The silence is often worse than a rejection. Hundreds of job applications sent, and nothing comes back. For many young people, the problem is stark: graduate vacancies on the Reed website have fallen from around 180,000 three or four years ago to just 50,000, according to James Reed, the recruitment firm’s chair and chief executive.
After 30 years in the industry, Reed has watched employers struggle with the process as much as applicants. The shrinking number of entry-level roles means companies are hiring less, so they look for candidates who already have some know-how. For those without experience, he suggests building it 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.
“Graduate vacancies on Reed's website have fallen from 180,000 to 50,000, says CEO James Reed.”
Many employers now use artificial intelligence systems to screen applications before a human sees them. Reed believes “computers shouldn’t reject people”, but if AI is being used, he advises applicants to “try and mirror the job description with your skills and experience”. That does not mean lying – “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.
When it comes to writing a CV, Reed’s main piece of advice is to “make sure your CV says who you are”. He insists it should be one page, with the opening top statement right, and you should get advice from people to make sure “it really sounds like you and it’s a document you feel proud of”. Though he jokes he does not mind the odd spelling mistake “because it shows it was written by a human, not AI”, attention to detail is still important.
Reed is not against using AI to help with applications – he calls it a “wonderful tool” – but 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”.
If you get in front of an employer, and are feeling brave, Reed suggests a direct approach: “Someone gave you your first opportunity, that’s all I’m looking for.” In a market where entry-level jobs are scarce, that might be the line that changes everything.