Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

Job Market Reality Check: October 2026

Did the September Surge finally arrive? October's employment reports reveal stronger hiring, upward revisions, and a complicated job market for professionals considering their next career move.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

What Are You Working So Hard For?

What are you working so hard for? My October reads prompted me to reconsider ambition, productivity, and how our definitions of success change. From corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, I'm sharing why your reputation, experience, and time can help you build what comes next.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

A Slow Job Market Doesn't Have to Mean a Stalled Career

Think you need to change jobs to advance your career? In today's low-hire, low-fire market, there's another strategy worth considering. Choosing to stay can be a powerful career decision when you use that time to invest in your growth.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

The Invisible Load of a Job Search

You’re working, managing life, and searching for your next opportunity. Behind the applications and interviews, there’s worry, waiting, and so much you can’t say out loud. Explore the invisible load of a job search, a reflection exercise to help you examine your fears, and how career coaching can support you.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

Job Market Reality Check: Hiring Is Happening. Now What?

September showed encouraging signs of hiring momentum, but is it enough to call it a surge? ADP reported stronger employment growth, midsized employers contributed meaningfully to new jobs, and layoffs declined. Career coach Annette Garsteck explores what these trends mean for professionals navigating a slower hiring process.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

Who Are You Becoming?

Seven books finished, two more tried on for size, and one question that kept surfacing: Who are you becoming? September's Reading Round-Up explores curiosity, continuous learning, rereading old ideas with new eyes, and the quieter ways we grow.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

Job Market Reality Check: Is Hiring Picking Up?

The August employment reports brought encouraging news, but ADP and BLS are once again telling very different stories. Here's what the latest hiring, layoff, and job openings data reveals about the labor market, employer caution, and whether we're beginning to see signs of a 2026 September Surge.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

The September Surge...Let's Talk About It

Is the September Surge still real in 2026? Explore the latest U.S. job market signals, what they could mean for the fall hiring season, and why a strong job search strategy matters more than waiting for a hiring boom.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

Job Market Reality Check: The Jobs Are Open. The Hiring Is Complicated.

There are millions of job openings, but far fewer hires. The July 2026 employment reports reveal a complicated job market where opportunities exist, hiring remains unpredictable, and strong relationships and interview skills can make a difference. Here's what the latest labor market data means for your career.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

July 2026 Reading Round-Up

One of the best career books I read this month wasn't shelved in the career section. From executive presence and emotional intelligence to influence and resilience, my July 2026 Reading Round-Up reminded me that some of the most valuable career insights come from unexpected places.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

What New Pay Transparency Laws Can Teach You About Your Career

Pay transparency laws are changing hiring practices, but the biggest opportunity isn't simply negotiating a better salary. Discover how reading job postings strategically can help you understand your market value, guide your professional development, and prepare you for promotions. Become a more intentional steward of your career.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

When I Saw the Writing on the Wall in Telecom (And Why I Left Before I Had To)

In 2004, I left a successful 10-year career in telecommunications months before my organization experienced major restructuring. This isn't a story about luck or predicting the future. It's about recognizing meaningful change early, trusting informed judgment, and developing the career foresight that helps professionals navigate disruption with confidence.

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Annette Garsteck Annette Garsteck

Why Can’t I Get Promoted? What Leaders Really Look For

You hit your goals. You do great work. You thought you'd be in a senior role by now. So why are others getting promoted ahead of you? A former Fortune 50 hiring leader shares what promotion discussions really sound like behind closed doors.

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