The number of graduate vacancies on Reed's website has plunged from around 180,000 three or four years ago to just 50,000 – a drop of more than 70% that mirrors the wider struggle facing young jobseekers. James Reed, the chair and chief executive of the recruitment firm, has spent 30 years watching how employers make decisions and, like many, is frustrated at how difficult the process has become.
Much of that frustration stems from artificial intelligence. Many employers now use AI systems to screen applications before a human lays eyes on them. Reed believes that "computers shouldn't reject people", but if AI is being used, he suggests it is probably comparing the job description with your CV or cover letter. His advice: "Try and mirror the job description with your skills and experience."
“Graduate vacancies have fallen from 180,000 to 50,000, says Reed CEO James Reed, who shares tips for jobseekers.”
That does not mean pretending to have skills you do not have. "It's really important you don't lie," says Reed, but if the job asks for communication, organisation or customer service, make sure your application clearly shows where you have done those things.
Then there is the classic trap: being told you need experience for an entry-level role. Reed says the problem is worse at the moment because employers are hiring less, so often look for candidates who already have some know-how. He advises building experience wherever possible – "even if it's temporary, casual or part-time" – through work, volunteering, community projects or free online training, such as Anthropic's AI academy. If you get in front of an employer (and are feeling brave) it can be worth making the point directly: "Someone gave you your first opportunity, that's all I'm looking for."
Reed is not against using AI to help with applications – it is a "wonderful tool" that can improve your application – but he warns against letting the technology do all the work because "if you leave it as AI-only then it'll be identical to lots of other people's and the point is to stand out".
His main piece of advice is to "make sure your CV says who you are". "Make sure it is one page," he says. "Get that opening top statement right and get advice from people to make sure it really sounds like you and it's a document you feel proud of." He jokes that while he doesn't mind the odd spelling mistake "because it shows it was written by a human, not AI", attention to detail is really important – so make sure it is grammatically sound.
For the thousands of graduates staring at rejection after rejection, Reed's suggestions offer a route through a market that has become unrecognisable from just a few years ago.