If you’re looking for a job, we know things feel grim. White-collar hiring has slowed, and many people are clinging to their jobs even if they’re unhappy. While US job growth beat forecasts in March, unemployment ticked up too, and the competition for open roles remains fierce. With job applications piling up and layoffs, budget cuts, and economic uncertainty haunting both people and businesses, a job market that feels “meh” could soon get a lot worse.
At Business Insider, we’re constantly studying the changing workplace and collecting the most up-to-date expert advice for job-seekers. We’ve tapped HR managers, recruiters, career coaches, and executives for their best advice on everything from crafting a standout resumé to networking your way to a final offer.
To help you navigate your job search successfully, we’ve also talked to dozens of non-experts — regular people who’ve managed to break through and land offers — and asked them to share their happy endings and hard-won wisdom.
Below you will find a list of the top new rules for job-seekers in 2025 from BI correspondent Aki Ito and a career coach’s advice for overcoming a career setback. An ex-VP of HR at Microsoft who’s watched people network their way to jobs for years shared the tried-and-true approaches he’s witnessed. An ex-Amazon VP who’s viewed 10,000-plus résumés in his career revealed the most common mistakes he’s seen and how to fix them. A tech worker who landed six-figure roles at Meta and Google by finding the “third door” shared his trick for breaking into companies, along with the exact résumé he uses.
Now more than ever, it’s imperative for job-seekers to stand out from the pack in order to land their next role. Here’s how experts told us job seekers can do just that.
Give yourself an edge
Level up your résumé
What the pros say
Real-world success
Credits
Reporters: Charissa Cheong, Alyshia Hull, Aki Ito, Christine Ji, Robin Madell, Michelle Mastro, Tim Paradis, Melissa Petro, Jacob Zinkula
Editors: Eric Bates, Emily Canal, Kiera Fields, Clementine Fletcher, Lauryn Haas, Manseen Logan, Akin Oyedele, Debbie Strong, Jane Zhang
Expert Panel: Ethan Evans, Andrew Yeung, Madeline Mann, Marnie Lemonik
