In June, I was laid off from Nerdery after 14 and a half years. By the end of July, I had applied for 77 jobs. By the end of September, that number climbed to 152. During those months, I interviewed with 6 companies, received 51 rejections, and was ghosted by 101.
I also spoke with at least 5 recruiters, most pitching contractor roles that needed to be filled ASAP. None of those conversations led anywhere. The roles either stalled indefinitely or vanished completely.
This is what the job market looks like in 2025.
The Numbers Game Doesn’t Work Anymore
Right now, there are more people looking for jobs than there are jobs available. A single job posting can attract over 1,000 applicants. Some of those applications are automated, with candidates spamming every remotely relevant opening. Others are genuinely qualified. Either way, I’m not competing with a handful of good candidates, I’m competing with hundreds.
The result? Companies are overwhelmed. They struggle to review all the applications, pick a few promising candidates, and eventually give up on the rest. Cold applying simply doesn’t work when you’re one of hundreds and your resume likely never reaches human eyes.
What Actually Works: Connections
So what does work? Connections. Leveraging family, friends, and former coworkers seems to be the only reliable way to get in front of companies.
Almost every interview I’ve landed came through a referral. Those connections got me in front of real people, which moved the conversation forward. But even then, I’ve had great interviews that didn’t lead to a job. Either the company ghosted me, the role was put on pause, or they chose someone else.
Quality Over Quantity
A friend keeps telling me that “more hooks in the water” is a good thing, but I’m not convinced. More applications haven’t gotten me anywhere. I’ve tried everything from applying for jobs I’m perfectly qualified for, to targeting local companies, and even lowering my salary expectations. More hooks doesn’t seem to work.
It’s not about the quantity of applications, it’s about the quality of connections.
I’ve started shifting my strategy. Now I find a job posting, research who works at the company, and try to leverage connections. To be honest, it’s a pain because I don’t have connections everywhere. I have plenty of good connections, but matching who’s hiring with someone who can vouch for me is tricky. However, when I manage it, I’m far more successful at landing at least an initial interview. With that said, I still do cold applications just in case.
If you’re in a similar situation, hang in there. You’re not alone. I’ve heard similar situations from many other people, even in completely different industries. It’s not you, it’s the economy right now.
