If you’ve been sending out dozens—maybe even hundreds—of applications this year with radio silence in return, you’re not alone.
And here’s the truth: there’s a better way to approach your job search strategy.
The hiring landscape in 2025 has fundamentally shifted, especially in tech. Your perfectly crafted resume? It’s just one small piece of an increasingly complex puzzle. In this blog, I’m breaking down the latest changes and industry trends to help you navigate the latest challenges of job search with confidence.
The New Reality of Tech Hiring
Remember when applying for jobs meant submitting your resume and waiting for a person to contact you and schedule a phone screen? The job market is shifting rapidly. Companies are increasingly using automated screening methods to manage the high volume of applications they receive.
I have worked as a corporate recruiter for big tech companies like Lever, Reddit, and Coinbase, in specialized recruitment agencies, and for the past few years I also help people as a career coach, and I’ve seen how these changes to the job search experience can feel overwhelming. But understanding what you’re up against is the first step to landing interviews and securing your next job.
What's Different Now
Tech hiring has become increasingly:
Automated and Multi-Layered Some companies are implementing checkpoints before your application is seen by human eyes. Applicant Tracking Systems are changing quickly, with platforms like Greenhouse, Ashby, Workday, Lever, and Jobvite integrating with screening tools like BrightHire, Codility, HackerRank, and HireVue to streamline (and expedite) the decision process. One of the reasons they are adding these tools is because the volume of applications each inbox receives continues to increase to quantities that are not manageable.
Strategic and Selective Hiring managers aren’t just looking for technical skills. They’re evaluating team fit, adaptability, and potential business impact. Companies are looking to up-level their teams and hire people that will make an impact.
In many functions, the pendulum is shifting from generalists to specialists. Teams want to know: How does your expertise directly address a skills gap on the team?
The Four Major Changes That Are Making Your Job Search More Stressful
1. AI Resume Screening Has Evolved
The bots. AI-powered screening now looks beyond keywords to evaluate and rank your resume:
- Context and relevance of your experience
- Consistency in your career narrative
- Answers to knockout questions that can instantly disqualify
Submitting a cover letter? This is a great way to share more context on your career story and highlight relevant career highlights and transferable skills.
2. Pre-Screener Evaluations Are Becoming Standard
Whether we like it or not, some companies are adding screening steps before you talk to a human. You’ll increasingly be asked to do:
- Pre-recorded video interviews
- Cognitive assessments
- Technical challenges (yes, even before talking to anyone)
- Personality assessments
How to prepare: Before starting to record that video interview, test your setup. Check your internet connection, audio quality, and video clarity. Pay attention to your background—keep it clean and professional, but don’t stress about having a perfect home office.
Match your presentation style to the company culture. A startup might appreciate a more relaxed approach, while an enterprise company may expect a more corporate approach. Either way, be yourself within those environments.
For cognitive assessments and technical challenges, spend time reviewing relevant skills you may not have used in a while and any practice tests to prepare ahead of time. Some tools may be allowed, be sure to check the requirements of what’s allowed during the interview beforehand. These assessments aren’t meant to trick you—they’re designed to see how you think through problems but they are not customized for each candidate’s experience and you may feel confused or misunderstand something if you haven’t prepared properly.
3. Case Studies and Take-Home Assignments
Expect to prove your skills through:
- Business case studies
- Presentation challenges
- Project-based assignments
- Real-world problem-solving exercises
Critical tip: Always clarify the expectations and rules with your hiring contact. Ask directly: Are there time limits? Can I use AI tools? What’s the expected scope? Who is your audience? What assumptions can I make? Understanding their rules and expectations helps you deliver exactly what they’re looking for.
4. Referrals Have Changed Too
The referral game has new rules. Some companies now:
- Verify the referrer’s work history and performance
- Request detailed endorsement context (not just a name, they might have to submit written details of how they know you, when they worked with you, etc)
- Distinguish between “leads” (casual connections), introductions from shared connections and true referrals (strong endorsements)
Building genuine professional relationships matters more than ever. If you don’t have a strong referral available, find a connection you share with an employee to help you with an introduction. Even a quick note to a hiring contact or hiring manager on why you’re a fit for the role and asking for a note so that you’re not ignored in the inbox can be the reason you get an interview.
Your Action Plan
The job search experience may be changing, but opportunity still exists for those who adapt. Here’s how to position yourself for success:
- Prepare for the full gauntlet – Assume every application will include multiple screening steps and prepare accordingly
- Document everything – Keep detailed notes about each application and interview, including specific requirements and your responses
- Build real relationships – Focus on quality networking over quantity
- Stay human – Despite all the automation, remember that eventually, real people make hiring decisions
The Bottom Line
If you feel like your resume or CV is disappearing into a black hole it isn’t your imagination—the system is fundamentally broken. But here’s the good news: understanding these changes puts you ahead of candidates still using outdated strategies.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. The tech job market remains full of opportunity for those who know how to navigate it effectively.
Ready to develop your personalized job search strategy?
Book a free consultation with our team to get personalized feedback on your approach, resume optimization, and strategies tailored to your career goals.
We’ve helped hundreds of professionals navigate these exact challenges. You don’t have to do this alone—let’s make your next career move happen.
