Is it still a candidate’s market? We’ve been hearing reports from some job seekers applying for high volumes of roles online and never hearing back. But here’s the thing – job ads are only *one* way to get your foot into a new role. Here’s the rest. 

Quick overview of the current job market 

LinkedIn’s April 2023 APAC Labour Market Insights indicate a loosening of labour market conditions. The ratio of active candidates to job openings on the platform is approaching pre-pandemic levels in the region. Specifically: 

• In Australia, labour market tightness declined, with April 2023 data suggesting there are now 3 active job seekers competing for each job opening. (But this isn’t considering any potential internal candidates or passive job seekers who’re open to opportunities but not physically searching job boards.) 
• Globally across many countries, the average number of applications per applicant has substantially increased compared to the same period last year. For March 2023, the average number of applications per applicant in Australia increased 22% year-on-year. 

These figures (and candidate reports) indicate that the market is changing. So, how can you get ahead of the crowd without the overwhelm of applying for thousands of jobs that never go anywhere? 

3 Tips to help job seekers get ahead in a competitive job market 

It’s perfectly normal to be ​feeling dejected after so much effort and zero success.

Here at Talenza, we’re fans of working smarter, not harder. So, when it comes to the job hunt, we see three big opportunities for job seekers to get ahead without burning out. 

Tip #1: Reach out to key people in the business 

Establish connections and build quality relationships with people in your industry or at the company you’re wanting to apply to. It may feel awkward at first, but the worst that can happen is they say no! 

But if they say yes? 

You’ll be opening doors. 

Use LinkedIn to reach out to hiring managers, internal recruiters, and employees working in similar roles and invite them to coffee or a ‘quick chat’ to learn more about the company and its opportunities. 

Tip #2: Get an employee to refer you 

Employee referrals are a gold mine (for everyone involved!). One study found that applicants with an employee referral get an interview 50% of the time. And the cake taker? Twenty percent of employee referrals result in the referred person being hired for the position. 

Many organisations offer a sweet referral bonus to their employees who refer on talent who end up getting the job. Similar incentives apply in our world, too. 

Recruiters also take referrals and will often offer a finder’s fee as a thank you. So, if you’ve work with an agency or know someone who has recently worked with an agency, apply for the job, and then follow up by reaching out to your contact and asking them to refer you. Our personal and professional networks are the source of so much opportunity – make it known that you want a job! 

Tip #3: Follow the #Hiring tag on LinkedIn 

Generally recruiters and internal hiring managers will share their opportunities on LinkedIn using this handy little hashtag. Look it up and follow it! 

Companies trying to avoid the expense and hassle of using online job boards might only post their opportunities to their social networks, providing another avenue for your job search. It could also mean fewer people applying given it’s not as widely shared = a better chance of you landing a role. 

Related: Building a personal brand on LinkedIn 

Bonus! Tip #4: Reach out to a Talenza ​​consultant 



We couldn’t wrap this up without mentioning our team of talented Talenza consultants who are discipline- and industry-specialised. We can share an in-time read of the market and give job seekers the heads up of any upcoming roles when they’re merely a whisper. 

Explore your opportunities today.