What I’d do if I were on the job hunt🕵🏽♀️
Tips, data, and new tools to help you stand out in today’s job market.
Let’s get right into it—here’s what I’d do if I were on the job hunt and why:
1. Set up job alerts
Whether you’re using Black Tech Pipeline, LinkedIn, Indeed, or any other platform—set alerts based on your skills, experience, or interests.
Why? Data shows job seekers who apply within 48 hours of a posting are 4X more likely to be seen by a recruiter or ATS. Most applications come in during those first two days of a posting being live. After that, your chances drop, especially if a role gets flooded.
Tip✨ Try not to over-filter your job alerts. I know it’s tempting to be specific about alerting for remote vs onsite, salary, or company size but being too strict might keep you from discovering a role that could actually work for you.
2. Tailor your resume (when you can)
It’s time consuming but if a job really matters to you, match your resume to it. Use keywords, keep the format simple, and skip design elements that confuse ATS systems.
Why? Most ATS software can’t handle nuance—it’s scanning for exact keyword matches. That means qualified applicants get passed over all the time just because their resume didn’t say things the ‘right’ way.
Also, over 63% of recruiters say tailored resumes make reviewing applications faster and easier.
3. Lead with your impact
Your resume shouldn’t just list what you were assigned to do, it should show what you achieved. How did you help your team or company grow? What changed because you were there?
Why? “Low performers” are being cut, or warned they’ll be cut, based on perceived outcomes. Employers are applying these expectations towards future hires. You’ll need to show them the results they can expect from you.
4. Complete the application carefully
Fill in every field that applies. Answer the questions. Double-check spelling (yes, even your name), and test your links.
Why? I’ve seen too many people lose out on opportunities just because a link didn’t work or they left something blank. Recruiters move fast so make it easy for them to say yes.
5. Check your spam folder
You might be waiting for a response that’s been sitting in the wrong inbox. Check it daily.
6. Don’t ghost recruiters
Even if a recruiter reaches out with a job that isn’t right, reply. Let them know what you’re looking for and let them know you’d like to stay in touch.
Why? You never know when they’ll have something better. Staying in touch builds trust and that goes a long way in a tight market.
Job hunting sucks but Black Tech Pipeline can help🤝🏾
We know how hard the job search is regardless of the market. We launched two new features to help job seekers apply faster:
Tailor your resume
Job seekers who are part of our talent directory can now click a “Tailor Resume” button on any role. Get suggestions to plug directly into your resume based on the job description.
Request application updates
If you’re in our talent directory and applied to a job through BTP, you can now ask our hiring partners for updates on applications that you haven’t heard back on. Simply go back to the job posting, click “Ask for Update,” and BTP pings the company on your behalf with your name, role you applied to, and the date of application. It keeps you out of the dark, and helps recruiters keep track, too.
Check out our latest job opportunities and create an account to simplify your job hunt or improve your recruiting experience here🔗