Looking for a new job can be exhausting, especially if you’re balancing it alongside your current role. And, while many prospective job applicants spend their time thinking nervously about the multiple interviews and tasks most employers now require, it can be hard enough to secure an interview in the first place.

The job market right now is tough. Research by LinkedIn found that competition for jobs in the UK is fierce, with candidates applying for 11% more roles on average compared to this time last year. Moreover, the platform also found that a big issue was writing the perfect job application, with its study revealing that 40% of professionals say they spend a lot of time updating their CV and three in 10 struggle to create an application that stands out from the crowd.

Reading this with your CV open on another tab and nodding your head in agreement? Stylist spoke to three experts for their top tips on making your job application stand out and help you secure that first interview.

It’s all well and good to make statements such as ‘I’ve driven growth at the company,’ but make sure you’re quantifying these achievements with examples and data. “While keeping a formal tone, it is critical to quantify your accomplishments,” explains Chirag Mehta, careers and business coach and co-founder of coaching and training provider Know You More. “For example, announcing that you ‘improved revenue by 30%’ provides a measurable indicator of your influence. This not only highlights your work, but also shows how your work helped the team and the organisation.”

Mehta also stresses the importance of thinking about who will be reading your CV. “Consider the reader of your CV – what would impress them professionally and personally? Aim to show yourself as a collaborative and engaging colleague, as well as a skilled professional.”

We’ve all been there: you’ve spent hours writing, editing and refining your CV, only for a role to ask for a cover letter to go with it. Are you then just regurgitating the same information twice? So, what’s the secret to a great cover letter? “A cover letter must address three key questions: why are you pursuing a career in this industry? Why are you applying for this specific company? What appeals to you about this role in particular?” explains Victoria McLean, CEO and founder of career consultancy City CV. “It is crucial that you provide well-thought-out answers to these questions, including a strong knowledge of the company’s reputation and values. Being able to justify your chosen career path and explain why you think you will be a good fit for prospective employers are the things that will help you stand out.”

For hiring managers looking through dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of applications, a text-heavy CV, cover letter or application can be off-putting. Instead, keep things as simple and concise as possible. “When creating a job application, both content and layout are equally important,” advises Mehta. “Hiring managers go through hundreds of applications, so make yours unique and easy to find. Use clear headings, bullet points and bold language to help the reader find the most important information. When filling out an online form, be concise and direct. Every statement should serve a goal, bringing you one step closer to landing the interview.”

It goes without saying that using AI to write your CV and cover letter, without any input yourself, probably isn’t the best way to make your application stand out. Content written by AI can be obvious to hiring managers and you risk this showing a lack of enthusiasm and dedication in your application.

However, there’s no reason why AI can’t help build your basics, which you can then use, edit and adapt accordingly, whether that’s through making your job search more productive or making suggestions for CV tweaks. “Searching for a new job can be time-consuming and stressful; however, LinkedIn’s AI-powered insights make the process more personalised and efficient at every step,” says Charlotte Davies, career expert at LinkedIn. As part of LinkedIn Premium, “you can search for jobs using everyday language, such as ‘Find me remote marketing roles in Manchester,’ enhance an existing CV with the help of AI to better showcase your experiences and skills and use AI to help draft a tailored cover letter for a role. These features help you focus your energy on what matters, like preparing for your interview rather than sifting through endless job listings and taking a one-size-fits-all approach to your application.”

Images: Getty