Thriving in a competitive job market
posted 20 Dec 24
Standing out in a competitive job market isn’t just about having the right qualifications - it’s about making a lasting impression. In 2025, thriving in your career means going beyond the basics and taking deliberate steps to showcase your unique value.
When the competition is fierce and candidates with similar experience and qualifications are vying for the same roles, how do you set yourself apart? This article offers a practical checklist to help you refine your CV, elevate your personal brand, and navigate the job search with confidence.
Polish your CV
If you want to stand out in your industry, it’s important to tailor each CV to the job. Jobscan analysed over one million job applications and saw 300% improvement in rates for gaining an interview when applicants tailored their CV. Take a close look at the job description and align any relevant skills and experience you have to the job description – and remember to remove anything that isn’t relevant.
Take another look at the language in your CV, cover letter and application. Use strong action verbs to describe your achievements, delete sections that might be considered fluff, and use bullet points to be concise.
Elevate your personal brand
In today’s digital world, your online presence is important to your job search, and in fact is crucial in a lot of industries. If you don’t have a LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to sign up. It will offer you tailored job roles, a chance to network and a platform to establish your personal brand.
Write up a compelling bio, showcasing your experience and complete your profile with featured work and referrals. Build your online brand by regularly sharing articles or insights relevant to your field, or project successes and achievements.
If you have something to say about your industry, you can create an online portfolio with a personal website sharing your insights or showing your work in previous projects. Use your online platforms to network with people in your industry and create meaningful connections.
Come up with a job application strategy
When it comes to your application, you’ll want to write a cover letter to go with your CV. It should briefly highlight why you are a unique fit for the role and the body should be no more than two paragraphs.
Remember:
- Personalise each application and address the hiring manager directly if possible
- Use keywords from the job posting to optimise your CV and application for applicant tracking systems (ATS)
- Follow up professionally after submitting applications or attending interviews
Create a template for your cover letter and CV that you can easily edit for each role to streamline the process.
Upskill and stay relevant
During your job search, you might want to use any time you have to identify and pursue any in-demand skills in your industry that you might be lacking. Even if you have these skills, you’ll want to know what the most desirable skills are for employers in order to put your best foot forward. Look into courses, certifications, or workshops that might help you prove you have what they’re looking for.
Make yourself invaluable my staying updated on industry trends through webinars, podcasts, and professional publications. Develop your soft skills like communication, adaptability, and leadership to complement your technical abilities and fill industry-wide skill gaps.
Research the company
To best inform your cover letter, CV and interview, you should do some research on the company you’re applying for. This shows your interest and how prepared you are, but also tells you more about the company you’re looking to join. Look at the company website, Glassdoor and professional social media profiles, including LinkedIn.
You’re looking for:
- The company’s mission, vision and values
- The company culture, backed by employee testimonials
- The background and influence of key executives
- Any stories that might find their way into the News tab in Google
- The company’s position in the industry and its main competitors
- Any social media presence
From this research, you should be able to gauge an impression of the company and put together some questions for your interview.
Ace the interview process
Now you’ve done all your research, you’re ready for your interview, but even this takes preparation. You’ll want to think up your answers to a few questions ahead of time, most importantly, the elevator pitch. This is the “Tell us about yourself” question. It isn’t about telling your interviewer what you do at the weekend, but concisely conveying your background, skills and experience in an impactful manner.
It's helpful to look up what the real meaning behind interview questions are, because some might surprise you. Practice answers to common interview questions, focusing on the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and remember to tailor these answers to the job role as well.
Arguably the most important questions are the ones you ask. Prepare insightful questions to ask the interviewer about the role and organisation to appear invested in the role and gain more insight to the company.
Remember that appearance is important here. Not only should you dress appropriately, but make sure that your body language conveys confidence and enthusiasm.
Seek constructive feedback
Before leaving your interview, ask about next steps in the recruitment process, which should give you a timeline of when you expect to receive a response. A good rule of thumb is to wait 3-5 working days if they don’t give you a timeline and then send an email for feedback.
Request feedback on your CV and interview performance but be sure to keep your tone formal. If you signed up for a recruiter with Search, you can ask them to get in touch with the employer in order to gain feedback.
Checklist
- Update CV
- Create LinkedIn profile and brand
- Create cover letter template
- Research the company
- Interview prep
- Upskill where necessary
- Seek feedback and mentorship
By taking the practical steps of tailoring your CV, elevating your personal brand, and prepping for your interview, you can more effectively demonstrate your value in a competitive job market. Stand out in the job market and thrive in 2025 with the role you want.
