What Actually Works in Today’s Job Market? A Guide for Young Professionals

From the Editor’s Desk

January 13, 2026

A software engineer, Marmik Patel, applied to hundreds of jobs without success before changing his approach. By building products and networking in person, he eventually drew interest from over 80 recruiters, he shared on X. Does this suggest that traditional methods like mass online applications are no longer effective in competitive markets where access to opportunity is unevenly distributed?

Patel applied to 670 roles and messaged 1,000 recruiters and engineers, with no results. He referred to the application process as futile, saying it failed because outcomes are “not equally distributed,” with a small percentage of candidates securing a disproportionate share of jobs, writes Patel.

Instead of continuing that route, Patel began to focus on other strategies. He invested time in travelling to tech hubs, building software products, creating content and making personal connections. Within a few months, he received unsolicited messages from 83 recruiters representing artificial intelligence labs, venture-backed startups and high-growth companies.

He concluded from this that the tech job market resembles a “winner-takes-all” system in which visibility and perceived value yield exponentially greater returns.

While Patel described his experience in San Francisco and his travels to cities like New York, his approach could also be relevant in India and across South Asia. This is because many urban job markets in the region are also crowded and highly unequal in access, and formal application channels often favour those with elite backgrounds, leaving others to rely on visibility, networks and proof of skill to stand out.

From a labour economics perspective, Patel’s case shows two important ideas. The first is “asymmetric information,” which means employers and jobseekers do not have the same amount of information about each other. Employers often cannot tell who is truly skilled just by looking at a CV. The second is “market signalling.” This refers to how individuals try to show their value in ways that employers can quickly recognise. This can be done by building real products, posting public content or being active in professional communities. These signals help employers identify who stands out, especially when they have to choose from hundreds or thousands of applicants.

For students and early-career professionals, this means that creating visible, verifiable proof of one’s skills can carry more weight than resumes and cover letters alone.

Patel’s case also reflects the sociological concept of “social capital,” or the value of networks and relationships in gaining access to jobs, resources and opportunities. Sociologist Mark Granovetter’s research on “the strength of weak ties” showed that job leads often come not from close friends but from acquaintances. For students and young workers, this means attending events, reaching out to people in their extended network, and sharing their work publicly may create the weak ties that bring real results.

In terms of organisational behaviour, this also points to shifts in recruitment practices. Many companies increasingly rely on referrals and inbound interest rather than filtering large pools of applications. Some hiring teams quietly prefer candidates who attract attention without applying, such as those who are publicly active or well-connected, because they appear to be in demand. This doesn’t mean students should avoid applying, but it suggests that they must also work on becoming visible through other means, like open-source contributions, blogs or public speaking.

There’s also an economic point here. In crowded job markets across India and South Asia, especially in sectors like tech, media and design, we often see what economists call “labour market dualism,” which means a small group of workers, often from elite institutions or networks, receive most of the job offers and higher pay, while the majority struggle with low visibility and fewer opportunities. This is similar to what Patel describes as a “winner-takes-all” system. For students and young professionals, this means that instead of competing in bulk through online applications, it becomes more effective to focus on building rare and visible skills that set them apart.

Furthermore, “portfolio careers,” one in which people earn their living from multiple income streams or showcase a variety of projects instead of depending on one job or employer, appear to be becoming more relevant. Building products, making content and being active in online communities are ways of building such a portfolio. For students, this means their career doesn’t begin after graduation, but with what they build, create and share today.

Another takeaway is the growing importance of place-based opportunity. Certain cities act as “labour market clusters,” where proximity increases access to chance encounters, informal hiring and insider information. This doesn’t mean everyone has to move, but it does mean that being present, whether online or in person, in the places where their industry’s networks are dense, matters more than ever.

The traditional view is that employers choose and jobseekers wait to be chosen. Patel turned this around by acting as his own promoter. He built projects, shared them publicly and made sure the right people noticed his work. For students and young professionals, this means thinking like builders and creators, not just applicants. It also means learning how to be seen in a crowded market.

(This article focuses on strategies for navigating competitive job markets, particularly for those seeking employment in sectors like technology and media. However, many young people may choose different paths, such as entrepreneurship, politics, civil society work, journalism, or activism, where the goal is not just to earn a living but to serve a purpose. This piece does not suggest that high-paying jobs are the most desirable or meaningful pursuit. A fulfilling life and career can take many forms, and each person must define success for themselves.)

You’ve just read a News Briefing written by Newsreel Asia’s Text Editor, Vishal Arora, meant to cut through the noise and bring you one important story of the day. We invite you to read the News Briefing daily. Our aim is to help you become a sharp, responsible and engaged citizen who asks the right questions.