because people think it's too hard. It's unfamiliar. And frankly, most people are inherently lazy. They'd rather stick with what they know, even if it's not working, than learn something new.

That pond is LinkedIn.

You've probably heard about the "hidden job market" before. It sounds mysterious and exclusive, but here's what it actually means: companies aren't posting their best jobs anymore.

Instead, recruiters are quietly hunting on LinkedIn for people who match the specific skill sets they need. They're proactively reaching out to candidates who have optimized their profiles, who are visible, and who are positioned as the solution to their problems.

This is called quiet hiring, and it's exactly where you need to be.

The beauty of this strategy? Most people have already given up on LinkedIn. They've decided they hate it, don't understand it, or can't be bothered to learn how to use it effectively. Which means the pond is far less crowded—and your chances of getting contacted are significantly better.

Millions of people will read this post. They'll nod along. They'll think, "Yeah, that makes sense."

And then two out of ten will actually do something about it.

The other eight? They'll go right back to submitting applications into the void, wondering why they're not getting responses.

I hope you're one of the two.

If you're ready to stop wasting time on strategies that don't work and start positioning yourself where the real opportunities are, I want to invite you to my upcoming training: 20 LinkedIn Posts That Get You Job Offers Without Applying.

In this session, I'm going to walk you through the exact posts that are helping thousands of my clients get visible, get contacted by recruiters, and land jobs that were never posted anywhere else. You'll get access to the live training, a complete workbook, and a forever recording you can reference again and again.

The investment is $49, and seating is limited because I want to make sure everyone gets the personalized attention they need.

The 2026 job market is tough…I won't sugarcoat that. But you don't have to be a victim of it. You just need to stop doing what everyone else is doing and start fishing where the fish actually are.

LinkedIn is that pond. Quiet hiring is the reality. And the recruiters with the jobs you want are already there, searching.

The question is: will they find you?

Let's make sure the answer is yes. I'll see you at the training.

Go get ‘em!

J.T. O’Donnell

If you're a professional who's tired of feeling invisible or undervalued, J.T. O’Donnell’s new book PRO VOICE: Turn What You Know Into What You Earn is for you!

It’s time to stop relying on resumes and start building real visibility, credibility, and income.

Inside, J.T. shares her G.L.O.W. Method™ for showcasing your expertise online, building a trusted personal brand, and monetizing your knowledge through content, coaching, speaking, and more.

This isn’t about going viral—it’s about getting visible to the people who matter most. If you're ready to future-proof your career and finally earn what you’re worth, this book is your roadmap.