Why Your Job Search Feels Harder Than It Should

What’s happening behind the scenes and how to respond

If your job search feels slow or unresponsive, you are not alone. Many candidates apply for roles they are qualified for, tailor their CVs carefully, and still struggle to get traction.

In most cases, this is not about a lack of ability or experience. It is about how applications are assessed today, and how easily a hiring manager can understand where you fit.

Once you understand how decisions are made and where applications commonly fall down, it becomes much easier to make small changes that improve your chances.

What Hiring Managers Are Actually Looking For

Hiring managers are not trying to find perfect candidates. They are trying to fill specific roles with people who can add value quickly.

When reviewing applications, they typically want to answer a few questions fast:

· What role does this person do, or want to do?

· How closely does their experience match this vacancy?

· Do they understand the environment they are applying into?

· Can I picture them operating at this level?

CVs that answer these questions directly tend to progress. CVs that are vague, unfocused or overly broad often do not, even when the candidate is capable.

Getting the Basics Right on Your CV

A CV should be easy to follow and easy to scan. For most candidates, one to two pages is enough.

A clear structure usually includes:

· Contact details

· A short professional profile

· Key skills

· Experience in reverse chronological order

· Education and certifications

Your profile matters more than many candidates realise. Generic statements about motivation or ambition add little value. Instead, use this space to state what you do, where your experience sits, and the type of role you are aiming for.

For example:

· Aircraft maintenance technician with experience supporting line maintenance on commercial aircraft, seeking a permanent role within a Part-145 environment.

· Senior commercial leader with experience scaling revenue teams in B2B services, with board-level exposure and responsibility for growth strategy.

Specific information helps employers understand your level and intent straight away.

Moving Beyond Job Descriptions

Many CVs list responsibilities without showing contribution. This makes it hard to judge impact, regardless of seniority.

Compare:

Responsible for aircraft maintenance tasks

Carried out scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on narrow-body aircraft, supporting fleet availability and on-time departures in a regulated Part-145 environment.

Or at the other end of the spectrum:

Responsible for company growth strategy

As Chief Commercial Officer, led global sales and marketing strategy, contributing to sustained revenue growth and expansion into new markets.

The level of the role is different, but the principle is the same. Context and outcome help employers understand what you actually did, not just what your job title suggested.

How Automated Screening Affects Your CV

Before a human sees your CV, it is often reviewed by an Applicant Tracking System.

These systems compare your CV to the language used in the job description. If key tools, standards or terms are missing, your application may not progress.

This does not mean copying keywords blindly. It means reflecting the terminology of the role where it genuinely applies to your experience.

Simple steps include:

· Using the same names for tools, systems or certifications listed in the advert

· Including those terms naturally in your profile, skills section and experience

· Grouping skills so they are easy to identify

A CV that reads well but lacks relevant language can be filtered out. A CV overloaded with buzzwords can be rejected just as quickly.

Making Small Adjustments That Improve Your Chances

Sending the same CV to every role is one of the most common reasons applications stall.

You do not need a complete rewrite each time. Small, targeted adjustments are usually enough:

· Update your profile to reflect the role you are applying for

· Reorder skills so the most relevant appear first

· Adjust early bullets in each role to match the focus of the vacancy

These changes show intent and make it easier for employers to connect your experience to their needs.

How Your LinkedIn Profile Supports Your CV

LinkedIn is often checked alongside your CV.

Your headline should describe your role or direction, not your availability. Dates, titles and employers should match your CV. Your About section should reinforce the same story, not introduce a new one.

You do not need to post regularly, but an incomplete or inconsistent profile can quietly undermine an otherwise strong application.

Why Strong Candidates Sometimes Get Stuck

Many capable candidates are held back by issues that are easy to miss:

· CVs that are too generic to feel targeted

· Skills lists with no sense of priority

· No context around employers, scale or environment

· Small errors that create doubt

These details matter because applications are often reviewed quickly. Anything that slows understanding or raises questions can stop progress.

The Reality of Hiring Timelines in 2026

Hiring processes are often slower than candidates expect, particularly in technical, regulated or senior roles.

Multiple stages, internal approvals and compliance checks are now common. Delays do not always reflect a lack of interest.

What helps is:

· Asking about timelines early

· Keeping more than one application active

· Avoiding relying emotionally on a single role

This keeps your search moving, even when processes stall.

What All of This Means for You

If your job search feels stuck, it does not automatically mean you are underqualified or approaching things badly.

More often, it means:

· Your experience is not being interpreted as you intend

· Your CV is not aligned closely enough to the role

· Small details are getting in the way of progress

When presentation, structure and relevance improve, outcomes usually follow.

Why Specialist Support Makes the Difference

This is where working with a specialist recruiter can simplify the process.

At Chevron Recruitment, we work closely with candidates across technical, specialist and commercial roles, from highly regulated environments to senior commercial leadership positions. Because we speak to hiring managers daily, we understand what they look for and how decisions are made.

That allows us to help candidates:

· Present their experience in a way that matches real hiring expectations

· Navigate automated screening without losing credibility

· Identify roles that genuinely fit, including opportunities not advertised publicly

· Move through processes with clearer expectations at each stage

For early-career candidates or experienced professionals looking for a reset, this kind of support often removes uncertainty and shortens the path between application and outcome. If your job search feels harder than it should, a conversation with a specialist recruiter can help you understand where things are stalling and what to adjust next.

​Why Your Job Search Feels Harder Than It Should