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Recruitment veteran shares tips for landing a job in a tough market
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Economy & Trade

Recruitment veteran shares tips for landing a job in a tough market

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Graduate vacancies have fallen significantly, with Reed reporting a drop from 180,000 to 50,000 in recent years.
  • Recruitment expert James Reed advises mirroring job descriptions in CVs and cover letters to pass AI screening.
  • He also recommends gaining experience through various means and using AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, personal application elements.

The job market is presenting significant challenges, particularly for new graduates, with a drastic decrease in entry-level positions. Reed, a prominent recruitment firm, has seen graduate vacancies plummet from approximately 180,000 three to four years ago to just 50,000, according to chair and chief executive James Reed.

computers shouldn't reject people

— James ReedReed, chair and chief executive of Reed, expressed his view on AI's role in job application screening.

Reed, who has spent three decades observing hiring practices, acknowledges the frustration of unanswered applications. He offers advice for navigating a tough market, emphasizing the need to get past artificial intelligence screening. Many employers use AI to filter applications, and Reed suggests that applicants should "try and mirror the job description with your skills and experience" to align with what the AI is programmed to look for. However, he stresses the importance of honesty, stating, "It's really important you don't lie."

try and mirror the job description with your skills and experience

— James ReedReed advised job seekers on how to tailor their applications for AI screening systems.

For those struggling to gain experience for entry-level roles, Reed suggests seeking opportunities wherever possible, including temporary, casual, or part-time work, volunteering, community projects, or free online training. He believes that even a small amount of experience can make a difference. For those brave enough, he recommends directly asking potential employers for their first opportunity, acknowledging that "Someone gave you your first opportunity, that's all I'm looking for."

It's really important you don't lie

— James ReedReed cautioned against fabricating skills or experience on job applications.

Reed views AI as a "wonderful tool" that can improve job applications but warns against over-reliance. He advises that applications should not be "AI-only" as they risk becoming identical to others. His core message is to ensure a CV "says who you are," ideally on one page, with a strong opening statement. While he jokes that a "spelling mistake... shows it was written by a human," attention to detail and grammatical correctness remain crucial for a polished and personal application.

even if it's temporary, casual or part-time

— James ReedReed suggested ways to build experience, even if it's not a full-time role.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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