𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐊 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭
September 28th, 2026
A couple of weeks ago, we recruited for an entry-level administration role
➜ 5,377 views
➜ 1,113 applications
Those numbers tell a story:
The timing reflects what we're seeing across recruitment generally. UK vacancies have fallen to around 707,000 (the lowest level since early 2021), while there are now around 2.5 unemployed people for every vacancy. The result? A much more competitive market than we've seen for several years.
What surprised us most wasn't the volume of applications...It was the quality.
We reviewed applications from graduates, experienced administrators, career changers and people returning to work. Many met the brief and would have made a fantastic hire.
Which raises an important question...How do employers choose when dozens of candidates could all do the job?
One thing we hear alot is:
"I met every requirement, so why wasn't I selected?" & "I applied and never heard back."
The reality is that many hiring processes attract hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications. Recruiters and hiring managers are often choosing between candidates who are all capable of doing the job. Not being selected doesn't automatically mean you weren't good enough - sometimes another applicant was simply a slightly closer fit.
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
✅ Giving detailed, structured answers using the STAR method.
✅ Preparing properly - understanding the company, the role and the people you're meeting.
✅ Turning the interview into a two-way conversation by asking thoughtful questions.
✅ Explaining not just what you've done, but the impact you've had.
If you've been applying for roles and not hearing back, or you've reached the final stages only to miss out, please don't automatically assume it's because you weren't good enough. In many processes we're involved in, there isn't just one appointable candidate, there are several.
The current market is one of the most competitive we've seen for several years. So, if you're looking for your first opportunity, changing careers or searching for your next role, don't give up. Keep refining your CV. Keep practising your interview technique. One interview doesn't define your ability, and one rejection doesn't define your potential.
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➜ 5,377 views
➜ 1,113 applications
Those numbers tell a story:
The timing reflects what we're seeing across recruitment generally. UK vacancies have fallen to around 707,000 (the lowest level since early 2021), while there are now around 2.5 unemployed people for every vacancy. The result? A much more competitive market than we've seen for several years.
What surprised us most wasn't the volume of applications...It was the quality.
We reviewed applications from graduates, experienced administrators, career changers and people returning to work. Many met the brief and would have made a fantastic hire.
Which raises an important question...How do employers choose when dozens of candidates could all do the job?
One thing we hear alot is:
"I met every requirement, so why wasn't I selected?" & "I applied and never heard back."
The reality is that many hiring processes attract hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applications. Recruiters and hiring managers are often choosing between candidates who are all capable of doing the job. Not being selected doesn't automatically mean you weren't good enough - sometimes another applicant was simply a slightly closer fit.
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:
✅ Giving detailed, structured answers using the STAR method.
✅ Preparing properly - understanding the company, the role and the people you're meeting.
✅ Turning the interview into a two-way conversation by asking thoughtful questions.
✅ Explaining not just what you've done, but the impact you've had.
If you've been applying for roles and not hearing back, or you've reached the final stages only to miss out, please don't automatically assume it's because you weren't good enough. In many processes we're involved in, there isn't just one appointable candidate, there are several.
The current market is one of the most competitive we've seen for several years. So, if you're looking for your first opportunity, changing careers or searching for your next role, don't give up. Keep refining your CV. Keep practising your interview technique. One interview doesn't define your ability, and one rejection doesn't define your potential.