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4 quick tips to become a more competitive job applicant
Mass layoffs, the rise of AI and ever-changing political values are creating the perfect storm for businesses to enact hiring freezes and cautious hiring decisions. Businesses and recruiters are taking fewer chances on new hires and likely aiming to promote from within.
If you’re considering applying for a new job, here’s how you can make yourself more competitive in 2025:
1) Freshen up the resume
Don’t just update your resume with your latest skills and experience, give it a facelift instead. Best practices for resume writing are always changing so if you haven’t updated yours in a few years it’s likely overdue.
If you’re unsure about the correct resume format, try:
- contacting your undergraduate and asking for a resume review (college career centers typically do this for free if you graduated from the school);
- searching on Google for the most up-to-date resume styles and formats;
- using LinkedIn to search for applicant success stories who’ve shared their resume (there’s more than you think)
Your resume is the first impression for a new employer so it’s important it’s concise and legible.