Career reset for 2026: building momentum (not pressure)
- Jenna Cantwell
- Jan 1
- 11 min read
Updated: Jan 2
If you’re heading into 2026 feeling hopeful and a little uneasy about your career, you’re not behind. You’re human.
I’ve been in enough career convos (as a former recruiter and current career coach) to know this is a very real “in-between” moment: you’re ready for something to change, but you don’t want to sprint into the year with a 47-step plan you’ll abandon next month.
So here’s the tone for this post: less pressure, more momentum. We’re going to keep it practical and honest. Because the truth is, most people don’t need a dramatic career overhaul.
They need:
A clear read on what’s happening in the market (so they stop personalizing every rejection)
A tighter story (resume + LinkedIn) that makes it easy for someone to say “yes, this person fits”
One small next step that creates traction — even if motivation is low
That’s what you’ll get here.
Want a free guided version of this reset?
I made a free resource to help you do this without overthinking it: Career Reflection Worksheet + Growth Planning Guide. It’s printable, simple, and designed to help you capture your wins, get honest about what you want more (and less) of, and turn it into goals you can actually follow.
Before we dive in, here’s what I want you to know: you don’t need to do everything in this post. You just need to find the part that matches where you are right now.
Some of you are job searching and wondering why it feels like you’re doing “all the right things” and still not getting interviews. Some of you are employed but quietly thinking, “I can’t do another year like this.” And some of you are somewhere in the middle - not miserable, but not fulfilled either.
So I wrote this like a choose-your-own-reset. Skim it, save it, come back to it. And if you only take one thing from this post, take the last section where I give you a simple next step you can do in 20 minutes.
Here’s what we’re going to cover:
Why the market feels harder right now (and why it’s not a personal failure)
What to do before you apply so you stop wasting energy
A 10-minute reset to get clarity fast
What’s changing on LinkedIn (and how to stay visible without being “cringe”)
How to use AI in a way that still sounds like you
Why The Job Market Feels Harder Right Now (even when jobs exist)
If you’ve been thinking, “Is it just me?” - it’s not.
A cooler market doesn’t always mean there are no jobs. It usually means more competition, longer timelines, and less margin for generic applications. That’s why people are doing “all the right things” and still getting silence.
Here’s what’s contributing to that feeling:
Unemployment has ticked up (recent reporting put it around 4.6%), and more people are staying unemployed longer, which increases competition for professional roles
Hiring is uneven by industry. Some sectors are adding roles while others are cutting, so your experience will vary wildly depending on your function, level, and target companies
Entry-level is getting squeezed (new grads hovering near ~10% unemployment in some analyses) as companies automate tasks and expect “ready-to-go” experience
Applications are more crowded and more filtered (ATS + AI screening), so “easy apply + pray” is converting worse than usual
Networking is getting more creative because people are trying to bypass the pile and get back to real human connection
What I want you to take from this: if it’s taking longer than you expected, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re doing something wrong. It means you need a strategy that matches the reality of the market.
Sources: PBS NewsHour (labor market cooling segment), Los Angeles Times (networking via dating apps), Josh Bersin (AI + jobs analysis)
Companies To Put On Your Radar in 2026 (and how to use this list)
If you’re feeling scattered right now, you’re not alone. One of the fastest ways to calm the chaos (and stop doom-scrolling job boards) is to build a simple target company list.
This isn’t about obsessing over “dream companies.” It’s about choosing a handful of employers you’d genuinely be open to, then focusing your energy where it can actually compound: better-fit applications, stronger networking, and more relevant visibility on LinkedIn.
Forbes recently released its America’s Dream Employers list. Here are some recognizable companies from that ranking to help you build your own “radar” list:
Tech / AI / Software: NVIDIA, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Apple, LinkedIn, Salesforce, Adobe, Oracle, Cisco Systems, Intuit, Meta Platforms, Pinterest
Media / Entertainment / Gaming: Netflix, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Music Group, Nintendo, Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. Discovery, The New York Times
Retail / Consumer / Apparel: Amazon, Nike, adidas, lululemon, Puma
Finance: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America
Healthcare / Mission-driven: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, American Cancer Society, Emory Healthcare, University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS)
The simple “connection move” (10 minutes)
Pick one company from the list and connect with two people on LinkedIn:
1 recruiter (Talent Acquisition)
1 leader in your function (Director/VP)
You’re not asking for a job. You’re building context and getting closer to the real information that helps you stand out.
Now, once you’ve got even a short target list, here are 4 steps to take before you apply so you don’t waste January…
4 steps to take before you apply (so you don't waste January)
When the market is noisy, the people who win aren’t the ones applying to 100 roles. They’re the ones applying to fewer roles with sharper positioning — and pairing it with warm outreach.
This is the “foundation” approach I recommend before you start firing off applications:
Step 1: Choose 1–2 target roles (not 10)
Pick one primary target role and one backup role that’s close enough to share the same core story.
Why this matters: if your target is too broad, your resume and LinkedIn will read broad, and broad usually gets ignored.
Step 2: Tighten the top third of your resume
You don’t need a full rewrite to start getting better results. You need the top third to do its job.
Focus on:
A clear title (matching the role you want)
A short summary that sounds like a human (not a keyword dump)
A few high-impact bullets early that show scope + outcomes
Step 3: Fix your LinkedIn headline (this is a big deal)
Your headline is one of the most “scanned” parts of your profile. It’s doing a lot of work in a tiny space - it tells recruiters (and real humans) what you do, what lane you’re in, and why you might be worth clicking.
The goal isn’t to sound impressive. The goal is to sound clear, specific, and like a real person.
A simple formula that works (without sounding robotic):
Target Role + What you’re known for + The kind of impact you create
Think: “If someone only read this line, would they get me?”
Headline examples (choose the style that feels like you):
Clean + recruiter-friendly: “Project Manager | Cross-functional delivery + process improvement | Helping teams ship on time (without the chaos)”
More human (still professional): “Project Manager who loves untangling messy processes | Cross-functional leadership | Turning plans into progress”
More specific (great for niche roles): “Project Manager (SaaS) | Launches + stakeholder alignment | Helping teams deliver on time and communicate clearly”
If your headline could belong to anyone, it’s too generic. If it matches what you actually do and the kind of work you want more of, you’re in a great spot.
Step 4: Do 5 warm touches before you apply
This is where most people skip - and it’s also where traction happens.
Warm touches can be:
A former coworker
An alumni connection
A recruiter in your space
A hiring manager or team lead
Someone who works at the company you’re targeting
You’re not asking for a job. You’re creating context.
If you want a simple script:
“Hey [Name], I’m exploring a move into [target role] and [Company] is on my short list. I’d love to ask you 2–3 quick questions about the team and what they value most. No pressure at all - would you be open to a quick chat or a few messages here?”
Why this works (even if you hate networking)
Because it reduces the “cold application” problem.
It increases:
Relevance (for ATS and humans)
Confidence (because you’re not guessing)
Visibility (because people remember people).
How to Reset Your Career For 2026: The 10-Minute Career Reset (3-2-1)
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, scattered, or like you don’t even know where to start, this is your reset. It’s quick. It’s not fluffy. And it gets you out of your head.
Here’s how it works
3 wins from 2025: These can be big or small, but they need to be real.
Examples:
A project you delivered
A problem you solved
A hard conversation you had
A boundary you set
A moment you showed leadership (even if it wasn’t in your title)
2 priorities for 2026: Not 12 goals. Just two priorities
Examples:
“Find a role with better leadership and clearer expectations”
“Move into a manager-level role”
“Build confidence speaking up in meetings”
“Get more visible (LinkedIn, internal projects, networking)”
“Stop being the go-to person for everything and start setting boundaries”
1 next step in the next 72 hours: This is where momentum starts.
A good next step is:
Small enough that you’ll actually do it
Specific enough that you’ll know when it’s done
Connected to one of your priorities
Examples:
Update your LinkedIn headline
Write one STAR story (more on that below)
Reach out to one former coworker
Identify 10 target companies and follow them on LinkedIn
Tailor your resume for one role you’d genuinely be excited about
If you want to do this in a guided, printable way (without reinventing the wheel), grab the free Career Reflection Worksheet + Growth Planning Guide here.
LinkedIn in 2026: What's Changing (and what still works)
If LinkedIn has felt a little… weird lately (lower reach, fewer profile views, less engagement), you’re not imagining it.
A lot of people are talking about LinkedIn’s newer system, often referred to as “360Brew.” The big idea is simple: LinkedIn is paying more attention to context and consistency - not just keyword stuffing or perfectly polished posts.
What that means in real life
Clarity beats clever. Your headline and About section should clearly say what you do and what you’re aiming for. If someone has to guess, they’ll scroll
Consistency matters more than “viral.” You don’t need to post every day. You do need to show up in a way that reinforces your lane
Human > perfect. With so much generic AI content floating around, your real voice is an advantage. A slightly imperfect post with a real point will outperform a “perfect” post that says nothing
Engagement that builds trust is the goal. Saves, thoughtful comments, and real conversations matter more than chasing big numbers
A simple 10-minute LinkedIn reset
Update your headline so it’s clear in 5 seconds
Leave 3 thoughtful comments this week (not “Great post!”... add an opinion, a quick example, or a helpful nuance)
Use AI To Build Interview Stories That Still Sound Like You (not a robot)
AI can be a huge confidence booster for interview prep - if you use it the right way.
The goal isn’t to have AI “write your answers.” The goal is to use AI to help you organize your thoughts, pull out the strongest details, and turn your real experience into a clear story that a hiring team can actually score.
Most interviews are really testing three things:
How you think
How you work with people
What results you drive
That’s why STAR works so well.
The golden rule
Use AI for structure and clarity - not for facts. Your job is to provide the details (scope, timeline, stakeholders, outcomes). AI’s job is to help you shape it into a strong story.
What not to do (seriously)
Don’t ask AI to “make it more impressive” if you haven’t given real outcomes; that’s how fake metrics sneak in
Don’t paste your entire resume and hope it pulls the right story; pick one project or achievement
Don’t use the first draft; treat it like a rough outline, then edit it so it sounds like you
Don't forget to read over what AI writes, then read it again, and again, seriously; I've seen actual clients of mine send me resumes AI wrote with completely inaccurate details on the resume that they never caught!
A quick trail of prompts (so it actually gets personalized)
Copy and paste the following prompts into ChatGPT or your preferred AI friend to turn a career task or project into an impactful interview story:
Prompt 1: Story picker
Here are 5 projects I worked on last year: [list]. Which 2 are strongest for a [target role] interview and why?
...then....
Prompt 2: Clarify the impact
Ask me 5 questions to quantify scope and results without making anything up
...then...
Prompt 3: Final polish
Now write a 60–90 second STAR answer using only my answers. Keep it conversational, not robotic
A Quick New Year's Reality Check (from someone who's bought the planners)
Before you click away, can I say something that might be a little too real?
I have been a long-time victim of New Year’s resolutions.
I’ve bought the fresh planners, I swear I’m going to use every single day… and then I stop using them by February.
I’ve made vision boards that are honestly beautiful (because I’m a visual person and I love that kind of thing)… and then I never look at them again.
I’ve spent hours “planning” and somehow ended up with less clarity than when I started.
And here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way): a lot of New Year’s motivation is actually just pressure in a cute outfit.
But career planning and life planning really do matter. Not because you need to reinvent yourself every January, but because if you don’t pause long enough to reflect, you’ll keep repeating the same patterns - the same job dynamics, the same burnout cycles, the same “maybe next year” conversations with yourself.
So yes, make the vision board. Light the candle. Buy the markers. I’m probably doing it too.
But this year, let’s do one thing differently: before we rush forward, we reflect. We look at what worked, what didn’t, what you’re proud of, what drained you, and what you want more of, so your next move isn’t just a reaction. It’s a decision.
That’s how you build momentum that lasts longer than January.
A few tools that actually help you follow through or get ahead:
Badass Habits by Jen Sincero: What a perfect way to start the new year: building better habits without the all-or-nothing pressure. I’ve read all her books except this one, so I’m ordering it this week too… want to unofficially book-club it with me? [Shop now]
MasterClass Subscription: If you’re in a “new year, new skills” mood, this is a fun (and actually doable) way to learn from some of the best. There are great classes on communicating effectively, working in teams, finance/investing, branding + marketing, innovation, creative thinking, leading teams, negotiating, and setting goals. (Deal ends soon!) [Try It]
Amazon Echo Show 15: I’ve had this for 1.5 years, and I still use it daily. If your brain loves to juggle 50 tabs at once (hi, ADHD), this is such a game-changer for reminders, timers, lists, and keeping your day visible. Also perfect for a family or a small office “team” to stay organized together. [Shop Now]
Want a printable version of the reflection guide + plan?
If you want a simple, guided career reset for 2026 without overthinking it, download my free Career Reflection Worksheet + Growth Planning Guide.
It’ll help you:
Capture your wins (including the ones you’ve been minimizing)
Get clear on what you want more of in 2026 (and what you’re done tolerating)
Turn that clarity into a plan you can actually follow
Choose one next step so you’re not starting from scratch every Monday
And if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or behind, please hear me: you’re not broken, and you’re not “too late.” You’re just at the part where you need a little clarity and a next step that actually fits your life.
If you want support with that (and you don’t want to do it alone in your own head), I’d love to help. Whether you’re job searching, pivoting, or trying to feel more confident and visible where you are, we can map out your next move together and make it feel doable.
You can book a consultation call here:
From my thoughts to your screen,
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