A former recruiter says job seekers may be wasting time on resume edits and LinkedIn activity, revealing practical strategies that could improve interview chances and career opportunities.
WEBDESK – SHARJAH NEWS
Many job seekers spend hours rewriting resumes and optimizing LinkedIn profiles for every vacancy.
However, a former recruiter with nearly a decade of hiring experience says candidates may achieve better results by focusing on genuine networking, interview preparation, and relationship-building instead.
Emily Durham, a former recruiter who worked with major banks and technology companies before becoming a career content creator, recently shared a series of job-search recommendations based on her years of hiring experience.
Among her most notable suggestions was that job seekers should avoid spending excessive time customizing resumes for every application. Instead, she recommends building one strong resume that contains relevant keywords and can be used across similar roles.
Durham also advised candidates not to treat networking as a transaction. According to her, many job seekers immediately ask strangers for referrals, a strategy she says rarely works. She recommends starting conversations by learning about another person’s career and building authentic professional relationships.
The recruiter further encouraged candidates to prepare thoroughly for interviews, avoid overly scripted responses, engage naturally in small talk, and highlight individual contributions rather than speaking only about team achievements.
The advice may resonate strongly with UAE and Gulf-based expatriates who often compete in highly international job markets.
Many professionals relocate to the region seeking career growth, but competition for vacancies can be intense. Recruiters increasingly use applicant tracking systems and keyword-based screening processes, making it important for candidates to maintain clear and well-structured resumes.
At the same time, industry experts continue to emphasize the value of professional relationships and referrals in securing interviews and uncovering opportunities that may never reach public job boards.
The modern hiring process is becoming more complex as employers receive large numbers of applications, many generated or optimized using AI tools.
Career experts say this has increased competition and made it harder for candidates to stand out through resumes alone. Networking, referrals, and direct professional connections are increasingly viewed as valuable ways to gain visibility.
For job seekers, this means investing time strategically rather than simply submitting hundreds of applications.
Consider an expat professional who spends weeks tailoring applications for dozens of vacancies but receives few responses.
The frustration often leads candidates to believe their qualifications are inadequate. Yet hiring specialists increasingly point out that strong communication skills, industry relationships, and effective interview performance can play a major role in securing opportunities.
For many workers, especially those navigating a competitive international labor market, building meaningful professional connections can become just as important as maintaining a polished resume.
The latest advice suggests candidates should review how they allocate their time during a job search.
Rather than focusing exclusively on resume revisions, professionals may benefit from:
- Strengthening industry connections
- Preparing more effectively for interviews
- Improving communication skills
- Engaging in meaningful networking conversations
- Maintaining a strong but authentic professional presence online
Experts continue to emphasize that resumes remain important, but they are only one part of a broader hiring process.
As AI becomes more common in recruitment, employers are expected to rely on a combination of automated screening and human evaluation.
This may increase the importance of skills-based resumes while simultaneously making professional relationships and referrals more valuable. Researchers studying AI in recruiting have also noted concerns about overreliance on automated systems and the continued need for human judgment in hiring decisions.
Industry observers expect networking, personal branding, and interview readiness to remain critical career-building tools throughout the coming years.
The message emerging from recruiters and career experts is increasingly consistent: landing a job is no longer just about sending applications.
In a crowded hiring environment, professional relationships, communication skills, and strategic networking may provide the edge that helps candidates move from applicant to employee.
