{"id":10209,"date":"2025-01-26T17:34:21","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T21:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=10209"},"modified":"2025-01-26T17:42:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T21:42:03","slug":"heres-the-scoop-on-getting-hired-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=10209","title":{"rendered":"Here’s the scoop on getting hired in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The go-go hiring days of 2022 and 2023, when there were nearly two job openings for every jobseeker, are in the rearview mirror. But there are plenty of jobs out there in 2025.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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New\u00a0data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>\u00a0telegraphs guarded optimism for an uptick in hiring in the months ahead. The\u00a0economy added 256,000 jobs<\/a> in December, the Labor Department reported on Friday, beating expectations. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s early in the new year, confidence from business leaders could translate into a boost in hiring in the months ahead.<\/p>\n

I reached out to a handful of experts for their insights on what this all means to job seekers and the best ways to navigate the hiring landscape.<\/p>\n

\u201cLanding a job today is likely noticeably more difficult and time-consuming than it was in 2022,\u201d Cory Stahle, a labor economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, told Yahoo Finance. \u201cBut we’re going into a job market where there are a lot of opportunities still available.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read on Yahoo Finance<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n

Where the jobs are<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Demand is high for healthcare, construction, government, and manufacturing workers, while white-collar positions in finance and tech \u2014 such as software development and data science, marketing, and professional services \u2014 are a tougher grind to land, Stahle said.<\/p>\n

There are also hot jobs debuting that you might not have thought about. Six in 10 of LinkedIn\u2019s \u201cJobs on the Rise<\/a>\u201d showcase \u201cthe evolving world of work and emerging opportunities that job seekers may not have considered before.\u201d The list tracks the fastest-growing positions.<\/p>\n

The positions include artificial intelligence engineer, artificial intelligence consultant, and physical therapist. Workforce development managers, who design and implement training programs to upskill employees, are in demand. Travel advisers are on the rise. Event coordinators, directors of development who run fundraising strategies, and sustainability specialists, who analyze a company\u2019s environmental and social impacts and create strategies for resource efficiency, also made the cut.<\/p>\n

Several engineering roles showed up for the first time on the list, including bridge engineer, nuclear engineer, and instrumentation and control engineer<\/p>\n

As a self-proclaimed bookworm and research nerd, I was pleased to discover that research librarians are back in vogue.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly about 30% of job seekers say they want to switch industries, but more than 50% of recently hired workers got their jobs in a new industry,\u201d Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, the employment search site, told Yahoo Finance. \u201cThat suggests that workers who keep an open mind, expand their search, invest in new skills, and follow opportunity are disproportionately successful.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Skills in demand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Some of the most in-demand skills, according to LinkedIn\u2019s research: Customer service, project management, communication, leadership, teamwork, sales, and strategic planning.<\/p>\n

For AI enthusiasts, the tide is moving in your direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve started to see a growing number of employers asking for integrative artificial intelligence skills,\u201d Indeed\u2019s Stahle said. \u201cIf you have these AI skills, 2025 could actually be a pretty good year for you to look.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTransferable skills can open doors to new roles, too,” Amy Glaser, senior vice president at staffing agency Adecco, told Yahoo Finance. \u201cPart-time roles also offer a valuable way to gain experience, build connections, and transition to full-time opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, adaptability and a willingness to learn are critical for workers looking to thrive in today\u2019s multigenerational workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fewer degree requirements<\/strong><\/h2>\n

An increasing number of employers are jettisoning educational and even experience requirements from job postings, according to Stahle \u2014 \u201cwhich means that there are roles that you wouldn’t have qualified for in the past and now maybe you can qualify because you have the skills and potentially can step into one of those positions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Formal educational requirements have been dropping in nearly every sector and occupational group\u00a0analyzed\u00a0<\/a>by Indeed. The share of job postings requiring at least a bachelor\u2019s degree fell to 17.6% in October 2024, from roughly 20% prior to the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis may seem like a modest decline on the surface, but in reality, it represents tens of thousands more jobs potentially open today compared to a few years ago for the more than 60% of Americans without a college degree,\u201d Stahle said.<\/p>\n

Other reports show a similar shift. One in three organizations have removed degree requirements from job descriptions to consider all applicants with the necessary skills and experience, according to\u00a0Payscale<\/a>. Before you get too excited, a segment of those employers, 16%,\u00a0pay more<\/a>\u00a0to those who hold a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n

The trend in experience requirements has also fallen, from 40% in 2022 to 32.6% in 2024, according to Indeed. If the labor market picks up in 2025, the share of job postings requiring a college degree or particular years of experience could fall again as employers compete for workers, Stahle said.<\/p>\n

Show off your ‘personal brand’<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Online job postings continue to draw a glut of applications. To cut through the clutter, this year it will be important for job seekers to \u201cdemonstrate personality and personal brand to capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers,\u201d Hannah Morgan, a job search\u00a0strategist<\/a>, told Yahoo Finance.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeneric, AI-generated resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles won\u2019t be enough to differentiate job seekers,\u201d she said, adding that \u201cmany recruiters and hiring managers are on the lookout for AI-generated materials.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deciding how much personality to convey can be a tough line to walk, she said. Start by including any work details that will highlight your achievements, certifications, or awards. \u201cDraw attention to what makes you slightly different and mention why that is valuable to a future employer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Your CAR story<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have a great example in your back pocket to share with hiring managers of a challenge, your action and the result you navigated. I call this your CAR story. Hiring managers love numbers to back it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse real, quantifiable data to highlight work achievements,\u201d Morgan said. Replace, for example, \u201cself-motivated top producer who consistently exceeds targets by retaining and growing existing accounts with a consultative approach\u201d with a specific example like \u201cexceeded sales goals by 125%, achieving $800K in quarterly sales through relationship building and analytics-driven decision making,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Who you know<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Getting hired the old-fashioned way is still in style.<\/p>\n

Most full-time positions are either filled internally or through referrals. Referred candidates get hired at a rate of 30%, while job applicants sourced through other methods only get hired at a rate of 7%, according to a\u00a0survey\u00a0<\/a>by Jobvite.<\/p>\n

Employers fancy hiring people they know either directly or indirectly because it\u2019s less risky. And the perception by hiring managers that someone will be a good fit ramps up substantially when an insider gives them a nod. And many employers offer a bonus for referring someone who\u2019s hired and performs well.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider reaching out to people you know inside the company and tell them why you are interested in the opening at their company and ask if they could refer you,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cThe key is to make a greater effort than just mass applying.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"maggie\"<\/div>\n<\/div>
“Referrals are still the best way to land a job,\u201d Maggie Mistal, a career change coach and author of the book \u201cAre You Ready to Love Your Job,\u201d told Yahoo Finance. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Mistal)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Honing your referrals is a process<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Referrals may come from your existing network, but you don’t want to only reach out when you need something, Maggie Mistal, a\u00a0career change coach<\/a>, told Yahoo Finance.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake it a point to reach out regularly to your most favorite connections and colleagues. Check in, share an article, recommend an event, or even refer them for a job opportunity, she said. By giving when you don’t need something, it will make it easier to ask when you do need something.\u201d<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s a new connection, you\u2019re asking to lend a hand, say, someone who knows someone you know who works for the employer with a job you covet, tread lightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you’re reaching out to a new connection for a referral, it also helps to compliment them on something you authentically admire about their experience,\u201d Mistal said. \u201cNoticing that they climbed a mountain or speak three languages or grew up in the same area of the country \u2026 All these things indicate real connection, and that builds rapport.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if you want someone to refer you for a job at some point, you’ll need to start by building rapport.\u201d<\/p>\n

Have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career-related? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon a note.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Prepare for potential questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning to look for a new job, it\u2019s a good idea to reflect on your past experiences and turn them into stories.<\/p>\n

Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of AI-based career tool Kickresume, said\u00a0more than half\u00a0<\/a>of companies ask candidates to share stories about their previous roles.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just about the times you hit the jackpot: Nearly a quarter of companies also ask questions about mistakes or moments when candidates felt they failed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDemonstrating self-awareness and accountability while highlighting your problem-solving skills can really help you land the job you want,\u201d Duris said.<\/p>\n

Show the company some love<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One more tip for interviewing: Wear your love for the company on your sleeve.<\/p>\n

Many companies ask candidates to name their favorite thing about the company, or what interested them in joining the company specifically, or their favorite of its products.<\/p>\n

Google asked interviewees, “What is your favorite Google product? Why? How would you improve it?”<\/p>\n