As UK vacancies have fallen over the past couple of years, jobseekers have had to find novel methods to stand out from the deluge of applicants vying for each available role.
New technologies such as generative AI and improved digital tools have made it easier and quicker to create sophisticated CVs and cover letters far removed from the dull Times New Roman font on an otherwise blank A4 page printout.
But there is a downside. “Everyone is dealing with a sea of sameness, where content that is created tends to look and feel the same,” says Govind Balakrishnan, senior vice-president of Adobe Express, a creative platform. This pattern quickly led to a homogeneity of job applications, where most CVs and cover letters follow a similar format and often lack individuality.