Landing a job in 2025 – Part 1

The job market in 2025 is evolving rapidly. With AI transforming both job seekers and hiring processes, ongoing layoffs looming, and reduced investment across industries, competition is at an all-time high. It’s a tough reality, but one that you must be prepared for.

Speaking with Principal Talent Partner at Contentful, Andreea Tilvan, she gave a very honest overview of what she has seen work across multiple parts of the job search process.

Think of this as a go to source for which you can read, action and then revert to whenever you require. Part 1 covers the early elements of a job search whilst part 2 will cover interviewing and beyond.

Preparation Phase: Laying the Groundwork for Success

Before jumping into any application process, it’s important that you research on the type of position, organisation and industry you are seeking. As Andreea shared, "Volume is the name of the game in very small instances," but a strategic approach will always yield better results.

Researching Companies

Rather than blindly applying to dozens of jobs, take a targeted approach:

• Start by reviewing a company's LinkedIn page and website to understand its mission, values, and team structure. Is it really a company that can help move your career to where you want it to be?

• If so, identify the top 1-3 individuals within the company who you have a direct or indirect connection with.

• Reach out to these individuals with a brief, personalised message on LinkedIn (remember a connection message is only 300 characters). If you have LinkedIn Premium, leverage an InMail for a more direct approach.

• Be clear about why you're reaching out. If it's a hiring manager, be direct; if it's an employee, inquire about their experience or about the business in general to open dialogue for which you can then ask about the referral process.

• A well-crafted message that links together elements of your research and how you and the individual have a connection will yield a better response rate and get you closer to knowing more about the opportunity than just submitting your resume via easy apply.

We would also add here for you to create a tracking system for where you can add all of the opportunities you are applying for, this helps you understand key data points in your search at a later date which in turn will help you pivot your approaches or focus on areas of improvement… and not double up any applications!

Resumes: Make Every Word Count

When it comes to your resume, Andreea mentioned that there is no universal format that guarantees success, not that she has found at least. However, to boost your chances of success, focus on impact-driven content rather than worrying about aesthetic design.

• Your resume should tell a compelling story about your skills, experience, and the value you bring.

• If your LinkedIn profile mirrors your resume in depth and quality, you can use LinkedIn’s downloadable resume option. Otherwise, invest in crafting a strong, detailed resume.

• Think of hiring teams as customers. Are they willing to “buy” into your application with limited information? If not, refine your content.

• Impact is the most important element. Can the hiring team determine what type of projects you have worked on and what your individual impact was or are you simply rehashing a broad overview of the project?

• Do not overengineer or overcomplicate. With many applicants per role, concise is the name of the game.

If you did want a more in-depth review of your resume, feel free to check out Peritus Academy (Resume Review | Peritus Academy)

Cover Letters: Do They Still Matter?

Cover letters are often overlooked, with many being generic summaries of the resume, now often generated by AI. Andreea notes that most cover letters do not add unique value and can often be condensed into a strong resume summary. However, in rare cases, a cover letter can make an impact and convince her to progress with someone she might’ve rejected. If you opt to add a cover letter:

• Personalisation is key: The best cover letters reference company-specific details that demonstrate genuine interest and research. These can be added through conversations with teams or insights you find on your travels.

• Avoid common mistakes: Getting the hiring manager’s name or company name wrong can instantly harm your application. This also goes for basic grammatical errors.

If writing a cover letter, ensure it adds a unique perspective that isn’t already in your resume. We have seen them for when someone is trying to shift industries, career paths or to get into one of their dream companies… here a cover letter can convey genuine interest and passion a resume cannot.

Leveraging AI & Other Job Search Tools

Yes, we are encouraging the use of AI but not to mass apply, rather to use it in a more strategic approach throughout a hiring process. Andreea highlighted key tools that can aid in the process:

• Presentation tools like Gamma: Great for crafting polished case studies and project presentations, instead of focusing on the design you focus on the content.

• ChatGPT for interview preparation: A simple prompt like, “I have an interview for [Job Title] at [Company]. What are the top 5 things I should know about them and the industry?” can provide valuable insights.

• Career Coaches: Although not AI, some find value in career coaches, not just to land a job but to clarify what they do and don’t want in a role. They can be a sparring partner simply to help make sense of where you want to go within your career.

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning. In Part 2, we’ll dive into Networking and Outreach, Interviewing and Negotiation to help you turn applications into offers. Stay tuned for more expert insights from Andreea and practical tips to land your next job in 2025!

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎

Search Jobs