Lately, job searching has felt different.

Roles feel harder to find. Responses take longer, if you get one at all. Even when you do everything right, it can still feel like you’re hitting a wall.

You’re not imagining it. The hiring landscape has changed in ways that are making it more challenging for even strong candidates to get noticed. Slower employment growth, rising economic uncertainty, and broader shifts across the labor market are creating a perfect storm for the slowdown. We’ve been tracking these trends closely at Veris Insights.

Here’s what’s happening, what we’re seeing from the recruiter side, and what can help you stand out.

 

Fewer Openings and Less Movement

The job market is moving more slowly than it has in years. Based on our research:

• Job openings are down 27% since early 2023
• New hires have dropped by 15%, showing that companies are filling fewer roles
• Quits are down 17%, which means fewer people are leaving their current jobs

Fewer people changing roles means fewer new opportunities opening up, which has made the market more competitive.

Recruiters scan resumes quickly—on average, just 7.4 seconds. Here’s how to get noticed:

 

More Applications with the Same Number of Interviews

Application numbers are climbing, with more candidates applying to each open role. From 2023 to 2024, applications increased by 44%. Part of that surge is being driven by larger market forces, including significant layoffs and restructuring. So far in 2025, more than 275,000 federal layoffs have been announced, including over 55,000 confirmed cuts and 76,000 employee buyouts. However, despite the higher volume of applicants, the number of candidates moving forward in the process has stayed the same.

 

What Recruiters Are Seeing

With more candidates in the pipeline than ever, small mistakes are having a bigger impact. Here are some of the most common patterns we’re seeing in applications and interviews:

• Many resumes, cover letters, and application responses are now being fully generated by AI tools like ChatGPT.Beyond sounding similar and lacking originality or role-specific detail, we are also seeing a rise in messy submissions, including materials where candidates accidentally leave in phrases like “ChatGPT says”, inconsistent spacing, or other markers that make it clear the content was copied and pasted without review. In a competitive market, these mistakes can undermine credibility and make it harder for candidates to stand out.

• Some candidates are reading from scripts or using AI during interviews. It’s usually obvious and makes it harder to build a connection or assess communication style.

• Basic interview preparation is being missed more often than you might expect. This includes:

Limited understanding of the role, team, or company

Answers that skip over your process, reasoning, results, or “why”

Generic questions like “What’s your favorite part about working here?” or “What’s the culture like?”

Missing important prep details, like submitting a case study in the wrong format or joining the wrong Zoom link

Low presence, energy, or enthusiasm during the conversation

 

In a market with this much volume, these details matter. Strong preparation, curiosity, and engagement are often what set top candidates apart.

 

What Helps You Stand Out

In a competitive market, the strongest candidates are the ones who are intentional in every step of the process. Here’s what we consistently see in candidates who rise to the top:

• Personalize your materials. Tailor your resume and cover letter to the specific role, and show how your background aligns with the team’s needs.

• Lead with your own voice. AI can help refine your writing, but your ideas, language, and tone should come through clearly.

• Prepare with intention. Take time to understand the company, the role, and the people you’re meeting. Strong candidates ask thoughtful, specific questions and come in with energy.

• Structure your responses. Use frameworks like STAR to walk through your experience in a way that’s clear and compelling. Share your thought process and outcomes.

• Pay attention to the details. Whether it’s submitting materials correctly or showing up on time, these steps reflect care and professionalism.

• Bring presence and enthusiasm. Candidates who are genuinely engaged make a lasting impression, and often stand out regardless of experience level.

 

The market is tough right now, and much of what you’re feeling has more to do with the hiring climate than your qualifications. But when many candidates are cutting corners or defaulting to generic responses, the best way to stand out is by doing the opposite.

Be thoughtful. Be prepared. Be real. That still resonates.