How to stand out in a ‘fatigued’ job market

Hiring managers are being flooded with job applications, and many aren’t up to the job.

Talent is being lost in an increasingly deep sea of job applications. New research by recruiter Robert Half uncovered that a substantial 93 per cent of Australian employers found it difficult to distinguish talent in the contemporary hiring market.

While the unemployment market is trending slightly down, with the latest unemployment rate 4.1 per cent and SEEK job applications at 17.7 per cent, competition for roles remained high.

Economic insecurity, hybrid work and shifting career priorities have caused a market shift in multiple directions – some chose to stay in jobs for financial reasons, and others changed the type of role they apply for.

Over the past year, 82 per cent of employers noticed an increase in overqualified applicants across industries.

Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half, warned that “overqualification is not necessarily a win. An overqualified candidate may bring experience, but if the role underutilises their skills, both engagement and retention can suffer.”

Of the 500 Australian employers asked about hiring decisions, a few trends emerged. Thirty-seven per cent cited high volume of applications as an obstacle to identifying applicants, 35 per cent claimed many candidates lacked necessary skills, 31 per cent soft skill deficiency, 29 per cent generic application documents, and 28 per cent mismatched experience levels.

AI-generated CVs were flagged by 37 per cent of employers. However, research shows that both ends of the hiring process are using this technology.

As reported earlier this month, 44 per cent of recruiters use AI to sort through job applications, and over 60 per cent of those surveyed said it has helped them uncover “hidden gems”.

However, AI proves to be a double-edged sword. Beyond removing a crucial human element and potentially glossing over qualified applicants for minor reasons, generated content can “blur the differences between applicants, making it more challenging to evaluate genuine skills and suitability”, according to Gorton.

In today’s dynamic job market and a resulting surge in job applications, hiring managers outlined some top qualities that may cut through the noise.

Thirty-three per cent said tailored experience will stand out on a job application, and this number is the same for clear communication in application documents. Thirty-three per cent also favoured adaptability as a key skill, 31 per cent cited strong cultural alignment as relevant. Professional presentation, unique achievements and understanding of the company and industry sat just under 30 per cent.

Gorton said: “Candidates who can effectively demonstrate these attributes stand out in an otherwise crowded and undifferentiated talent pool.”