In the wake of last year’s sweeping funding cuts and layoffs, many development professionals are entering 2026 still searching for work in a highly competitive job market.
For those feeling frustrated at the lack of callbacks from roles they feel more than qualified for, career coach Spencer Campbell has a message: Don’t take it personally. It’s the reality of the current job market, he said, likening the current upheaval in the social impact sector to how the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2008 financial crisis impacted hiring in other areas.
During a recent Devex digital event, Campbell was joined by fellow career coach Dan Freehling to walk job seekers through the steps for a more deliberate, methodical job search.