The number of graduate jobs on Reed’s website has collapsed from about 180,000 three or four years ago to just 50,000 – a fall of more than 70%. James Reed, the firm’s chair and chief executive, has spent three decades watching how employers make decisions, and he says he is “frustrated” at how difficult the process has become.
With fewer entry-level roles available, many companies are turning to artificial intelligence to screen applications before a human sees them. Reed believes that “computers shouldn’t reject people”. But if AI is being used, he advises jobseekers to “try and mirror the job description with your skills and experience”.
“Graduate vacancies on Reed's website fell from 180,000 to 50,000; CEO James Reed shares job-hunting tips.”
That does not mean lying. “It’s really important you don’t lie,” says Reed. If the job asks for communication, organisation or customer service, make sure your application clearly shows where you have done those things.
One of the most maddening parts of job-hunting is being told you need experience for an entry-level role. Reed says the problem is worse at the moment because employers are hiring less and often look for candidates who already know the ropes. His solution: build 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 feel brave, Reed suggests 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: “Make sure your CV says who you are.” He recommends keeping it to one page, nailing the opening top statement, and getting advice to “make sure it really sounds like you and it’s a document you feel proud of”.
As for spelling mistakes, Reed jokes he does not mind the odd one “because it shows it was written by a human, not AI”. But he stresses that attention to detail is important, so make sure it is grammatically correct.