GettyIf you’re one of the many Americans currently unemployed, then you may feel like the odds are stacked against you. Not only are employers hiring at a slower pace, but employed workers are holding onto their jobs longer, creating fewer opportunities and more competition for the roles that are available. As a result, the percentage of long-term unemployed people—those who have been without work for 27 weeks or longer—reached 25%, up from 23% this time last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means that in a slow hiring market like we have today, simply sending out more applications isn’t necessarily the answer. I spoke with four experts about how job seekers can be more strategic in their search, as well as the steps they can take to improve their chances of getting hired. Below are some of the top pieces of advice from those interviews:Network: LinkedIn’s Head of Economics, Americas, Kory Kantenga says that using “your network to connect with people who are in the roles and in the industries that you have an interest in” is crucial.“That way, you’re not just sending cold resumes out and you’re actually making a warm connection and potentially getting a referral, which is very important in a market like this,” Kantenga says.Avoid Using AI To Completely Write Your Application: “AI can be used to tighten up your resume and it can be used to enhance your cover letter, but it still needs to be your own voice and it still needs to be your own experiences on that resume,” says Margaret Burke, principal, talent acquisition and development leader at PwC.Emphasize Human Skills AI Can’t Replace:“We’re hearing again and again that things like communication and critical thinking and leadership and empathy are the skills that are valuable right now across a lot of industries,” says Priya Rathod, workplace expert at Indeed. In fact, according to Indeed’s research, Rathod says that skills similar to those above appear in nearly three-quarters of all U.S. job postings. Read here to learn more about the tips and advice experts say you should follow to capture an employer’s attention. This is a published version of Forbes’ Careers newsletter. Click here to subscribe and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. WORK SMARTER Practical insights and advice from Forbes staff and contributors to help you succeed in your job, accelerate your career and lead smarter.What does ambition look like today? There are five ways the rules of career ambition have shifted in the workplace and in our personal lives, executive coach Caroline Castrillon writes.Many job seekers are landing roles despite a tough labor market. The habit that fuels their success is perseverance, psychologist Bryan Robinson says—and he has tips on how to build it.Have a great job but still feel unhappy? Discover five job characteristics that make some roles more satisfying and how to rate your position, with advice from business professor Andy Molinsky.The best career advice comes from different perspectives, including human resources, versus simply asking a chatbot or your manager, according to executive coach Caroline Ceniza-Levine.GettyDeep Dive: Why Women Account For Just 26% Of AI HiresIn the U.S. alone, AI job postings have roughly doubled since 2023, with the typical listing including a compensation of about $177,000 compared to $80,000 for a non-AI role, according to recent LinkedIn data. But when looking at who gets hired for these lucrative positions, data shows a growing gender disparity, with women accounting for just 26% of new AI hires in 2025. At the top, this gap is even wider, with women accounting for just 13% of C-Suite AI roles. Forbes senior contributor Rachel Wells breaks down this data and details why such a disparity exists—and what can be done to close this gap. Currently, when looking at some of the highest-paying roles like head of AI, director of AI, and member of technical staff, men account for 80%, 74%, and 82% of individuals in these positions, respectively. “What I find particularly fascinating is the unequal distribution of economic value within the AI job market,” writes Wells. “When you double-tap into the data from LinkedIn’s Triple Penalty report, the highest-paying and most senior-level roles as well as the roles with the most direct AI impact within AI firms continue to largely exclude women.”To close this gender gap, Wells says we must first think about how we can solve systemic gaps within STEM education, as well as how we can eliminate bias when it comes to entry-level hiring for AI roles. “After all, you cannot build a leadership pipeline without laying the foundations that make it accessible,” she writes. Click here to read Wells’ full take on LinkedIn’s latest data about the gender gap in AI and how we can solve it. NUMBER TO NOTE6.5 millionThat’s the estimated number of U.S. workers who were paid below minimum wage in 2025, with roughly 5.8 million experiencing a minimum wage violation as opposed to a legal exemption, according to a Cleveland Fed analysis. VIDEOJoin Forbes experts on Thursday, August 27 at 12 p.m. ET for a live discussion and audience Q&A exploring how AI is changing the future of work. Learn more about the skills employers value most, the industries poised for growth and practical strategies to help future-proof your career. Subscribe to register below: ForbesMembers-Only Event: How To Future-Proof Your Career In The Age Of AIBy Forbes Membership