“””Why Landing a Job Feels Tougher Than Ever, According to a Recruiter”” “

SINGAPORE: Stories of job seekers facing countless applications with few responses are becoming all too familiar. This challenge, impacting fresh graduates and experienced professionals alike, was addressed in a TikTok video by U.S.-based recruiter Kourtlynn Faith (@Kourtlynn_), which has since gone viral with over 1.8 million views. In the video, Faith, who has six years of recruitment experience, sheds light on why securing employment feels so elusive for many.

Faith explained that recent cutbacks in recruitment teams mean fewer recruiters are handling far more job applications than before. She notes, “If a company lists 300 open positions but only has five recruiters, each of them is overwhelmed by thousands of applications.” Further compounding the issue, she points out, is that many applicants may not meet the qualifications of the roles they are applying for, making it harder for recruiters to find suitable matches.

Adding to this, most recruiters spend a mere 30 seconds on each résumé. “I’ve always reviewed applications myself and never used AI or automation,” Faith said, advising job seekers to avoid expensive résumé-writing services and try resources like the STAR Résumé app instead.

Locally, recent data from the Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Market Report for Q4 of 2023 reflects growing layoffs, mirroring global trends. In 2023, retrenchments rose to 6.7 per 1,000 employees, more than double the 3.1 figure from 2022, and reaching levels similar to the pre-pandemic years from 2015 to 2019.

This landscape is marked by fewer recruiters, more job seekers, and greater competition, posing significant hurdles for those navigating today’s job market.