Job seekers increasingly find themselves up against hundreds of others competing for the same small set of roles, depending on the industry.
While this isn’t new, the job market has found itself in something of a rut, with the number of positions waning with each new set of figures.
In the quarter to September, job vacancies fell by 9,000 on the previous quarter, the 39th consecutive period where vacancy numbers have fallen against the previous three months, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
Total estimated vacancies were down by 115,000, some 13.8 per cent, on the same period a year ago.
This is despite a month on month increase in September after the summer hiring slowdown.
Now, recent data shows that employers are ‘ghosting’ applicants even during the interview stages of the application process, as the amount of time it takes to respond eats into recruiters’ workdays.
For recruiters with hundreds of job applications in front of them, the last thing they want is CVs and cover letters that are difficult to navigate.
Meanwhile, for those firing off CVs to prospective employers, it means most applicants receive no reply – and in many cases their applications likely are not even read by employers as applicant numbers are whittled down based on certain criteria, and increasingly by AI tools rather than human hiring managers.
On the other side of the coin, recruiters are finding that they are struggling to find the right candidates for roles, and are often choosing to search themselves, rather than rely on applications they receive which may not be up to the mark.
With so much competition for roles, and recruiters desperate to find the right candidate, it is more important than ever to make sure that your application actually stands out and doesn’t fall in line with those of other applicants.
1. Getting your application into shape
For recruiters with hundreds of job applications in front of them, the last thing they want is CVs and cover letters that are difficult to navigate.
In fact, trying to create an application that ‘stands out’ in relation to design and format could hurt your chances – recruiters should be able top read your application and immediately understand why you might be suited to the role in question.
Charlotte Davies, Linkedin career expert, said: ‘Standing out to recruiters right now isn’t about gimmicks, it’s about clarity, relevance, and confidence in what you bring to the table as a professional.’
She warns CVs that are ‘overly designed’ might confuse automated systems that are used to filter job applications.
‘When it comes to job hunting, clarity always wins over cleverness.’
Likewise, Nicola Weatherhead, vice president of people at Totaljobs, part of The Stepstone Group, warns that AI systems struggle to decipher complex formatting on CVs, this she added, may: ‘lead to your CV being blocked altogether before a recruiter has even had an opportunity to review it.’
She added: ‘Leave out cliches and fluffy language – keep it simple, snappy, and to the point.
‘This will help you stand out from the crowd of lengthy cover letters.’
On top of this, AI algorithms may also not take well to spelling errors – meaning it is important to thoroughly check your application before sending it off – as well as abbreviations they don’t understand.
Weatherhead said: ‘We’d recommend you triple check your CV with tools like Grammarly, or get a fresh pair of eyes to review it before you hit send.
‘AI tools cannot always recognise acronyms – especially if they’re associated with another industry. Spell these out to ensure they can be recognised by recruiter and AI alike.’
She added: ‘Be consistent with dates and job titles across your CV, application forms, and cover letters, as this assists AI in correctly recognising and communicating your work experience and employment history to the recruiter.’
Catching the eye of the recruiter, or the AI algorithm sorting through applications, often means touching on the right topics for the a role being advertised.
Often, some of these key terms are already on show in job postings, and these key words are also what applicant tracking systems use to sort the wheat from the chaff.
Weatherhead said: ‘Once you’ve interpreted the job ad, take these relevant keywords and embed these throughout your application to make you stand out as a match.’
Weatherhead says it is important to ensure that your CV has no spelling errors, as AI tools could downgrade it as a result
2. Cut through the noise
To hit those keywords, applicants need an understanding of each role they are applying for, allowing them to construct a well thought out cover letter and CV than show their suitability for the role.
In fact, Davies says that recruiters are increasingly focused on the skills that applicants can bring to a role, rather than the positions they have held previously. These skills are likely to be covered in the job posting.
Davies said: ‘Skills-based hiring is reshaping how people find work, so being intentional about how you showcase your top skills is one of the best ways to make sure your application doesn’t get lost in the crowd.’
Both Davies and Weatherhead warn that job hunters increasingly need to focus on the results they have achieved, rather than the responsibilities that they have in their current or previous roles.
Weatherhead said: ‘Don’t focus on past duties and responsibilities alone.
‘Consider listing some accomplishments, qualifications, and awards that demonstrate the value you’d bring to an organisation and what problems you solve for your employer.’
For job hunters, especially those struggling to find success, Davies suggests focusing on continuing their professional development, such as joining courses on in-demand areas such as AI literacy, digital communication or leadership.
3. Make recruiters come to you
Beyond just the applications they receive, recruiters may be increasingly looking for candidates who might fit the bill for a certain role, even if they haven’t applied.
Davies said: ‘Recruiters are spending more time proactively searching for candidates who truly demonstrate the necessary skills and experience.’
This gives job-hunters the opportunity to get themselves on the radar of recruiters without putting in the hard yards of applying.
She added: ‘As more recruiters embrace skills-based hiring, candidates who regularly refresh their profiles and highlight their top skills are more likely to be discovered by hiring managers.’
Davies recommends updating Linkedin and other professional profiles so that recruiters can access information that is as current as possible.
You can also highlight on your profile if you are looking for new opportunities.
‘It is crucial to make sure it reflects your current skills and achievements as clearly as possible.
‘Ensure it is constantly updated with recent projects, and update your headline to include keywords that match the job you want,’ Davies said.
‘Recruiters will use LinkedIn search filters to find candidates, so the more complete and up-to-date your profile is, the more easily you’ll be found in their results.’
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