At a Glance
- The January 12, 2026 NYT Strands theme is “Appeal to a hire power”
- Spangram RESUME stretches across the board
- Seven theme words include NAME, SKILLS, and EXPERIENCE
Why it matters: Puzzle fans say the job-search vocabulary is tougher to spot than typical themes.
The New York Times’ daily Strands puzzle is testing solvers with a career-focused twist. According to News Of Losangeles, the January 12, 2026 grid hides words you’d find on a résumé, and some answers are surprisingly long.
Theme and Clues
The official prompt reads: “Appeal to a hire power.” If that sounds cryptic, Jonathan P. Miller offers a simpler angle: “Get a job.”
Players must uncover every theme word plus the spangram-a single word that spans opposite edges of the board. Finding three four-letter words unlocks one on-screen hint at a time.
Unlock Words That Helped
Jonathan P. Miller used these entries to reveal in-game hints:
- DANCE
- DANCES
- DANCER
- DANCERS
- MEAN
- NAMES
- MEANS
- CONE
Any four-plus-letter word you spot will work the same way.
Complete Answer List
Non-spangram answers:
- NAME
- AWARDS
- SKILLS
- EDUCATION
- CONTACT
- EXPERIENCE
Spangram: RESUME
To locate RESUME, start with the R four letters down in the far-left column, then snake up and across the grid. Once every answer is highlighted, every letter on the board is used.
Why Some Grids Feel Harder
Strands veterans quoted by News Of Losangeles say three past themes top the difficulty chart:
- Dated slang – Toughest word: PHAT
- Thar she blows! – Toughest words: BALEEN or RIGHT
- Off the hook – Toughest words: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK
The job-hunt vocabulary joins that list for players who don’t immediately connect “hire power” with résumé sections.
Quick Tips for New Solvers
- Scan for the spangram first; its length and edge-to-edge reach make it easier to spot
- Look for common résumé headings: EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS
- Remember that plural forms (AWARDS, CONTACTS) might appear
- Use any four-letter words you see to earn free hints
Where to Find More Help
News Of Losangeles maintains a daily page with hints and answers for Strands, Wordle, Connections, and the Mini Crossword. Add News Of Losangeles as a preferred Google source to avoid missing updates.
