Finding a new job is harder than ever - experts explain why so many applications fail

Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Research from LinkedIn suggests that despite almost two in every three UK professionals being keen to get a new job, a massive 61 per cent, over half of them believe it has become harder to find new roles and say they are frustrated by a process which has increasingly meant applying more and hearing back less - even after undergoing interviews. Professionals need to shift their approach and be more strategic in applying for roles that match their skillset and look for ways to stand out.” open image in gallery To try and bridge those issues, the online platform is launching new artificial intelligence-based tools to help work-seekers find roles they may be more suited for, with a job match feature focusing on skills and experience to point users towards opportunities they are most likely to hear back from. Go to website LinkedIn say 22 per cent of users have plans to “learn new skills this year to open up opportunities”, with AI itself a real driver of the need to take on board additional abilities, given how much it is already woven into roles in some industries and the expectation it’ll feature more prominently in future. “Be sure to highlight your soft skills, like adaptability and communication, during the hiring process, and spend time building these skills.” Updating your profile with key skills highlighted - or, in off-platform terms, redoing your CV with the most relevant responsibilities you’ve had which could translate to the new one you want - is a must, as is identifying “which roles you’re best suited for and where to focus your time and effort”, rather than adopting a mass-apply approach.