What you need to know to get hired in 2025

The go-go hiring days of 2022 and 2023, when there were nearly two job openings for every job seeker, are in the rearview mirror. But in 2025 there are many jobs.

new data from the Office of Labor Statistics The Telegraph saved optimism for an increase in hiring in the coming months. The The economy created 256,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department reported Friday, beating expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%.

Although it is early in the new year, the confidence of business leaders could translate into a boost in hiring in the coming months.

I reached out to a handful of experts to get their thoughts on what this all means for job seekers and the best ways to navigate the hiring landscape.

“Getting a job today is probably significantly harder and longer than it will be in 2022,” Cory Stahle, labor economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, told Yahoo Finance. “But we’re moving into a job market where there are still plenty of opportunities available.”

Demand is high for workers in healthcare, construction, government and manufacturing, while white-collar positions in finance and technology, such as software development and data science, marketing and professional services, are more hard to come by, Stahle said.

Interesting works are also being released that you might not have thought of. Six out of 10 LinkedIn”Employment on the rise” shows “the evolving world of work and emerging opportunities that job seekers may not have considered before.” The list tracks the fastest-growing positions.

Positions include artificial intelligence engineer, artificial intelligence consultant and physical therapist. Workforce development managers, who design and implement training programs to improve employee skills, are in demand. Travel advisors are on the rise. Event coordinators, development directors who lead fundraising strategies, and sustainability specialists, who analyze a company’s environmental and social impacts and create strategies for resource efficiency, also made the cut .

Several engineering roles appeared on the list for the first time, including bridge engineer, nuclear engineer and instrumentation and control engineer.

As a self-proclaimed bookseller and research nerd, I was pleased to discover that research librarians are back in fashion.

“Only about 30 percent of job seekers say they want to change industries, but more than 50 percent of newly hired workers landed their job in a new industry,” said Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, on job search site, on Yahoo Finance. “This suggests that workers who keep an open mind, broaden their research, invest in new skills and pursue opportunities are disproportionately successful.”

Some of the most in-demand skills, according to LinkedIn research: Customer service, project management, communication, leadership, teamwork, sales and strategic planning.

For AI enthusiasts, the tide is moving in your direction.

“We’ve started to see an increasing number of employers asking for integrative AI capabilities,” said Indeed’s Stahle. “If you have those AI skills, 2025 could be a pretty good year to look at.”

“Transferable skills can also open doors to new roles,” Amy Glaser, senior vice president at staffing agency Adecco, told Yahoo Finance. “Part-time roles also provide a valuable way to gain experience, make connections and transition into full-time opportunities.

“Overall, adaptability and a willingness to learn are critical for workers looking to thrive in today’s multigenerational workforce.”

College degrees are increasingly taking a back seat as a prerequisite for many hiring decisions. (Getty Creative) · Image source via Getty Images

A growing number of employers are dropping educational and even experience requirements from job postings, according to Stahle, “which means there are roles that you wouldn’t have qualified for in the past and now you might qualify for – you because you have the skills and can potentially fill one of these positions,” he said.

Formal education requirements have been decreasing in almost all sectors and occupational groups analyzed by Indeed. The share of job openings requiring at least a bachelor’s degree fell to 17.6% in October 2024, from about 20% before the pandemic.

“This may seem like a modest decline on the surface, but in reality, it represents tens of thousands of potentially open jobs today compared to a few years ago for the more than 60 percent of Americans without a college degree,” Stahle said .

Other reports show a similar shift. One in three organizations have removed qualification requirements from job descriptions to consider all applicants with the necessary skills and experience, according to Pay Scale. Before you get too excited, a segment of these employers, 16%, pay more those with a bachelor’s degree.

The trend for experience requirements is also down, from 40% in 2022 to 32.6% in 2024, according to Indeed. If the labor market recovers in 2025, the share of jobs requiring a college degree or particular years of experience could fall again as employers compete for workers, Stahle said.

Online job postings continue to generate an excess of applications. In order to cut through the clutter, this year it will be important for job seekers to “demonstrate personality and personal brand to capture the attention of recruiters and hiring managers,” said Hannah Morgan, a job seeker. strategisthe told Yahoo Finance.

“Generic AI-generated resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles won’t be enough to differentiate job seekers,” he said, adding that “many recruiters and hiring managers are looking for material generated by AI”.

Deciding how much personality to convey can be a tough line to walk, he said. Start by including any work details that will highlight your achievements, certifications, or awards. “Draw attention to what makes you slightly different and mention why that’s valuable to a future employer,” she said.

You have a great example in your back pocket to share with hiring managers a challenge, your action, and the result you navigated. This is what I call your CAR story. Hiring managers love numbers to back them up.

“Use real, quantifiable data to highlight job accomplishments,” Morgan said. For example, replace “self-motivated top producer who consistently exceeds goals by retaining and growing existing accounts with a consultative approach” with a specific example such as “exceeded sales goals by 125%, achieving $800,000 in sales quarterly through relationship building and driven decision making,” he said.

Hiring the old-fashioned way is still in style.

Most full-time positions are filled internally or through referrals. Referred candidates are hired at a rate of 30%, while job applicants obtained through other methods are only hired at a rate of 7%, according to a survey by Jobvite

Employers want to hire people they know directly or indirectly because it is less risky. And hiring managers’ perception that someone will be a good fit increases substantially when an insider takes a look at them. And many employers offer a bonus for referring someone who is hired and performing well.

“Consider reaching out to people you know within the business and tell them why you’re interested in their business opening and ask if they can refer you,” Morgan said. “The key is to make a bigger effort than mass application.”

Referrals can come from your existing network, but you don’t want to reach out only when you need something, Maggie Mistal, one career change coachhe told Yahoo Finance.

“Make it a point to regularly reach out to your favorite connections and colleagues. Do a session, share an article, recommend an event or even recommend a job opportunity, she said. Giving when you don’t need something, it will be easier for you to ask when you need something.”

If it’s a new connection you’re asking for a hand, say someone who knows someone you know who works for the employer with a job you covet, tread lightly.

“When you reach out to a new connection for a referral, it also helps to compliment them on something you genuinely admire about their experience,” Mistal said. “Noticing that they climbed a mountain or speak three languages or grew up in the same part of the country… All of these things indicate a real connection, and that creates a relationship.

“And if you want someone to refer you for a job at some point, you’re going to have to start by building a relationship.”

Have a question about retirement? Personal finance? Something career related? Click here to leave Kerry Hannon a note.

If you’re planning to look for a new job, it’s a good idea to reflect on your past experiences and turn them into stories.

Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of AI-based career tool Kickresume, said more than half of companies ask candidates to share stories about their previous roles.

It’s not just about the moments when you hit the jackpot: almost a quarter of companies also ask questions about mistakes or moments when candidates felt they failed.

“Demonstrating self-awareness and responsibility while highlighting your problem-solving skills can really help you get the job you want,” Duris said.

One more interview tip: Wear your love for the company on your sleeve.

Many companies ask candidates to say what they like best about the company, or what specifically interests them about joining the company, or their favorite products.

Google asked respondents: “What is your favorite Google product? Why? How would you make it better?”

Kerry Hannon is a senior columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including “Controlled Over 50: How to Succeed in the New World of Work” and “Never too old to get rich.” follow her blue sky

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