The last few years have been tough for job hunters. Anyone looking for work since the pandemic will know the frustration of being in competition with hundreds of other candidates and feeling like, despite your highly desirable skills, no one is paying attention.   

This is, unfortunately, the market we find ourselves in today. It ebbs and it flows, but for the mid-2020s, it’s a tight market.   

The number of people applying for technology jobs has more than doubled in the last two years. Yet the number of roles being advertised has fallen to pre-COVID levels , according to a late-2024 SEEK report.  

“It is taking 10 weeks longer for the average job seeker to find a job, and there is more competition for roles,” the report said.  

So what can you do? We receive calls every day from job seekers trying to answer that question. Hans Zimnoch , Consultant at Launch Recruitment Melbourne, says, “In a market where there are fewer job opportunities, you have to tailor your applications accordingly.” That means:   

“You have to think: What have I done? What industry have I done that in? Apply to jobs in an industry you’ve worked in before or where these skills can be transferable. Apply for jobs similar to those you’ve just worked on,” says Hans.   

The key to being seen is being highly relevant. Imagine you’re a hiring manager filtering through those hundreds of applications. Your eyes are strained, and you can’t absorb every detail on every CV you see. What will stand out? Relevance.   

Recruitment consultants, hiring managers, and TA will all look first and foremost at which applications are most relevant to the role. If you have been in a similar role or have experience in their industry, you will be one of those applicants. You’ll make it to the top of the pile.   

To do this, as Hans said, simply start by looking at the roles you’ve done recently. What industries were they in? What tools, processes, or environments did you work with? That’s your most relevant currency.   

If you’ve been working as a Business Analyst in the banking industry, you’re going to stand out for BA roles in financial services. Pivoting to health tech, as an example, is going to be hard unless you can show a clear connection.  

“Be more strategic. Work on targeted job applications,” says Hans.  

Many jobs mean many applications, and very few people put their best foot forward when they are submitting at a high pace.    

Don’t take a volume-based approach.   

If you apply for a high volume of roles, are you taking enough time to tailor them? Have you done something to stand out for every one?  

To stand out, your applications should be tailored to speak directly to the role — your CV and your cover letter. That means more than just a few words.   

You want to:   

• Mirror the language of the job ad  

• Highlight achievements that align with the key responsibilities  

• Leave off irrelevant experience that blurs the picture you’re trying to paint  

When you spend time considering relevance and being laser-focused on increasing the strength of your applications, what you submit and go for are of better quality.   

“It’s better to send 10 targeted applications than 50 general ones,” advises Hans.    

Customising your CV can increase your chances of getting a job interview by up to 40% . Some of that is because it helps you to bypass the screening software used for job applications, but the most important part is that employers see you care and have taken the time.   

People give interviews to people they think will fit into their teams. Consideration and enthusiasm stand out. That’s a culture fit – tick.   

Then, they want to be confident that you can hit the ground running. Creating a quality application that highlights relevance is the best way to do that.   

Employers want a smooth hiring process. Everything you’re doing is in aid of that. The tight market, competition and tiresome job search may be exhausting, but making the life of your potential employer easier is the best way to get in front of them.   

That means being focused and relevant and applying for jobs that make sense with your recent experience.   

How are you finding the tight market? If you have any tips on how to stand out, we’d love to hear them. Email some over to us, and we can share them online or tag us on LinkedIn to start a conversation.