15 practical tactics — not generic advice. What actually moves the needle in the UK job market.
Most job seekers apply to 5–10 jobs, get no response, and assume their CV is broken. Callback rates on popular roles are often low — you need volume before you have signal. Apply to 50 relevant jobs before making any conclusions.
ATS systems score CVs based on keyword match. The profile/summary section at the top has the most weight. Spend 90 seconds rewriting those 3 lines to mirror the job title and top 2–3 requirements. Don't rewrite the whole CV.
Early applications are more likely to be reviewed, because many recruiters shortlist before the deadline. Set up job alerts on Reed, LinkedIn, and Adzuna for your target roles and apply the same day.
Companies use different applicant tracking systems (Greenhouse, Lever, Workday and others), and some parse CVs better than others. Use a simple, single-column layout with standard headings so your CV reads cleanly whichever system the employer uses.
Recruiters search LinkedIn like a search engine. Your headline is the metadata. It should contain your job title, 1–2 skills, and your availability signal. Example: "Senior Software Engineer | React & TypeScript | Open to roles in London"
A short, professional follow-up email to the hiring manager (find them on LinkedIn) moves you from the pile to the shortlist. Most candidates never follow up. One sentence: "I applied for [role] on [date] and wanted to confirm receipt and reiterate my interest."
It takes up space and every recruiter knows references are available on request. Use the space for another achievement bullet point instead.
Job boards show you 1,000 generic listings. Most job seekers apply to whatever appears. Instead, list 30–50 target companies and apply directly through their careers pages. Higher quality, less competition, better response rates.
"Managed a team" → "Managed a 6-person team across 3 time zones." "Improved conversion" → "Improved landing page conversion by 34% in Q2 2024." Numbers make bullets more concrete and easier to remember in interviews.
ATS systems flag duplicate applications. If you were rejected, wait at least 6 months before reapplying — and reapply with a significantly updated CV. Add the company to a blacklist to avoid accidental re-applications.
Stop doing this manually
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