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Job Search 2025!

 

The job market is difficult. With the talks of recession, job cuts from almost all areas, and the markets generally uncertain, the year 2025 will not be great for finding, obtaining, or keeping a job (especially in some fields). As I look over and apply to jobs, I wanted to share my experience in job searching and my experience on the other side as a recruiter. 

 

 

My years of recruiting experience has provided me with an understanding of expectations from all angles. It also has provided me with an insight into the job market over the last few years. Today with the many uncertainties with different markets for jobs and the economy in general, there may be more than can be explained away in jargon and much more than can be simplified with a “top-ten tips” type of approach from your favourite social media influencer or friend who sincerely wants to help but has not tackled the job market in a few years. As someone who has experienced the market from different angles and who is keeping eyes on the 2025 market, here are my thoughts as simplified as can because there is much more to it all than can be put into words.

 

First, the angles of expectations. The first angle to dive into is the expectations of the job searcher. While at one time there was an expectation of a good resume outlining excellent experience would at least get the attention of a hiring manager, that expectation should be null as of at least 10 years ago. This idea that merit on paper or digital is enough to raise an eyebrow has not been a thing since technology has been working its way to streamline and weed-out the less-than-desirables.

 

The next angle of expectation is that of the manager or recruiter. Before AI there were at least recruiters acting as gatekeepers, and the recruiters do not always know what the manager wants to see or not. We are hired to find the best and throw out the rest. This does not mean, from my experience in recruiting, we recruiters know what the manager wants because sometimes the manager does not know or does not want to share certain undefined requirements. My experience has found after multiple requests for key experience and education points, the manager can either be vague (with purpose or unintentional) or if inexperienced in the job needs, may not know at all. So, in this case, the manager may interview people not near the requirements to understand his or her needs for the role. Recruiters, too, then would pass on perfect candidates because the expectations from the source are unclear.

 

No matter the expectation, the expectation should be clear that it is or can be fluid within certain guidelines. Not everyone and sometimes no one knows. It would be best to walk into the world of job hunting with an expectation of the unexpected, keep notes of your progress, and if you notice a pattern, change it up. Change the resume as needed to match the job you to which you are applying. I have changed mine dozens of times with keywords and descriptions for jobs that match apparent expectations from hiring managers.

 

It is not easy and will not be for some time. Do not let expectations become a prison for yourself, and hopefully, with expectations from the organization you want to work for best changing as it will probably do over the next few months, it may align with what you can demonstrate as a match for them. Keep up the good fight. If they don’t find you a match now, maybe you can at least catch an eye or two and raise a brow. Keep it up.