The Career Bloom Newsletter

1 day ago
3 min read

FULL BLOOM SEASON · WEEK 3

Break Through

Notes from Lauren

Hey y'all,

We're in Week 3 of Full Bloom Season, and the theme is Break Through. Which means we're done planning. We're done auditing. We're done thinking about it. This is the week we do the thing.

If you're a career bloomer: you're applying with intention, prepping for interviews like a pro, and getting your name in the right rooms. If you're a business owner or HR leader: you're looking at your company culture with honest eyes and making the hard decisions that keep your best people.

This week's podcast episode, Season 4 Episode 2, dropped this morning. It's all about what it actually looks like to stop waiting and start moving, whether that's in your career or in your company. Go listen. It pairs with everything we're doing this week.

No more excuses. It's go time.

Lauren

What's New in the Market

March jobs came in hot. The U.S. added 178,000 jobs in March, beating expectations despite broader economic uncertainty. Economists say this could be an early signal that employers are moving forward with hiring plans more confidently than earlier in the quarter. The labor market is still described as "low-hire, low-fire," but the momentum is shifting.

The ATS is running the show. 99% of Fortune 500 companies use an Applicant Tracking System, and about 40% of companies are now using AI specifically for job postings and resume screening. If your resume is not ATS-friendly, a human may never see it. (Wednesday's blog covers exactly how to fix this.)

Where the hiring is. Healthcare, AI and cybersecurity, clean energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing continue to lead job growth into spring 2026. If you're looking to pivot or level up, these are the sectors with real momentum right now.

Skills-based hiring is the new baseline. 65% of employers have adopted skills-based hiring for entry-level roles. That means degrees are mattering less and demonstrable skills are mattering more. If you've been held back by the "I don't have the right degree" story, the market is starting to agree with you.

Tips You Need to Know

For Career Bloomers: Run your resume through a free ATS checker before you submit one more application. If you're using a two-column layout, graphics, icons, or a Canva template, it's probably getting filtered out before a recruiter ever sees it. Single column. Standard headers. Five minutes. Do it today.

For Business Owners: Ask yourself this: if your best employee put in their notice tomorrow, would you know why? If the answer is no, or "I think so," you have a culture gap. The Spring HR Health Check helps you find exactly where it is.

For Everyone: The average hiring process takes 42 days. If you're waiting to hear back and it's been two weeks, that's normal. Don't panic. Do follow up.

What's Happening This Month

April is Full Bloom Season. Four weeks, four themes, one goal: real momentum in your career or your company.

Week 1: Plant Your Seeds ✓

Week 2: Root Yourself ✓

Week 3: Break Through ← You are here

Week 4: In Full Bloom

Next week we close it out with offers, negotiation, and reflection. If you've been doing the work, Week 4 is the payoff.

Free This Month

FOR CAREER BLOOMERS

Full Bloom Career Action Plan

Your free 30-day career roadmap. Career audit, application tracker, interview prep, compensation research, and offer evaluation. Everything you need for Break Through week is in Section 3.

Download Free

FOR BUSINESS OWNERS + HR LEADERS

Spring HR Health Check

A self-assessment for retention, hiring, culture, and quarterly priorities. Score yourself, find the gaps, and know where to focus. Section 3 on company culture pairs with Monday's blog.

Download Free