| Who is embracing “Hustle Season”? We analyzed 100+ TikTok videos and comments from young professionals, with career coach insights, to reveal key strategies for productivity, skills, and career growth before the New Year. |
As 2025 draws to a close, Gen Z professionals are entering what our career experts at Resume.AI are calling “Hustle Season,” a period of heightened focus, discipline, and strategic effort aimed at securing roles and building career stability before the New Year.
What we analyzed
At Resume.AI, we analyzed TikTok videos and comments from young professionals sharing their routines and productivity tips. Our research shows that many are using the last few months of the year to make measurable progress toward their career goals. With ongoing job uncertainty and the rise of #jobhugging, young professionals are putting extra effort into leveling up at work, achieving real results, and demonstrating dedication.
Based on our TikTok analysis, we discovered:
- Young workers are building meaningful relationships to make themselves irreplaceable.
- Building meaningful relationships to become irreplaceable.
- Romanticizing a stable, corporate job to stay motivated.
- Focusing on learning high-demand, flexible skills.
- Keeping LinkedIn updated and saving key projects for future use.
- Tracking achievements to strengthen portfolios and stay competitive.
The “Great Lock-in” mindset
TikTok creator Kadie Glenn recommends starting the ‘Great Lock-In’ with a personal audit of key areas like health, career, and relationships, then focusing on two or three priorities, especially career, to set clear commitments and make meaningful progress.
The trend has even reached #CareerTok, where @chiefofstafftok encourages young professionals to focus on high-impact opportunities that build skills, allow meaningful contributions, and provide diverse experience, rather than just chasing promotions. Meanwhile, @emilyynasser emphasizes adopting a positive, proactive mindset at work, taking control of daily routines, and letting go of negative attitudes like “I hate my 9-to-5” to prove value at work
TikTok creator Tatiana Forbes describes the “Great Lock-In” as a period “where you put forth immense effort in some area of your life … it could be fitness, it could be your finances, it could be your career, it could be a business, it could be all the things.” She adds: “Nothing will really change in your life until committing to yourself and showing up for yourself on a regular basis becomes natural for you.”
Career coaches’ key strategies for Gen Z to prove value at work before 2025 ends
“Gen Z professionals are rewriting the rules for how to get ahead at work,” says Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and spokesperson for career.io, the parent company of Resume.AI. “They’re intentional about how they spend their time, focused on building skills, and becoming resilient in the face of uncertainty. That’s the kind of approach that sets you up for long-term success.
Augustine shared these best practices to help Gen Z and other young professionals demonstrate their value, stand out from their peers, and position themselves for growth in today’s workplace:
1. Keep learning, stay indispensable
If you want to ‘future-proof’ your career, keep building your skills. That might mean earning a certification, signing up for an online course, or attending an industry event. Continuous learning not only sharpens your expertise but also signals to your boss that you’re invested in growing with the company. When management sees you as the ‘go-to’ person in a specific area, you become harder to replace … and more likely to be tapped for new opportunities.
2. Make your ambitions known
Don’t assume your boss knows where you want to go with your career. Use your one-on-ones or annual reviews with your manager to share your long-term goals, as they relate to your work with the company, and ask for feedback on which skills to develop next. When your manager understands your ambitions, they can connect you to projects that align with your growth and put you in the running for promotions when they come up.
3. Build a reputation for overdelivering
At the end of the day, results matter. Meeting deadlines and delivering solid work will get you noticed, but going the extra mile is what makes you memorable. That might mean anticipating your boss’s next question, spotting a potential issue before it snowballs, or adding a creative detail that makes your work shine. Overdelivering (without burning out) helps you earn a great reputation at the company and open you up to new opportunities for advancement when the need arises.
4. Network where it matters most (within your company)
While networking with those outside of your company can open new doors, the relationships you build inside your office often play a bigger role in how quickly you advance. Take time to connect with colleagues across departments, not just your immediate team. Volunteer for cross-functional projects, join company initiatives, or schedule informal coffee chats. The stronger and wider your internal network, the more visible your contributions become. And when promotions or stretch assignments are on the table, the right people will already know the value you bring.
5. Polish your professional reputation
Whether you realize it or not, every professional has a brand. It’s shaped by how you show up in meetings, how you communicate, and what people see online. Make sure your digital profiles support your current goals by updating your LinkedIn, tightening the privacy settings on your personal accounts, and showcase your expertise in the right places. Inside the office, volunteer to present, share wins appropriately, and participate in ways that highlight your strengths. A polished, consistent brand ensures the right people know what you bring to the table.
6. Ask for the promotion you want
Promotions rarely land in your lap; if you want one, you have to make the case for it. Start by researching your role on sites like Glassdoor, career.io, or Salary.com, and then reviewing how your responsibilities and achievements have grown since your last review. Have you led bigger projects or delivered results beyond your job description? Gather the proof, build your case, and schedule a conversation with your boss. With the right preparation, you can confidently make a strong case for the promotion you want.
7. Go beyond your job description
One of the best ways to stand out is to contribute in ways that aren’t spelled out in your role. Maybe that’s mentoring junior staff, starting a volunteer initiative, or offering to present at a company meeting. These efforts show you can lead, collaborate, and bring fresh energy to the workplace. Plus, they expand your internal network and increase your visibility with leadership. Going beyond your job description signals that you’re not just doing your work, but you’re invested in helping the whole organization succeed.
Methodology
To explore how Gen Z tackles “Hustle Season,” we analyzed over 100 TikTok videos, comments, and trending hashtags, then compared them with insights from certified career coaches. This revealed key strategies around productivity, skill-building, and networking that young professionals are using to lock in progress and career stability before the end of 2025.
