If you're on the job hunt right now, you're not alone—and if it feels harder than ever, you're not imagining it.
Many IT professionals are venting their frustrations on social media and in meetups, saying things like, “I’ve applied to 100 jobs and haven’t heard anything back.” But here’s the truth: simply applying to jobs isn’t the most effective strategy anymore.
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The job market has shifted. Hiring processes are slower, companies are more cautious, and automation tools often filter out resumes before a human ever sees them. If you're relying solely on job boards or recruiter outreach, you're leaving a lot of opportunity on the table.
In today’s competitive environment, diversification in your job search, just like in investing or wellness, is essential. Here’s a deeper look at how to diversify your approach and give yourself the best shot at landing your next IT role.
Rethink Your Resume—It’s Not a One-Pager Anymore
Contrary to outdated advice, your resume doesn’t need to be crammed into a single page, especially not in tech. Hiring managers want to understand not just where you worked, but what you did, how you made an impact, and what tools or technologies you used. Be as concise as you can, but don’t sacrifice important content.
According to a report from ResumeLab, for senior roles, a two-page resume is 2.9 times more likely to result in an interview than a single-page resume, and even for entry-level roles, a two-page resume is 1.4 times more likely to be selected for the next stage. Additionally, 77% of recruiters believe that candidates with over five years of experience should never submit a one-page resume.
What to include:
- A tailored technical summary that highlights the languages, frameworks, tools, and platforms you specialize in.
- Under each role, list out key responsibilities, measurable impact (like reducing downtime by 30%, speeding up deployments, etc.), and the specific technologies used.
- Avoid burying tech tools in a technical summary — embed them directly into your work history to show context and depth.
Formatting tip: If your resume isn’t parsed correctly, you might never even make it to a human review, no matter how qualified you are, ensure the document is ATS (Applicant Tracking System)-friendly by using clean fonts, avoiding headers/footers for key info (many ATS tools ignore header/footer sections entirely,) and submitting it as a .docx or pdf.
Unless writing is truly one of your weakest points, you don't need to hire a resume writing service to do all this. However, it will be helpful to have someone else look at and proofread the text, as typos are deal killers.
Reconnect with Past Managers—They May Be Gateways
Former managers can be powerful allies in your search—but only if you proactively reconnect with them. Start by confirming they’re still open to being a reference. Then, take it a step further. Ask them to endorse you on LinkedIn. Encourage them to comment on or share your “Open to Work” post to amplify your visibility.
Better yet, ask for a quick coffee or virtual check-in. They may have roles on their current team, or be able to refer you internally or within their external network.
This matters. Statistics show that those applying for jobs with a referral have more than twice the chances of a successful job match compared to those without one. Going beyond previous managers, there might be a wide variety of people who could help you during the application process.
Tap Into the Power of Past Colleagues and Referrals
Think back over the last five to ten years of your career. How many intelligent, connected people have you lost touch with?
Referrals remain one of the top sources of hires, often beating job boards. In fact, while referrals only account for 7% of all job applicants, referred employees make up to 40% of new hires.
So, start reconnecting. Make a list of former teammates or cross-functional partners. Set up informal chats to catch up. Ask them if their company has a referral program—and if they’d be willing to put in your name.
It’s a win-win: you get a potential interview, and they may receive a referral bonus.
Don’t Just Apply—Engage with the Job Poster and the Company
Too many candidates “spray and pray.” They click apply and hope the stars align. Instead, take the initiative. After applying, look up:
- Who posted the job (on LinkedIn or the company’s careers page)
- Anyone you know that works at the company
Then reach out. A short, personalized message goes a long way:
“Hi Jane, I just applied for the [Backend Engineer] role at [Company]. I’ve worked with similar tech stacks and really admire the work your team is doing around [X]. I’d love a chance to talk more about how I can contribute.”
This shows initiative, demonstrates interest, and increases the likelihood that your resume gets reviewed by a human.
Strengthen Your Interview Skills—It’s a Muscle That Needs to be Trained
We all know that day-to-day engineering is very different from interviewing for those same types of roles. Even senior engineers can struggle if they haven’t interviewed recently. Think of it like going to the gym after a long break. You need to train your interview muscle:
- Practice behavioral questions aloud. (“Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge in production…”)
- Review every tech tool on your resume—be ready to speak in depth about each.
- Practice coding assessments on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank.
- For data roles, try SQL practice queries or small data projects you can share.
According to Glassdoor, the average corporate job receives 250 applications, but only four to six people are interviewed. Preparation is what turns one of those slots into an offer.
Use a Staffing Agency to Gain a Competitive Edge
Here's a secret: many of the best IT jobs are never posted publicly. Companies often go straight to staffing firms to fill high-priority, hard-to-hire roles discreetly.
Staffing firms help you polish your resume and present your skills strategically. They offer direct access to hiring managers and help prep you for interviews with inside knowledge on what each employer wants. Sometimes, they have exclusive roles that never hit the job boards.
Plus, they advocate for you—something a resume on its own can’t do.
Final Thoughts: Broaden Your Search, Broaden Your Success
Yes, apply for jobs. But don’t stop there. Update your resume with depth and clarity, reengage your network, practice your interviews, and seriously consider partnering with a staffing agency that specializes in tech.
Contact Motion Recruitment today to talk with a recruiter who understands your skill set and can help you land your next great opportunity.
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