If your job search is taking months or even years, you are not alone. I’ve worked in recruiting for over 10 years, and I’ve never seen a more challenging market for job seekers. As someone who connects candidates with new opportunities every day, here are my insights on what’s happening and advice on how you can improve your chances of getting hired.
Why it’s hard to find a job
Open roles are few and far between right now, and when they do pop up, they often get hundreds to thousands of applicants within minutes. Most people are hanging on to their current jobs, and companies are being conservative with their hiring budgets due to economic uncertainty. This all creates more competition for the few jobs that are being posted.
Fortunately, there are more jobs available than are being posted online. Many companies partner with recruiters like my team instead of posting on job boards. Some good first steps to increase your chances of being contacted about these hidden roles are optimizing your LinkedIn profile and connecting with recruiters in your industry.
How to stand out as an applicant
Build your network
In a market where many jobs never get posted publicly, networking is one of the best steps you can take to find your next role. Attending in-person networking events specific to your industry is a great place to start. It’s important to network for the sake of building relationships, rather than getting a job opportunity out of each connection you make. Nurturing your professional relationships can lead to job opportunities, but expecting one right away is unrealistic.
If you need to start a new role as soon as possible, attending job fairs may help fast-track the process. Companies often attend these fairs with the goal of connecting with potential candidates for their current or upcoming openings.
Connect with recruiters
Recruiters like my team may be able to bridge the gap between you and the hidden job market. Try to find a recruiting firm based in your local area, or that serves the specific industry you work in. While they may not currently have an opening that fits your background, they may offer to keep your information on file and contact you if they come across an opportunity that is a good fit.
Tailor your application materials
If you apply to a job directly, make your application as unique as possible by highlighting your accomplishments and contributions early and prominently in your materials. Create a new version of your resume for every job you apply to, choosing relevant highlights from your career and specifically mentioning the required qualifications from the job description. Never lie or mislead in your resume. If you tailor it with AI, review it for accuracy before submitting, and don’t submit a resume that’s been entirely AI-generated.
Prepare thoroughly for interviews
Making it past the selection and screening stages alone is an accomplishment, but preparing for interviews is the most critical part of the process. I’ve seen far too many job seekers show up unprepared and end up wasting not only the interviewer’s time, but their own time as well.
If you’re working with a recruiter, they will more than likely help you prepare for your interview. If you prepare on your own, thoroughly research the company you are interviewing with. Be prepared to explain how you would add value and how your experience specifically relates to the responsibilities you would have in the new role. Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) when answering questions, and bring a list of questions to ask the interviewer at the end.
Many candidates are using AI tools to feed them answers during interviews. Hiring teams can easily spot this, and they will almost certainly disqualify anyone who does it. Make it clear that you are focused on the conversation by bringing an enthusiastic attitude and making eye contact with the interviewer—especially during video interviews.
Stay persistent
If you take only one thing away from this article, stay persistent in your job search. Use rejections to inform your strategy and, if you can, ask hiring managers why they chose not to move forward with your application. Getting specific details can help you better prepare for future applications and interviews. If you haven’t heard back from a company for a week or two after applying, follow up and ask if they are still considering applicants.
If you are hunting for a skilled job, our recruiters may be able to help. We recruit candidates for companies across the world in a range of industries. Reach out to us, and we will be in touch if we have opportunities that may fit your background.
