Today’s guest blogger is Tim Lane founder and director of Park Lane Recruitment based near Manchester UK. Park Lane Recruitment is a specialist recruiting firm in the technology space with niche areas of cybersecurity, fintech, space and defense IT, as well as generic IT sales, tech and managerial. Tim is currently serving as secretary/treasurer on the NPAworldwide board of directors and is a 30+ year veteran of the recruiting industry. In his post below, Tim addresses the current skills gap and other issues making it harder for candidates to find new roles.
So, you’ve got the degree, the ambition, and a LinkedIn profile that screams “hire me!” But as a candidate in the UK or USA’s professional sectors in 2025, you’re probably discovering that landing a job is less like a sprint and more like an obstacle course-complete with AI-powered hurdles and ever-shifting finish lines.
1. The Skills Gap: The Never-Ending Game of Catch-Up
Both sides of the Atlantic are facing record skills shortages. In the UK, the NHS is short 120,000 staff, and tech firms are desperate for coders and AI experts. In the US, it’s much the same story – if you’re not upskilling, you’re outskilled. There is a widening skills gap between the skills employers are asking for and the skills potential employees have. Candidates are expected to be lifelong learners, constantly updating their knowledge just to stay relevant. It’s like being told you need a jetpack to keep up in a three-legged race.
2. The Rise of the “Super Candidate”
Employers want it all: technical expertise, soft skills, leadership potential, and the ability to bake banana bread during Zoom meetings. Job descriptions read like wish lists for superheroes. No wonder candidates feel overwhelmed–especially when 85% of employers report poor quality applications, often because candidates are mass-applying in hopes something sticks. The trick? Tailor your CV, but don’t lose your sanity.
3. Remote Work: A Blessing and a Curse
Remote and hybrid work have opened up global opportunities, but they’ve also increased competition. Your rival for that London-based job might be dialing in from Lisbon or Los Angeles. The good news? Pyjamas are now acceptable interview attire. The bad news? You’re up against a much larger, more diverse talent pool.
4. AI in Recruitment: Friend or Foe?
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and AI-powered screening tools are the new gatekeepers. If your CV isn’t keyword-optimized, it might never see human eyes. Worse, candidates worry about bias in AI decisions – will a robot understand your quirky career pivot or just toss your application in the digital bin?
5. Candidate Power – But at What Cost?
Flexible work, meaningful benefits, and ESG values are top priorities for candidates. But with 43% of UK workers “quiet quitting” and Gen Z rewriting the rules, candidates must balance assertiveness with realism. The market is competitive, but so are you – so polish that CV, practice your video pitch, and remember, even superheroes need a day off.
Final Thought:
Find a new job in 2025 is not for the faint-hearted. But with agility, transparency, and a dash of humour, you should be able to navigate the recruitment rollercoaster – and maybe, just maybe, find that elusive perfect career move. There has never been a time that a good recruiter is as critically important to you and your next move as now. Do you have that strategic recruiter relationship in place?