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Here’s what to consider if you’re looking for a job this fall, experts say

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2 years ago

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The season of fall foliage and pumpkin spice lattes is approaching. Meanwhile, the job market might also turning over a new leaf.

A “September surge,” or the idea that more job postings become available after Labor Day, is tied to an end of a summer slowdown as job recruiters and hiring managers return from vacation, career experts say.

“The team is never there together; there’s always someone missing,” said Cara Heilmann, president of the International Association of Career Coaches. 

“It just drags things out much more during the summer months,” added Heilmann, who’s also founder and CEO of Ready Set Go, a career coaching firm.

There is, however, no hard data for the theory, explains Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter.

On average, the number of job openings in the U.S. does tend to fall by an average of 1.4% between August and September, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the number of hires made in the month tends to fall by around 6.0%, on average.

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Yet the fall season may be a good time to search, job experts say.

“We do see a seasonal trend in job seeker behavior, however, with a modest decline in the number of job applications submitted in September,” Pollak said.

On average, more than 20 million applications are submitted through ZipRecruiter each month, with application volumes falling 8.3% between August and September in 2022, for example. Last year, application volumes fell 12.1% between August and September.

As a result, individuals who are actively job hunting may see their chances improve as they compete with fewer other candidates, Pollak explained.

In fact, job-seeking activity tends to peak in January, with 20% more job applications started on Glassdoor than in a typical month, according to Glassdoor data from 2017 to 2020.

Meanwhile, here are some key ways to help you land that job you are after, according to experts.

1. Focus on networking

It will be important for job seekers to “be more strategic” said Erin McGoff, a career educator with more than 5.3 million social media followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Instead of solely applying to hundreds of jobs online, focus on making direct connections with people in those companies, McGoff said.

It’s important now more than ever before to network and to try to land a job “through word of mouth, through your alumni, through any other associations you’re a part of,” McGoff explained.

This direct contact is key because recruiters and hiring managers are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of applicants, McGoff explained.

What’s more, “job boards are becoming extremely cluttered and oversaturated,” she added.

2. Gather insight

Networking with employees at a firm you are applying to for a job can give you information about the company and the interview process, said Aaron Terrazas, chief economist at Glassdoor.

To stand out as a candidate for larger companies, Terrazas said to try to gather key information:

  • Be familiar with the company culture.
  • Speak the “company language.”
  • Research what interviewers are seeking.
Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker: Job market revisions weren't a surprise

3. Tailor your resume

Submitting a tailored applications is also important, McGoff said.

“The second that recruiters get that generic, untailored resume, it’s just going right into the ‘no’ pile,” McGoff explained.

To avoid spending hours on each job application, it’s also a good idea to assess how much you want the job you’re applying for by using a rating system to compare various jobs, Heilmann advised.

For example, if you see a job post, and you’re not that “jazzed about it,” be fair and rate it on a scale from one to 10, said Heilmann. If you see another opportunity that you’re very excited about and you rate it higher, then you need to spend more time customizing that application, she said.

4. The ‘three-legged stool’

A successful strategy — at any time of year — will involve a combination of applying online, networking and tapping a career coach or recruiter, Heilmann explained.

“I call it a three-legged stool,” she said.

If a job seeker is only doing one, just applying online, for example, “their entire strategy is not balanced,” Heilmann cautioned.

It’s also key to move fast.

“You might not have much time,” Terrazas said. “Fall is bookended by big holidays. It’s a relatively narrow window for job seekers to get on board.”

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$20,000 Caution Bond Requirement for US Visa Applications imposed on 50 Countries

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7 days ago

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August 8, 2026

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The United States Department of State has officially implemented a revised visa policy introducing a mandatory posting requirement for caution payments of up to $20,000 on select foreign travel applications. Under the updated regulatory framework, consular officials are authorized to require temporary nonimmigrant visa applicants from targeted foreign countries to post a refundable financial bond of $20,000 as a condition for visa issuance. The policy mechanism is designed to address diplomatic concerns regarding high overstay rates among temporary visitor, business, and educational visa categories.

The caution bond pilot program applies selectively to foreign nationals from designated countries whose diplomatic entities record historical visa overstay rates exceeding established federal thresholds. Under administrative guidelines published by the State Department, the full financial deposit is posted directly to a dedicated federal escrow account prior to final visa issuance. The entire caution payment is automatically refunded to the applicant upon verified proof of timely departure from the United States in strict compliance with the authorized duration of stay. Conversely, failure to depart within the legal timeframe results in full forfeiture of the posted financial bond to the United States government.

Diplomatic representatives and travel policy experts have expressed varying perspectives regarding the operational implementation of the caution bond system. Administration officials emphasize that the measure serves as an effective, market-based incentive to enforce international travel compliance and preserve domestic immigration security standards. However, international trade organizations and foreign diplomatic missions have raised concerns regarding the financial burden imposed on legitimate business travelers, foreign students, and commercial partners from developing nations.

The United States finalized the rule to make the temporary visa bond program permanent, taking effect on August 3, 2026. The updated permanent regulation replaces the prior 12-month pilot, eliminates the lowest $5,000 tier, and raises the maximum required bond amount to $20,000 for specific B-1/B-2 business and tourist visa applicants.

Here is the list of the 50 countries on the list as o August 3, 2026

African Nations (31 Countries)

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
  • Central African Republic
  • Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • The Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Asian & Eastern European Nations (11 Countries)

  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Cambodia
  • Georgia
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Mongolia
  • Nepal
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan

Caribbean & Latin American Nations (5 Countries)

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Venezuela

Oceanian Nations (3 Countries)

  • Fiji
  • Tonga
  • Vanuatu

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Next-Generation Retirement Planning: Managing Longevity Risk and Variable Income Streams

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1 week ago

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August 7, 2026

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Retirement planning strategies are evolving in 2026 to address increased life expectancies, shifting dynamic market conditions, and the transition away from traditional defined-benefit pensions. Individual investors and financial advisors are abandoning rigid retirement models in favor of flexible, multi-asset strategies designed to mitigate longevity risk and preserve purchasing power over multi-decade retirement horizons.

Mitigating Longevity Risk with Dynamic Asset Allocation
As average life expectancies extend past eighty-five years, one of the primary financial risks facing retirees is outliving their accumulated wealth. Traditional fixed income allocations—such as the standard 60/40 equity-to-bond portfolio—are being reevaluated to ensure portfolios generate sufficient capital growth alongside reliable income.

Financial planners recommend maintaining a meaningful equity allocation throughout retirement to offset long-term inflation erosion. High-dividend equity funds, global real estate investment trusts (REITs), and inflation-indexed Treasuries are combined to create diversified portfolios that deliver both growth and income stability.

The Transition to Dynamic Withdrawal Strategies
The classic “4% safe withdrawal rule” is increasingly replaced by dynamic withdrawal strategies that adapt annually based on market performance. Under a dynamic withdrawal framework, retirees adjust their annual distribution rates within pre-set caps and floors:
– Market Upside: During strong market returns, retirees can increase discretionary spending or fund family legacy gifts.
– Market Downturns: During market pullbacks, spending distributions are temporarily reduced to prevent sequence-of-returns risk and preserve core investment principal.

Guaranteed Lifetime Income Options and Deferred Annuities
To establish a guaranteed baseline for essential living expenses, individuals are incorporating modern fixed-indexed and deferred longevity annuities into their broader retirement architectures. Modern annuity structures offer competitive return caps, transparent fee schedules, and inflation-adjustment options.

By funding essential expenses—such as housing, healthcare, and insurance—with guaranteed income streams from Social Security, pensions, and annuities, retirees can manage discretionary investment portfolios with greater flexibility and lower emotional stress during market volatility.

Actionable Steps for Future Retirees
1. Calculate Baseline Retirement Expenses: Determine fixed living costs and map guaranteed income sources to cover essential expenditures.
2. Adopt Flexible Withdrawal Rules: Implement dynamic spending rules to protect investment principal against market downturns.
3. Incorporate Inflation-Protected Assets: Maintain exposure to dividend-growing equities and inflation-indexed bonds to safeguard long-term purchasing power.

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Building Generational Wealth: Family Governance, Estate Tax Optimization, and Asset Protection

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2 weeks ago

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August 1, 2026

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As the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history accelerates, high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and individual investors are placing heightened emphasis on comprehensive estate planning, family governance, and asset protection. Preserving capital across generations requires a balanced approach combining tax-efficient legal structures with open family communication and financial literacy education.

Optimizing Estate Tax Exemptions and Trust Structures
With potential modifications to federal estate tax exemption thresholds on the horizon, proactive estate planning is essential for high-net-worth households. Estate planning attorneys and wealth advisors are establishing multi-generational trust structures to transfer wealth efficiently while minimizing estate and gift tax exposure.

Popular structural strategies include:
– Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs): Utilizing life insurance proceeds to provide liquidity for estate tax obligations without expanding the taxable estate.
– Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs): Transferring rapidly appreciating assets to beneficiaries with minimal gift tax consequences.
– Dynasty Trusts: Preserving wealth across multiple generations while providing long-term asset protection from creditor claims and legal liabilities.

Establishing Family Governance and Financial Education
Legal and financial structures alone cannot guarantee long-term wealth preservation without effective family governance. Financial advisors report that a significant percentage of multi-generational wealth dissipation stems from lack of communication and inadequate financial preparation among heir generations.

Families are establishing formal family governance frameworks, including periodic family meetings, written mission statements, and structured philanthropic foundations. Involving younger family members in charitable grant-making and investment discussions fosters financial stewardship and prepares heirs to manage family assets responsibly.

Digital Asset Custody and Legacy Planning
In today’s modern economy, estate planning must extend beyond physical real estate and traditional brokerage accounts to encompass digital assets. Comprehensive estate plans now include detailed inventories and legal access protocols for corporate domain names, intellectual property, digital media rights, and cryptocurrency holdings.

Fiduciaries and estate executors should be provided with secure, encrypted access mechanisms and clear legal authority to manage and transfer digital holdings in accordance with the owner’s estate directions.

Practical Steps for Legacy Planning
1. Review and Update Estate Documents: Ensure wills, revocable trusts, and power-of-attorney designations accurately reflect current family structures.
2. Establish Structured Trusts: Utilize irrevocable trusts to protect assets from creditors and minimize future estate tax liabilities.
3. Create a Digital Estate Inventory: Document access protocols and legal permissions for all online accounts, intellectual property, and digital assets.

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