A candidate sends thirty CVs in two weeks, all identical, and receives no response. The situation is common, but it reveals a gap between the job search methods still widely used and what recruiters actually expect. The French job market has seen recruitment intentions drop by 8.5% in 2024 according to the annual study by France Travail, with tensions affecting the majority of professions.
Adapting your application strategy to this tense context makes the difference between a file that gets read and one that gets filtered out.
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Online Skills Signals: What Recruiters Check Before the CV
It is often thought that the job search begins with writing the CV. In practice, it starts with what a recruiter finds by typing your name into a search engine. According to the “Future of Recruiting 2024” report from LinkedIn, published in April 2024, a strong majority of recruiters say they are placing increasing importance on visible online skills signals compared to just the job title.
These signals are concrete contributions: a portfolio on Behance for a graphic designer, commits on GitHub for a developer, LinkedIn posts detailing project experience, recommendations from colleagues or clients. The CV remains the entry point, but it is this layer of evidence that distinguishes two similar profiles.
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To build this presence, it is recommended to publish regularly on LinkedIn, even modestly. A post per week describing a problem encountered at work and the solution found is worth more than an “optimized” but silent profile. Job offers and recruitment trends are regularly shared on the Il était un Job website, which helps stay connected to market movements while feeding your monitoring.
Generative AI in Applications: Using ChatGPT Without Getting Caught
The other underlying trend concerns the use of generative AI by candidates. A ResumeLab survey published in June 2024 shows that a significant proportion of candidates are already using ChatGPT to write CVs, cover letters, and interview responses. The problem: a considerable share of recruiters say they reject applications deemed too generic or clearly generated by AI.
We face a paradox. The tool saves time, but its raw use produces smooth, interchangeable texts that trigger an alert signal for the experienced recruiter. The best practice is to use AI as a structuring assistant, not as a final writer.
Concrete Method to Personalize an AI-Assisted Application
- Generate a first draft with ChatGPT by providing the job offer and your detailed background, then rewrite each paragraph with your own wording and an example drawn from your real experience.
- Systematically remove generic phrases like “passionate about innovation” or “strong team spirit” and replace them with a specific fact (a project led, a result achieved, a named technical skill).
- Read aloud: if the sentence sounds like a press release, it will be perceived as artificial by the recruiter.
A personalized CV for each offer remains the expected norm, even if it takes more time. ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) filter applications by keywords extracted from the offer. A generic CV, whether written by AI or not, rarely passes this first automated filter.
Spontaneous Applications and Networking: Two Underutilized Channels in 2024
Job sites concentrate candidates’ attention, but the hidden job market (positions filled without job postings) represents a significant share of recruitments. The spontaneous application, often seen as a shot in the dark, works under one condition: target the company and the right contact.
In practice, you first identify the companies in your sector that are regularly hiring (a quick look at their LinkedIn posts or career page is enough). Then, send a short message to the head of the relevant department, not to generic HR. The message mentions a specific need of the company and explains in three lines how your skill meets it.
Professional Networking: Going Beyond the Reflex of “I Send My CV to My Contacts”
Active networking is not about asking your acquaintances for a job. It is about asking for information or advice, which opens the conversation. Requesting an informal fifteen-minute meeting with a professional in your field often yields more results than a hundred online applications.
Feedback on this point varies by sector: in tech or consulting, networking remains the dominant channel. In healthcare or construction, job postings on specialized platforms still carry more weight. Adapting your mix of channels to the targeted sector avoids wasting weeks on an inappropriate approach.
Job Interview in 2024: Tricky Questions Related to AI and Remote Work
Interview grids have evolved. Two themes regularly come up and unsettle candidates who have not anticipated them: mastery of AI tools in daily work, and the ability to work in a hybrid mode.
Regarding AI, recruiters are not looking for advanced technical expertise (except for dedicated positions). They want to know if you have integrated these tools into your concrete work. Responding “I use ChatGPT to structure my meeting notes and save an hour a week” is better than a theoretical speech on machine learning.
On remote work, the question often revolves around personal organization and asynchronous communication. Describing a specific organization method (tool, rhythm, team rituals) reassures more than a simple statement of flexibility.
- Prepare two or three concrete examples of using digital tools in a real professional context.
- Anticipate the salary question by consulting the ranges published on specialized job sites for your profession and geographic area.
- Test your video setup before a remote interview: connection, lighting, neutral background, functional microphone.
Job searching in 2024 relies less on the volume of applications sent than on the precision of each approach. An active LinkedIn profile, a CV tailored to each offer, a methodically solicited network, and interview preparation that incorporates current topics form a solid foundation, regardless of the targeted sector.