Copy of Job Hunting in 2025: A Retrospective on Rejections, Automation, and Breaking Through the Noise

Job hunting as a senior engineering leader has been a fascinating - and at times, deeply frustrating - journey. Over the past months, I’ve learned that the traditional playbook for landing a role doesn’t always hold up, and persistence often trumps perfection.

Here’s what I discovered.

Customising My CV for Each Role? Didn’t Work.

One of the most common pieces of advice for job seekers is to tailor each CV to the specific role. So I did. I spent hours refining language, adjusting emphasis, and ensuring my experience aligned with the job description.

The result? Instant rejections.

Whether my CV was a perfect match or not, it made no difference. The automated filters, AI screeners, or whatever black box systems companies use to filter candidates didn’t seem to care. If a role was going to reject me, it was going to reject me - no matter how well I presented my experience.

Over 50% of Applications Received Zero Response.

No rejection. No feedback. No acknowledgment that my application was even received. Just complete silence.

This is one of the most disheartening parts of modern job searching. You invest time crafting an application, researching the company, and ensuring you meet the criteria—only to be met with… nothing. It’s a reminder that in many cases, applications go into a void, never to be seen by human eyes.

Automated Rejections are the Norm.

For the roles where I did get a response, the majority were automated rejections. The pattern became predictable: apply, wait a few days, get a generic rejection email.

In one particularly telling case, I received an automatic rejection within hours of applying. However, I had a backdoor into the company through my network. Within a day, that automatic rejection was followed by an interview request. It reinforced a harsh reality: the system is broken.

Automated filters are flawed, and networking is still one of the most powerful ways to bypass them.

The Number of Stages in Hiring is Staggering.

It’s no longer a simple process of submitting a CV, having a call with a hiring manager, and attending an interview. The hiring process has become a marathon.

For many roles, the typical process now consists of:

1. Initial application (where you may be rejected instantly).
2. Recruiter screening call.
3. First-round interview.
4. Second-round interview.
5. Technical/case study task.
6. Final interview with executives or stakeholders.

That’s six stages, and some companies even stretch beyond that. The amount of time and effort required just to potentially land a role is huge, especially when balancing multiple applications.

What Actually Worked? Getting to the Recruiter—By Any Means Necessary.

Through trial and error, I found one strategy that actually made a difference: directly contacting the recruiter.

If the recruiter was listed on the job post, I made sure to:

• Call them if a phone number was available.
• Email them if an address was provided.
• Find them on LinkedIn and message them directly.

This approach wasn’t about spamming recruiters, but about cutting through the noise. When I managed to get in touch, I had a conversation instead of just being another CV in a database. And in those conversations, I had a chance to advocate for myself—something an application form doesn’t allow.

It was a stark contrast to the faceless, automated rejection process. Having a real interaction put me on the recruiter’s radar and gave me insights into whether the role was even the right fit before wasting time applying.

Final Thoughts: Job Hunting in 2025 is About Persistence

The job market has evolved. While online applications may feel like the logical first step, they are often ineffective in isolation. The reality is that getting a role—especially at a senior level—requires:

? Bypassing the automated filters.

? Making direct connections.

? Leveraging your network wherever possible.

Customised CVs, carefully written cover letters, and ticking all the right boxes won’t necessarily get you through. But persistence and direct engagement just might.

If you’re job hunting, my advice is simple: don’t just apply and wait. Find a way to make yourself seen.

What’s been your experience with job searching in 2025? Let’s discuss in the comments.

#JobHunting #CareerGrowth #HiringProcess #EngineeringLeadership #Networking