When Annie Hanigan started her job search in April 2025, she knew she would need to be strategic when telling her story online to find her next role. Though she was pursuing marketing opportunities, she also wanted to communicate her passion for a career in natural medicine. “Employers are looking for a candidate’s personality to see if they’ll fit,” Hanigan explains. “They want to know more about the human, not just what jobs I’ve had.”The day after her job ended, Hanigan began updating her professional profiles to publicize her talents and goals. With a focused personal summary, a notice to indicate she was ready to work and a resume added to her Indeed account, Hanigan put her marketing abilities to work for her. Recruiters reached out and she was soon interviewing for positions. 

Hanigan’s experience shows how important it is for workers to own their professional narratives — especially amidst ongoing reports of a low-hire job market And January is an ideal time for job seekers to take action and boost their online presence. Resolutions for fresh starts coincide with new, first-quarter employer budgets and the potential to increase headcounts. “It’s kind of a natural alignment, almost serendipity,” says Jenn Herrity, career coach and cohost of Indeed’s Job Search Stories podcast. “If your profile is up to date, it’s going to make applying for jobs that interest you so much quicker — you’re already prepared.”

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